Making time for youself can be one of the hardest things we do during our day.
Trying to balance our busy work, social, and family lives can be a daunting task at times.
I want to share with you some thoughts on how I made it a priority in my life and the results that came of it.
Let’s jump in!
Why Is It Important
In today’s world, when we’re programmed to “be on” our A games so much, it can be hard to unwind. For me, this led to work burn out, anxiety, and depression. For a disorder that affects almost 20% of the population each year, less than 37% seek help. An easy first step that takes little no money, but some effort, is setting a block of time aside for yourself each day. This time to yourself to be with your own thoughts, to unwind from your busy day, is so therapeutic. I promise you. Dont believe me? Read along and see if I can’t change your mind.
Choosing Your Distraction
What The Heck Do I Do?
This is the fun part! It can truly be anything you want; the world is your oyster 🙂 For me, it was breathing exercises and meditation, more on that in the next section. The point is, choose something you enjoy so it’s easier to make a routine of it. Choosing something you can’t stand doesn’t really make sense, now does it? During this time, I want you to truly feel distracted from the craziness that is life, and get lost in your own thoughts. It can be painting, sketching, going for a walk in your neighborhood, or reading your favorite book.
How Long Do I Do The Darn Thing?
Once again, it’s truly up to you. I think 10-30 minutes is a good starting point, especially when trying to establish a new routine. Sometimes when we set lofty goals, they can be hard to stick with. So make sure it’s something realistic, that you know you could stick to even with a boat load of distractions.
Consistency Is Key
Set Up A Routine
One of the hardest parts of starting something new is sticking to it. How many times can you remember starting a new hobby or task only to see yourself fall off a few days or weeks later? That’s why I suggest blocking time out of your day to make sure you are consistent with your practice. For me, this meant 5-10 minutes of breathing exercises first thing in the morning and 5-10 minutes of meditation following exercise in the evening. Adding the meditation was easy as I had already established a regular exercise routine; so it was much more challenging to make the morning breathing exercises happen.
Block Out Distractions
This is the most important part! Once you’ve established your routine, make sure to disconnect from all things which could be distracting. This includes phones, computers, TV, family members, etc… I know this may be harder for some, especially when that adorable face is looking you in the eyes; but it’s essential to truly unwinding. No distractions and no exceptions!
Any Improvements?
Absolutely! Since making “me time” a priority, my anxiety and overall well-being have improved in such a short time. Now of course, like most things in life, effort drives results. So being diligent and consistent in your routine is important. But making ME a priority in 2021 has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I have a good feeling it’ll be the same for you too.
Final Thoughts
I leave you with one of my favorite mantra’s, You Got This! I like to finish my journal entries with these three words. They’re so powerful, aren’t they? Remember these three words whenever you think you can’t do it. I promise you will feel like you can’t do some things. I also promise you telling yourself these three words can turn the impossible into possible. Now go enjoy yourself some you time!