Discovering Time for You

Have you ever thought of something you’d like to do, but then said to yourself, “I don't have time for it”?

How often does a week pass by and you did not have a minute to yourself? Not even a minute to do anything you might want to do just for yourself.

Job, children, chores, bills to pay, cooking, cleaning and everything else we have to do is a lot and can be distressing. Meetings, deadlines, and appointments are all crammed onto your calendar. But is there a single entry about time for yourself in there?

Without self-care, we will burn out. And then what happens to all those responsibilities? When you neglect your own needs and mental health, everything in your life suffers.

Everyone needs personal time. Time to unwind. Time to breathe. Time to have fun and experience pleasure. Time to explore hobbies and interests.

Failing to set aside time for yourself can lead to chronic stress and depression. You may be busy, and your to-do lists are probably overwhelming, but you must make yourself a priority.

Yes, scheduling time to focus on self-care may be challenging, especially when the demands of job and family life seem so pressing. But this is something we must do. Here are some ways to do it.

Designing & Discovering Time for You: 5 “Ds”

Determine
Factoring in your work hours and family tasks, take the initiative to determine your schedule (before someone else does it for you). A well-organized plan will put your mind at ease and lead to a more productive week. Schedule time for self-care along with the other ‘must-do’ tasks of your week’s calendar. Prioritize and plan what's vital and learn to say no or delegate.

Decline
It is quite acceptable to decline new assignments or responsibilities. Use that small, but big in power word: NO. Your time is very valuable, and it should be spent on activities that provide meaning to your life. It's okay if you don't go to that lunch with that group if what you really need is some alone time. If someone requested you help them with their move or something else, but doing so will have a negative impact on you, you can say "no."

Disconnect
Disconnect your connections. Take a break from your phone and computer. How often do you get an afternoon to yourself, only to waste it replying to e-mails or scrolling social media feeds? Social media has its advantages, but it can also entice us to spend an hour looking at useless memes. Limiting distractions is a key step in finding time for yourself.

Depart
Leave work on time. And that includes if you work at home. Make it a point to stop working at the end of your scheduled workday. And if at all possible, leave a little early at least once a week. Then take advantage of that time by engaging in your favorite pastime, getting a massage, visiting a museum, spending time with a friend you don't see very often or doing anything that helps you relax.

Delegate
Look for responsibilities you now have at home or work that, with some thought, could be delegated to others, e.g., a family member, an assistant or contract worker. You may very well find that person is better skilled than you for a particular task and it gets done better!

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Start today to implement one or more of these “Ds.” And then watch as time for your self-care begins appearing on your calendar!

Sources
To Do List Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay