I, like most women, am pre-programmed to take care of everybody else before me. It’s hard in this day and age when we seem to be doing it all. We’re daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, professionals, and we feel the pressure every single day.
But we all know how we can
be after a couple of nights (or months) of not getting adequate sleep, or how
frustrated we get when we don’t get even 15 minutes a day to ourselves.
Taking time off to do
something you enjoy as a means of taking the edge off and releasing the pent-up
pressure of your daily responsibilities isn’t a luxury – it’s a must!
Studies show that when you
don’t prioritize yourself and your needs for, at least, a few minutes each day,
you become resentful of those taking up your time and space. Then you start
taking it out on them by lashing out, being frustrated all the time as opposed
to your usual calm and sweet self.
Taking a breather gives you
the opportunity to relax and recharge so you come back with a better ability to
carry out your commitments with more clarity and a sense of enjoyment. Learning
to be “in the moment” is crucial to your own personal sense of happiness.
This is what those who
practice meditation refer to as “practicing mindfulness.” It gives you the
power to control your emotions and lower your stress levels. When stress levels
are low, your perspective on things tends to be more balanced, and positive,
you’re not angry as much, you’re more organized, in control and energetic.
“We’re a multitasking society. If we’re having a conversation with a friend, we’re thinking about the other things we have to get done,” says Allison Cohen, a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles. “Instead, you need to be present in the moment…”
Often people ask me how I do so much. My response is I have learned to be in the moment. Whoever I am with, whatever I am doing, I concentrate on that and only that. No additional phone calls, no extracurricular activity, nothing. Just that encounter. It keeps things in perspective and creates clarity and strategic moves.
Here are a few tips to remind you how important
it is to carve out some time for yourself.
You deserve it.
In order to lower stress
levels, women need to stop feeling guilty about leaving the dishes unwashed,
leaving the kids to play on their own for a few minutes, or leaving their work
at work. So the first step is to consciously make the decision to free up some
minutes during the day for you – everything (and everyone) else can
wait.
“You
have to build in battery recharge time,” says Margaret Moore, co-director
of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
“We’re very good at project management in our work lives, but not so well
in our personal lives. Treat it like any project…”
Decide how you’d like to spend these precious minutes.
Some women exercise, others
read a book; some do yoga, while there are those who just want a cup of coffee
and some quiet. Whatever provides you with relaxation and a chance to free your
thoughts and release some of the pressure, then that’s what you should do.
Remember, though, that you
should treat this time as you would any other appointment and don’t get bullied
by your sense of guilt into doing housework or running errands during your
special time.
It takes practice, but
you’ll quickly discover that you become a much calmer version of you when you
make time for yourself, and who doesn’t want that!
Practice smart time management skills.
Whether it’s scanning
emails, surfing the net or answering personal calls during your workday, then
it’s time to put a stop to anything that wastes time and leads to nothing.
Learning to organize your responsibilities should be your top priority, this
will eliminate stress and free up time, which you can use for something more
enjoyable.
You can even sit down
during the weekend to organize your time, and write down everything that should
be accomplished for that week. Sometimes, this means that there may be times
when you have to say “no” to some obligation or other that you don’t want to
participate in that doesn’t bring satisfaction or joy into your life.
On the plus side, if you’re
facing a problem at work or at home, sometimes the best way to find an answer
is to stop thinking about it altogether.
Channel your energy into
doing something creative. Being creative could be what you need to grease those
brainstorming wheels and regain your focus. It could also be the exact thing
you need for better sleep.
Find the time.
Well, unfortunately, there
are only so many hours in a day – you won’t ever be able to change that. However,
what you can do is free up some time here and there to your own personal gain.
Juggling your work or study schedule, traffic and everything in between can be
freakishly difficult to handle.
However, all you need are some smart organizational skills, and you can be the one in control of your time and not the other way around.
- If you drive, use this time to listen to music or the radio. You can even enjoy the quiet and your own thoughts.
- If you can ditch your car and use public transportation, then you can use that time to do something you enjoy, like read a book or writing or even meditation.
- If you can walk, all the better. This way, you’re doing some exercising; you can listen to music or an audiobook.
- If you have an appointment, try to get there 15 minutes, or even more, early so you can have those minutes to yourself.
- If you can, have lunch by yourself at least once a week. Go to the park to get a break from all noise pollution, or if you can’t, stay in your car or a quiet cafe or restaurant where you won’t find any distractions. Many associate being alone with loneliness, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Being by yourself allows you to enjoy your own company. You get back in touch with your interests, likes and dislikes so you know exactly what makes you happy, and a stronger version of yourself.
“Solitary time can help you have a better understanding
of yourself, your thoughts, and your emotions,” says Katherine L. Muller,
PsyD, associate director at Center for Integrative Psychotherapy.