Finding time for yourself can be one of the biggest challenges you face. Most people have the misconception having alone time means a spa set up, with no one else at home for hours, and then being able to give yourself beauty treatments with no interruptions. While this sounds amazing, if you have others who live in your home, this is very rarely possible.
This doesn’t mean that you have to deprive yourself of that alone time that you need though. Believe it or not, there are several opportunities in a day that a lot of women miss to be alone and regroup. These opportunities are easier to grab then you think, but a lot of times they’re missed because we tend to be programmed to stay busy, and constantly look for what we need to do next.
I felt the need to write this post to help you take advantage of those moments that you can get to find time for yourself everyday. You see, I used to be a human train that stayed on the tracks, constantly moving, and hardly ever slowing down. This almost derailed me! I want you to know that finding time for yourself is not an option, it’s a necessity. So, I am going to share a few ways that you can make this happen, starting today.
Disconnect From Your Cellphone
There’s no question about the fact that one of our biggest distractions is our cellphones and the constant connection we have to them. Either they’re ringing, we’re calling, we’re scrolling on social media, checking emails, playing games, taking pictures, and the list goes on and on. The cellphone is no doubt a device that has gone from making a simple call and walking away, to making sure we never detach from it because of what we think we might miss.
The truth is, the more we detach from our cellphones and other devices brings about almost an instant sense of peace. This is the very reason that I do not connect the ability for any of my other devices (iPad and Macbook) to contact me when I’m away from my cellphone. I also do not own an Apple Watch. When I want to disconnect, I need to be able to do just that, without having to turn off 500 different devices in order to get some quiet time. Ok, I did exaggerate just a bit on the number, but you know what I mean.
Here is something that I do when I want to disconnect from my phone, and you may find this helpful as well. Whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, I send a text message to my immediate family members to let them know that I am not available for whatever amount of time I need. I do this so they don’t call, and also so they don’t think that something has happened to me when I don’t answer. In case of an emergency, I just tell them to text. Now, I usually don’t turn my phone off, but I do silence it so that the spam calls don’t interrupt me. You might ask, why don’t I turn my phone off? Well, the main reason for that is just because I am taking time for myself, I still need to be aware of any family emergencies if my family is away from home. However, if my family is home, that phone goes off.
During this time, I don’t scroll on social media. As a matter of fact, I go most of the day without scrolling on social media because of the time it can take away from so many other things that need to get done. I also don’t scroll on social media when I am taking time to myself, because it can become discouraging and stressful within itself, due to what other people may post.
Take A Brisk Walk
If you’re working outside of the home, taking your breaks to enjoy a quick snack, a cup of coffee or tea, and a walk alone can be refreshing. On days that it’s cold or raining, finding somewhere in the building where you can walk is applying the same action. The motive is to get away from your surroundings, your desk and the people you work with, to just have a moment to yourself. If may not seem like a lot, but not only is it allowing you to rest your mind, but also move your body.
Journal
Journaling is something that can also be done on breaks and even during quiet times at home. All it takes is finding a quiet spot in a corner, in your car, or in your home, with just you and your journal. Getting your thoughts and feelings out on paper, allows you to have an escape and it also helps you to see things clearly. Whether you’re having a rough day, or you are journaling your gratitude, this is a moment that doesn’t require a lot of time and works for any schedule.
Cozy Up With A Book
This is one of my most favorite ways to enjoy my alone time. I love cozying up with a book, a blanket, and a hot cup of tea. Although this is more cozy when done at home, you can also do this in your car, if you carry a blanket with you. You just have to plan ahead of time to make this happen on your lunch break or whenever you’re away from home. I must say that playing soft music in the background just adds to this wonderful experience.
Try A New Recipe
Let me first say that spending time cooking or baking something up in the kitchen doesn’t have to be a new recipe. Time alone in the kitchen usually takes your mind away from everything else as a whole, and preparing something that you are familiar with is done without having to think about it much. However, when you try a new recipe, you have to pay very close attention to the details, and that doesn’t leave any room for distractions. Trying a new recipe is fun, a great activity when spending time alone, and leaves you with something that you can enjoy later or decide not to try again….LOL!
Focus On Your Desires And Goals
Whether you are creating a vision board, writing your goals, or making a solid plan, this time definitely requires you to do this without interruptions, if possible. You need to have uninterrupted time when focusing on your desires and goals. In saying that, this is a great reason for you to find time for yourself. You may have to take this time early in the morning or late at night if you have a family at home, and weekends are also a good time to do these activities. Just grab you a cup of coffee or tea, and focus on you.
Enjoy A Hobby
Whenever you can take a moment to enjoy a hobby, you should. Even if it’s for only a few minutes, being able to spend time doing something you enjoy can relieve and refresh your mind. Although you want to spend a whole day enjoying your hobby, sometimes that’s not possible, so you have to get this enjoyment in, in bite size moments.
Some hobbies are even portable and you can take them along with you to enjoy on your breaks and over your lunch period. Some hobbies can even be enjoyed in waiting rooms as you wait for appointments, and even to your children’s sports and activity practices at school while you wait for them to finish.
Wind Down Before Bed
Let’s face it, there are some days where you just can’t find the time to break away, but that doesn’t mean that all is lost. After giving everyone the best of your energy, you deserve to wind down and enjoy a moment to yourself before you get under the covers. Instead of taking a shower, you may want to run a hot bath, make some soothing bedtime tea, and read a chapter of a book you’ve been wanting to get into. But, what if you want to take a shower?
Well, you can enjoy that too, by placing a few drops of essential oils in your shower and allowing the steam to turn it into an at-home-spa. You can also turn on some soothing music, turn on or light a candle of your choice, and turn out the lights, making your space and time total tranquility. It doesn’t matter the size of your bathroom, it’s the time to yourself and the experience that matters.
In closing, it is my hope that you have found great value in this post and you will grab a few of these ideas to implement. Make it a priority to find time for yourself on a daily basis, because you really do deserve it.
