Do you feel like your professional and family life is filled with urgency, worry, and an unsustainable pace? Are you overbooked from 8 a.m. on Monday and exhausted trying to manage everything at once? Before burnout catches up with you, it’s time to take a break.
What if you dedicated a moment just for yourself, cut off from obligations and mental stress? To escape stress, exhaustion, and frustration, and make yourself your number one priority. I’m giving you my tips and ideas for (finally) taking time for yourself every day with minimal effort.
Why take time for yourself every day?
The benefits of a moment to yourself every day (or almost)
Ah, modern life, a source of family and professional obligations where performance and efficiency are king… When we end up feeling overwhelmed, perpetually rushing, or late, it’s time to press the pause button!
The concept of slow living invites us to slow down the hectic pace of our lives and immerse ourselves in the joy of the present moment. Devoting a few minutes each day to an activity we enjoy allows us to create a moment of pleasure in our day. Say goodbye to the annoyance that inevitably affects those around us! It’s about putting ourselves back at the center of our existence so that our well-being radiates outward.
That’s not all! Taking a moment to rest is also essential for physical and mental health. Doing nothing or engaging in a fun activity recharges your batteries. You become more efficient in your daily tasks, boosted until your next break!
Finally, engaging in an activity that allows for a moment of introspection helps you review your daily priorities. It’s easier to take a step back from your life when you feel energized. You can then better reflect on the balance you want to establish so you don’t let yourself get overwhelmed.
Why do we find it so difficult to take this time just for ourselves?
Stopping when we already feel overwhelmed and overwhelmed by a daily routine that sucks us in? It seems illogical, even downright mission impossible. And yet, it’s the key that will let us escape this vicious cycle and become efficient and fulfilled again.
Guilt also represents a major obstacle for many women. Daring to take time for oneself is often seen as a selfish whim. The fault lies with this social injunction that would have us take on all the roles without ever complaining. However, far from being shameful or self-centered, leaving one’s husband and children for a few hours for a shopping trip or a yoga class should become essential… and normal!
How to organize yourself to give yourself time? My advice
Find time
If you’re already running out of time, start by identifying tasks that can be done less frequently or simply delegated. Self-care doesn’t necessarily require hours; sometimes, a few minutes are all you need.
Screen time has also exploded in recent years. A time-out can be replaced with an activity you enjoy (like a calligraphy session)! Finally, if you have days off, set aside a few.
Schedule some time for yourself in your diary..
Want to know the real secret to finding a day, morning, 0g0 minutes of respite? This one-on-one with yourself is essential for your balance. No last-minute cancellations!
Create a daily routine
To fully benefit from your break, fine-tune your daily or weekly organization. A bullet journal is a useful tool to help you plan your days and carve out a relaxing time each day.
Explain so as not to feel guil..ty
Do you think daring to take time for yourself is individualistic, and are you ashamed or afraid to set aside time for your hobbies? If you’re worried the world will fall apart in your absence, explain it to those around you. You’ll see that they’re managing just fine without you, and you’ll be able to enjoy your time more peacefully.
Accept help and delegate
You probably feel guilty about leaving the kids with their grandmother or your sweetheart to take care of the shopping. However, delegating to take care of your well-being is essential. You’ll gain precious hours for your leisure time. Recharged, you’ll better enjoy the rest of the day and the people around you. Let go!
Know how to say no!
Are you refusing to do yet another favor because your daily life is already overloaded? Charity begins at home… Knowing how to meet your own needs will then allow you to be more available to others. But here, it’s you first!
6 activity ideas to take time for yourself
1 Practice yoga or meditation
Devoting yourself to a slow, mindful, and Zen-like practice, listening to your body allows you to reconnect with yourself. The benefits of stress and exhaustion are undeniable.
2 Create through calligraphy or an artistic activity
Pleasure, concentration, and mindfulness are the key words when it comes to calligraphy. In just a few minutes, you can create yoownive bubble. Calligraphy, Zentangle, coloring, watercolor few rows of knitting: artistic activities relax and strengthen self-esteem. A double benefit in just a few minutes a day.
3. Reconnect with nature by walking
A stroll in a local park or a hike in the great outdoors offers a few moments of relaxation snatched from a hyper-connected routine. If you need to take a break to listen to the birds, take this precious moment for yourself. Slow down!
4 Take care of your body
Massage, hammam, spa, or simply a nice, relaxing bath after your workday: take a moment to take care of your body. And why not take a beauty break with a facial or take the time for a manicure that will make you feel beautiful and comfortable?
5 Have a physical or sporting activity
Whether you’re athletic or not, you may want to move your body and clear your head with, say, a daily running or swimming session. But if you prefer the stairs to the elevator or getting off the bus at the previous stop to get some fresh air, that’s good for you,, too
6 Chill or do nothing!
Reading, watching a series curled up under your blanket, taking a nap in the sun, listening to music are all activities, even inactivity, that do a world of good! Taking time for yourself doesn’t necessarily mean doing an extra activity. In a busy life where every slot in your schedule must be productive, what’s better than doing nothing?
Putting yourself back at the center of your priorities, putting your well-being before everything else is a guarantee of balance. There’s no need to wait until you’re on the verge of burnout to finally decide to take some time for yourself. Whether you spend a few minutes daily or for a longer period each week, you’ll quickly see the benefits and won’t be able to live without it! By the way, what activity do you do for yourself?
