Are You Taking Your Time?
MAED
Time. The ever-elusive subject of so much anxiety and stress. Do you feel like you’re always trying to chase it, cram as many things as you can into it, and squeeze as much as you can out of it? With all the energy we put into efficiency, it can be hard to pause and take time for ourselves. Unfortunately, unless we take our time into our own hands and make space for ourselves, time will continue to escape us.
Think about it. When was the last time you took your time? When was the last time you stopped to assess how you were really feeling? Do you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to make time for yourself?
We totally get it and so we’ve come up with a few tips to help you carve out some “me-time.”
Take ownership over your time. Intentionally seeking out moments for yourself is an essential way to practice self-care.
Wake up early
One of the best ways to claim your own time is by waking up early. Often, we push time for ourselves to the very end of the day. The problem with that is things begin to pile up. If and when the to-do list is finally exhausted, so are we so we end up choosing to go straight to bed. By waking up even half an hour earlier, you can carve out some time that is just for you. Emails can wait, text messages can wait. This is a space where you can set your intentions and mentally prepare yourself for the day.
Utilize your lunch break
Instead of chatting up your co-workers or raiding the break room for snacks, try to step outside and take a few minutes to reground yourself. Check in with your emotions. Are you stressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed? Maybe you need to reassess your work strategies. When we’re overwhelmed, we tend to get tunnel vision and can create habits that reduce efficiency. Utilize this time, built into every work day, to create space for intentional “me-time.”
Set automated boundaries
Make rules for yourself. Block out hours that are no-contact hours. Do you turn your phone on silent after 8 p.m.? Do you withhold from responding to work emails over the weekend? Create realistic boundaries around your schedule to help you refrain from working around the clock. Reserve a day, maybe once a week or maybe once a month, just for yourself.
Take ownership over your time. Intentionally seeking out moments for yourself is an essential way to practice self-care.
