Psychologists have proven that regular ‘me time’ can do wonders when it comes to creating space for self-discovery, helping us find clarity and focus, and inspiring us to prioritise what’s most important.
As well as this, making time to relax and do more of what you love is important because it enables us to recharge mentally, physically and emotionally. It’s the key to the key to living a richer, happier life and being your best self that will enable you to take even better care of the people you love.
So, whether it’s reading a book in the park, taking photographs, working out, meditating, taking a course, joining a club, writing a book, embarking on a new project, or training for a physical challenge, now’s the time to start taking intentional steps to un-busy your life and create little pockets of ‘me time’ to enjoy each day.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to bed earlier & get up earlier. Studies show that people who sleep for at least eight or nine hours and get up early are more productive and work at a higher quality than those who get less than seven hours sleep a night. As Ben Franklin famously said: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”.
- Embrace forward planning. It sounds like common sense but knowing exactly where you’re going and what you’re doing every day can help you make the most of your time. And when you’re filling in your diary be sure to schedule some daily ‘me time’ and guard it at all costs!
- Tackle one thing at a time. Forget multitasking. Research shows it shortens your attention span and affects your quality of work. You’ll do a far better job, and get it done quicker, if you focus on one task at a time, get into the flow then move onto the next.
- Don’t feel bad for taking a 20-minute power nap. Studies have found that a short nap, one that falls within the first stage of sleep and avoids REM, can ‘refresh’ the brain, helping you get things done faster and more efficiently afterwards.
- Figure out where you waste most time. Could you cut your commute time or use this time to better effect, such as listening to audio books or learning a language? Could you do your evening run in your lunch break? What little changes or improvements could you make to give yourself more free time at home, doing what you love?
- Make good use of ‘dead time’. Take on board the concept suggested in Be Excellent At Anything by Tony Schwartz and use time you spend queuing or waiting to take small steps towards big goals or a passion project you’re working on.
- Learn when and how to say no. If you find your diary is full, or full of things you don’t want to do, then it’s time to start saying no – nicely. In saying no, in effect we’re also saying yes to something that matters to us.
- Do a digital detox: According to our good friend Frances Booth, author of The Distraction Trap: “Often, when we check our messages or phone, we get caught up answering other people’s demands, rather than filling our time with things that please us,” she says. “We need to decide how we want to spend our free time, and then fit technology around it.”
“Everything changed the day she figured out there was enough time for all the important things in her life” ~ Brian Andreas
Taking charge of your time makes it easier to do everything you need to do and want to do in your day and that’s key to spending more time doing what you love.
Remember each choice is a step in a certain direction. Just like doing nothing is also a choice. Procrastinating is a choice. Making excuses is a choice. Wasting time on regrets is a choice. Telling yourself you aren’t good enough, or, ‘It’ll never happen for me,’ is also a choice. Start making choices that serve you. Start making choices that take you in the right direction. Start making choices that will add up to the life you want to live.
Image credit: aemartinphoto.com
FREE goodness to help you slow down, tune in and light up!
We have had a crazy few months at DWYL HQ, so we are dedicating October to quiet, reflective time. As we search for meaning in our busy lives it can be hard to relax, tune out the noise and listen to what we really want to offer the world.
If you feel like this, or you find yourself saying: “I don’t have time” more often than you’d like, we have three amazing FREE resources just for you:
- Making Time is a 31-day experiment in carving out more time for the things you love! You’ll learn how to look up and rediscover the small wonders out there that make you happy, 1 day at a time, 1 minute at a time. Sign up here and receive one email per day for 31 days, each one providing a specific prompt to encourage you to create, connect or just have fun.
- Why relaxation is the key to happiness: an inspiring interview with Andres Roberts. Ever wondered about what ‘wholeness’ and true ‘connection’ means for you in your life? Or how nature could help you to discover your true authentic self? Enjoy our fascinating interview with inspirational coach, facilitator, leadership and change advisor Andres here.
- Zen for Ten is a simple ten-day programme of daily emails, packed with beautiful imagery, short exercises and inspiring prompts, designed to help you:
- be more present, get quiet and focus
- see beauty in everything
- travel lighter
- get on the road to doing what you love, for life.
Sign up here for Zen for Ten and receive your first email today.
We’d love to hear how you get on. Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you do when you take time out!
The Do What You Love team
