For those of you still actively working, what’s one thing you did for yourself in the last week outside of your daily tasks? Did you jog, crochet, go to yoga class, go to the spa, or any of the various things one could enjoy? If you did get the opportunity to do something for yourself this is great, and you should keep up with it. If you did not get the opportunity, then let’s assess the reasons by asking questions…
- What are your daily responsibilities and routines?
- What are your working hours?
- How long is your commute to work? Drive or public transportation.
- What time do you wake up and go to sleep during your working days?
- Do you have kids? What are their ages?
- Do you enjoy your job?
- Do you eat outside or cook at home more?
- How many hours of the day do you watch TV?
- How often are you on social media?
The reason why these questions are important is because our daily responsibilities can be very stressful. For women, most times we take care of everything and everyone around us before we do ourselves. For men, most times keeping up with health appointments and expressing deep emotions can be an issue. This month is Stress Awareness Month. Looking at your routines and finding the space for yourself can be healing. With stress comes more negative responses from our bodies that can lead to breakdowns in general health. More and more younger people are being diagnosed with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Some of this can be based on genetics but many times it’s based on lifestyle.
The question to be asked is, what can be done to fit some time for ourselves even with increased daily responsibilities?
- Start small: Allotting 10-15 minutes for yourself a day to do whatever brings you happiness.
- Learn to say “no”: Sometimes you just can’t do it. Imagine working a 10-hour day and then your friend asks you to go out. You may disappoint them in the process, but an one-time rejection won’t hurt the relationship if you are honest.
- Mindfulness: You can be using the bathroom and be mindful. You can be driving and be mindful. Even while eating you can be mindful. These are moments where you can create peace for yourself and release the negative feelings you may have. This can be through intentional breathing, creating a scented atmosphere, or just slowing down and enjoy each second.
So, by asking yourself these questions you open your mind to becoming more intentional in how you move through each day. Finding the time to do what’s right for your mind, body, and soul. Creating a space to think about yourself just for a few minutes can make you feel like a kid again by not having to think about anything other than having fun.