Three Tips for Finding Time for Self Care When You're Way Too Busy
Posted by Dan Miller, REALTOR on Wednesday, May 1st, 2019 at 11:52pm.
Do you feel like you’re always running behind - like there’s never enough time in the day? You know you need to take care of yourself and find ways to relax and stay sane, but with everything on your to-do list, there’s never time. We may even look enviously at others thinking, “they have it so much easier than I do. Look at how much time they have to spare in the day!” Sara Ifert, owner of Go Simple Wellness, says there is hope! "The reality is that we all have the same 24 hours in a day. It’s up to us how we spend that time, for the most part." Lack of time is one of the biggest challenges Ifert's clients have when it comes to creating a healthier lifestyle or finding better balance. There’s no time to cook a meal, work out, read that book, get sleep, etc. Even the busiest person has time in their day that can be better managed. Ifert offers some simple tips to find more time in your day so you can find a healthier balance and less stress:- Find and acknowledge your time black holes! For 5-7 days, preferably during a time frame that also includes at least one weekend day, write down how you’re spending your time. Break it down into hourly chunks if you can. Do your best to just write down each thing without judgement. Maybe that 4 hours of Netflix was really helpful to your stress relief. Now is not the time to judge. But, it can be really enlightening to see exactly how your time is spent.
- Add some screen time restrictions to your devices. Do you REALLY need to be on Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat for hours each day? Must you scroll through the news or stock app 3-4 times per day? It can be really helpful to set time limits for yourself with certain categories that suck away precious time. You can find apps that will help you track this, and can alert you to when you’ve hit your limit for the day. If your “time-stealing" activities you discovered in tip #1 aren’t related to your phone or computer, well done! You can apply this tip to cutting back on the time you’re spending on other things, like binging episodes on Netflix.
- Schedule in relaxing breaks and “fun” time. Your idea of fun may be different than someone else's. But the bottom line is, if you’re not making time for whatever works for you - it’s not going to happen! Say you love painting and find it fun and relaxing. Set time up on your calendar to paint! You’ll have the best success if the fun/relaxing activity is waiting for you - i.e.: the paints are already set up in an area ideal for painting. Or, your gym clothes are set out and ready to go. Or your bath salts are set out on the bathroom counter. That way when it’s time, there aren’t many excuses standing in the way of you and that activity. Even if you just schedule 15 minutes for an activity, it’s a start! Often times 15 minutes turns into a longer time because we find that we’re enjoying ourselves, but if we don’t give ourselves the luxury of doing those activities that we enjoy, they often can slip by the wayside.
Ifert says that once you manage your time more effectively you can start making time for things that matter more to you AND reduce your stress level. Ifert offers coaching packages and courses designed to help people find more balance and health in their lives. A graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she works with each of her clients to identify their body's unique needs for nutrition, exercise and rest. She offers support, accountability and encouragement to help you meet your goals and make long-lasting lifestyle changes. Plus, she has a new e-course called 21 Days to Less Stress that can help you learn to identify your biggest stressors, discover how to turn the volume down on stress through self care and reframing, and become more resilient against future stress. Learn more and enroll at gosimplewellness.com/stress
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