Time for yourself – we all know it's important. Yet, in our busy lives, it's often a challenge to make space for yourself. Here are six tips to help. Because what does 'making space' truly mean? Sometimes it's about entirely different things...
Tip 1: Make a (lunch) appointment with a dear friend. Do you love being around people? Then an appointment with that one friend with whom you have such good conversations is also time for yourself. Or go to the museum together, catch that great movie. How long has it been since you did that? Make the appointment this week!
Tip 2: Plan time each day that you can 'happily waste'. If you enjoy planning and organizing, you undoubtedly sometimes forget to schedule time for relaxation. Seize the opportunity! What do you find pleasant or important to do? Read the newspaper, take that walk alone, or watch that documentary? Make a little time for it every day.
Tip 3: Boost your adrenaline. A whole day in the office or in front of the class, in a meeting or working on that one piece: is there enough variety and dynamism for you throughout the day? If not: boost your adrenaline during your lunch break by exercising! You'll come back full of energy and ready to use your qualities for the rest of the day.
Tip 4: Spend time on the things you find important. If you look at how your week is typically filled, what percentage do you spend on things you truly find important? If this is less than 25%, it's time to review your schedule. Make time for matters and activities that are valuable to you, contributing to a goal you feel deeply committed to.
Tip 5: Organize time to truly be alone. Do you enjoy reflecting? Do you have a great imagination and recharge your battery by being alone, doing absolutely nothing? Then plan at least one hour of alone time every day. Take a walk, stare out the window, whatever works for you. And inform your surroundings that this time is important for you to be effective. You will be amazed by the energy it gives you!
Tip 6: Take 5 minutes at the beginning of the day and make a list of all the things you want to do today. At the end of the day, take another 5 minutes to look back and literally note what you have achieved. Is that time for yourself? Absolutely, especially if you like logic and structure, this is a very effective way to keep your energy levels high. Simple and with immediate results.
Curious what else you can do? Next Friday, we will share 5 more tips for dealing with stress.
Take the 'Recognize Your Stress' Test
Good to know: these are general tips. How effective they are depends on your personality type. Curious about what recharges you most? Take the Recognize Your Stress Test and get a chance to win a free Process Communication profile with feedback from one of our coaches. You will gain insight into what works for you and concrete tools to apply immediately for better balance and clear communication.
Photo credit: Arek Adeoye via Unsplash.co
