Finding More Time for Self-Care When You Don’t Have Much to Spare
Me time is something you know you’re supposed to do but between growing your career, making time for your friends and spending time with family, it can be a little difficult to fit some self-care in too.
The good news is that taking better care of yourself doesn’t require you to set aside an hour or two every single day, it’s actually a lot simpler than that, which means no more excuses.
Making Time to Care for Your Inner Goddess
When you make yourself as much of a priority as everything else in your life, it becomes easier to find the time for self-care. When your priorities are out of alignment, of course it’s going to feel like you don’t have enough time in the day.
Once you start taking a closer look at what you’re spending your time on, you quickly see which tasks you can set aside for another time. If you want to get serious about self-care, cut out anything that is taking away from that. You don’t need to say yes to every family engagement and you really don’t have to login to Facebook every day either.
There is no rule that says you need to dedicate a full hour or two to self-care every day. Yes, some days you will have some additional time to spare but on most days, it’s easier to set aside small but meaningful pockets of time just for you.
For example, spend time watching a 20 minutes TED talk instead of opening your Instagram app. Instead of switching on the news in the morning, take your journal and a cup of tea to a quiet corner and write down what you’re grateful for. Putting aside small pockets of time a few times a day leads up to a lot of self-care in a week.
Most people are on their phones right before they shut their eyes, which means your brain needs some time to actually wind down before you’ll be able to fall into a deep sleep.
Getting enough sleep is a simple act of self-love that goes a long way. To ensure you have enough time to relax and quiet your mind. Set a bedtime alarm that indicates it’s time to switch off all screens and go about your bedtime routine.
Self-care looks different for everyone and sometimes staying on track means creating rituals that are just right for you. For example, you could choose to switch off your phone while you’re cooking a meal so that you can be fully present and enjoy the moment.
If you love to bath, create a ritual that includes dry brushing and your favourite body wash. Love writing? Find 5 minutes every day to put your thoughts or intentions down in a beautiful journal. When self-love becomes a regular part of your day, you will stop feeling like you need to schedule it into your routine.
Your work schedule might be crazy but there are ways that you can make self-care a priority. Perhaps you always eat lunch at your desk while you browse Facebook. To change this up, take your lunch to a park or anywhere you can be away from technology and the busyness of work for just 15 - 30 minutes.
If you always end up taking work home with you, set a hard rule that you’re only allowed to do this twice a week. Remember, you won’t be much use to your boss if you are physically and emotionally unwell. Self-care matters!
If setting goals will help you practice more self-care, do just that. Love cooking? Aim to master three new recipes by a specific date? If exercise and meditation is more your vibe, set a goal that requires you to exercise or meditate for 40 minutes every day.
With the help of these tips, you’ll have no more excuses for not setting aside some much-deserved me time every week. You definitely won’t regret it.