Taking time

It is very easy in today’s world to feel very busy much of the time. With vast amounts of technology at our fingertips, life moves at a much faster pace these days, and we tend to have a lot more commitments than people used to have. We can be and often are connected to phones and/or computers at all times. As a result, we are able to accomplish a great deal in a much shorter period of time with these marvelous machines. The downside of our wired and computerized environment is that most of us are finding it harder and harder to carve out time for ourselves. And some of us may actually feel guilty about having to “sneak in” a little personal time!

I find this scenario extremely unfortunate. We all need some regular personal downtime, time when we can just enjoy ourselves in any way we please. In actuality, these activities that nurture our mind, body and spirit in a positive and fulfilling way are essential to healthy living, especially since we spend so much of our time taking care of and giving to others. We all need time to renew and recharge our energy. We need to have our cup replenished so that we have more to give.

Creating personal time is a commitment you make to yourself and to do this only you can make it priority. It doesn’t have to be large blocks of time, but it has to be YOUR time in order for you to reap the benefit. It might mean finding a few minutes each day that you put aside for yourself regularly. One of my friends takes a brisk 20-minute walk every morning while listening to an audio book on her smartphone. Another friend tucks himself away in the garden for a half hour every day to read the newspaper. I even know a mother who gets up an hour before her children so that she can spend time writing in her journal. These individuals have incorporated these activities into their regular routine.

Maybe you would enjoy slipping away from work to read your favorite book during lunch. Or you might prefer to take a daily walk, or have another exercise routine, or set aside a special time and place where you can sit down in front of the piano, for example, or sit quietly to read or write in a journal. The important thing to remember is that it should be time designated just for “you” and it should be a priority. While it may feel a bit selfish at first, within a short time you’ll realize how much better you feel about yourself and how much more you will be able to give to those around you, when you have replenished your own energy first.

This week, I’d like you to think about a languishing hobby you haven’t touched lately. For example, it could be a regular early morning or evening walk or even a swim since it’s the summer! Wishing you had time for yourself isn’t enough to make it happen, so I encourage you to carve some time out of each day to do something good for yourself. Besides, it’s summer, and we are supposed to take advantage of some lazy days! If you do, I’m sure you won’t regret it.