“Me-time” is a word that appears several times in almost every standard self-help book. Taking time for yourself is important - we are now aware of that. But how do you do that? Because if your agenda is filled to the brim with all kinds of 'musts', how can you squeeze in a moment for yourself? Surprise: it's possible! I share 7 tips that will help you achieve this.
Tip 1 - Look critically at 'musts'
We often impose all kinds of things on ourselves (including me!). You still have to vacuum before the visitors arrive, meet ten deadlines, score a super unique gift for a friend's birthday and finally call your mother again. But if you look at all that critically, are they really things that are necessary? Or are they mainly things that you (sometimes wrongly) expect from yourself? To be honest, the latter is often the case for me.
My tip : try not to think in terms of obligations, but in terms of solutions. Can you spend a little less time looking for the perfect gift? Check out the latest happy products from our Happlify crew here and you'll find the perfect gift in just a few clicks! Could you please call your mother tomorrow too? And does your house really have to be spotless when a friend is at the door? Of course not!
So just leave that alone for a while!
Tip 2 - Read a book before going to sleep
Going to bed fifteen minutes earlier should be possible. For me, scheduling reading time is an ideal way to take time for myself. To read more , I have agreed on a fun challenge with myself, whereby I want to read at least one book per month this year. It's been working pretty well so far and I'm really enjoying it. Being in another world for a moment is the way to let go of the overload of stimuli of the day.
By the way, a tip from me: I am currently reading the book 'Light Living' by Nanne van Leer . Definitely recommended to order for your bedside table (and to actually read of course!)
Tip 3 - Put a cross in your agenda
If we don't pay attention, our agenda will become completely closed in no time. There is always something you can do. Even if someone cancels and you have extra time, you may suddenly have all kinds of 'musts' come to mind. That's why this tip: schedule moments in your agenda for alone time in advance. For example, at the beginning of the week, put a big cross in your calendar for one or two afternoons or evenings. That time is intended for you and therefore not for appointments - even if there are emergencies.
Extra tip : crossing your plans during the weekend is also wonderful, so a good night's sleep can sometimes really feel like a mini-vacation!
Tip 4 - Combine the useful with the pleasant
We all have busy weeks when you really have to do everything. At such moments I try to take a moment for myself by cycling by tackling things a little more efficiently. For example, I often listen to a podcast in the car before an appointment, put on music while vacuuming to make it more fun, or watch a nice YouTube video with half an eye while I clean out the pantry. Sometimes you can easily combine the useful with the pleasant. Nowadays I even look forward to getting into the car by myself 😊
Tip : listen to this Happlify playlist if you have a long drive or need to do some cleaning. Fun guaranteed!
Tip 5 - Reduce your time on social media
Many people spend quite a bit of time every day scrolling, liking and commenting on Instagram and other social media. For me, skipping Instagram for a day is the way to immediately have at least half an hour or 45 minutes extra time in a day. You hardly miss anything and then suddenly have a moment to do something that makes you happy.
Do you really want to do it right when cutting down on social media? Then the Digital Detox from Happlify is highly recommended. A great way to examine and adjust your social media use for 52 weeks.
Tip 6 - Make your breakfast a party
There was a time when I ate some sandwiches for breakfast every morning – hurry up. I now have a taste for turning my breakfast into a party. Every morning I make time to make a tasty smoothie bowl, put oven-baked oats on the table or whip up something else with oatmeal. A happy start to the day and also a nice way to take a moment for yourself!
For other fans of festive breakfasts, the book 'Healthy Breakfast' by Ineke Haisma is recommended a nice tip. With 50 recipes you won't be short of breakfast ideas for a while.
Tip 7 - Go for a yoga walk
In short: taking time for yourself is not that difficult. You too can take a moment for it. Even today!
Which of these tips will you start with first?
The author: Romy Veul
Copywriter, language fanatic, crazy about color and cheerful as often as possible. That's who Romy Veul is in a nutshell. On her blog More often Cheerful she takes you into her positive imaginations. Always with a modest dose of humor and nice colorful photos. Romy's blog posts >
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