Have women forgotten how to make time for themselves? Taking personal time is becoming more and more politically incorrect – taboo, in fact. God forbid you get caught scheduling meetings around an impromptu getaway with a beau or a spa massage. It seems that women have learned perfectly well how to be nice and take care of other people but have forgotten how to ask for anything that they need for themselves. Well, it’s time to change, and it starts with self-awareness and taking time for yourself.
Remember the importance of leisure time. By managing your time more wisely and taking time for personal maintenance, you can minimize stress and improve your quality of life and well-being. Here are a few tips that may help you stay on course:
• Get motivated. Find incentive to incorporate leisure time in your life. Rethink your priorities. Making leisure time a priority is more than half the battle. The rest is planning and discipline.
• Schedule with discipline. Plan leisure activities with the same commitment as business appointments. Take responsibility for your tasks but don’t worry about things you can’t control.
• Make a personal to-do list. Mix a few “want to’s” into a day filled with “have to’s.” Plan leisure time at least once a week. Remember that leisure activities are meant to de-stress a person.
• Simplify. Rather than squeezing more activities or chores into the day, find a way to leave some things out. It’s OK to say no. Do not allow leisure time to be crowded out of a busy schedule.
• Achieve balance. Manage your time wisely. Make sure your schedule is balanced with work, home and leisure time. Think of what you can do today, tomorrow or next week to get started.
• Think positive. Adjust your attitude. Many everyday activities can be turned into enjoyable pursuits by having a positive attitude. You may discover that a lot of the things you thought you didn’t want to do were really things you just didn’t have time for.
• Rejuvenate your spirit. Stay connected with nature and/or a higher power as a way to restore optimism and inner peace.
Overall, keep things realistic. Behavior change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to shift agendas and incorporate new activities into your daily life. Be patient. Don’t give up and don’t feel guilty about allowing time for yourself. Leisure time can cost nothing yet is priceless.