Carving out time for yourself is an integral part of living a healthy,
whole and balanced life.
Why it matters
Making time for yourself allows you to:
- Recharge your batteries and counteract the stress and intensity of life
- Reflect and rewind
- Fill your creative well (solitude is critical for creativity)
- Be more productive
How to carve out time for yourself
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Put it on the calendar. You schedule appointments with your doctor, your boss and your child’s
teacher, so why not with yourself? Set aside a certain evening for yourself
or schedule a specific activity that will bring you pleasure. Consider
making weekly dates for solo expeditions. Visit a museum exhibit or take
a walk in the park. Putting the date on the calendar makes it more likely
you’ll honor the commitment to yourself.
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Take advantages of wait times. Read, listen to a podcast you’ve been saving or just savor
a few quiet moments.
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Get up a little bit earlier. Morning people tend to get more done during the day. Even night owls can
benefit from waking just a few minutes earlier each day. Use this
time for solely for yourself.
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Stop multitasking. Really. Doing one thing at a time allows you to do that thing faster and
better, which actually frees up time you could spend on something
pleasurable.
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Find a new activity. Take a class, learn a new sport or join a group that requires you to make
a time commitment.
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Buy tickets in advance — you’ll be more likely not to let life interfere in your plans.
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Practice doing nothing. Turn off your computer and other devices and simply be alone with your thoughts.
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Tap into your network. Swap babysitting or other chores with a friend. Now you each have a little
time for yourself!
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Identify time wasters. Are they really necessary? Can you give them up or turn them over to someone
else to free up that time?
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Do what you can with what you have. In other words, no matter how much time you have, fill it with something
rewarding and enjoyable, even if it’s only 15 minutes. Focus on
quality, not quantity.
Take out your calendar and schedule a date with yourself — today.