Is it time to invest in yourself?

Do you find yourself running after everyone else with little time left for yourself?

Many of us are so busy with work, school, and home life that often there is no time left over to do something that we actually enjoy. 

Today we discuss the importance of taking to slow down, enjoy life, and rejuvenate your mental and physical health.

The Importance of Self-Care

In today’s go-go mentality, taking time for oneself is often looked upon as being selfish or unproductive. You have a job to do, kids to take care of, meals to cook, bills to pay, and the list goes on. How can you possibly justify taking time out for self-care without feeling guilty?

The truth is that without self-care, you’re not giving yourself a fighting chance to give your best to each aspect of your life. If you don’t take care of your own needs first, you’ll find yourself burnt out and struggling in everyday life before you know it!

Shift your perspective and accept that taking time for self-care is key if you truly want to live a productive, happy, and successful life.

Simple Ways to Take Time for Yourself

Finding time to focus on self-care can be difficult, especially with the demands of work and family life. Often, scheduling time before you need it can be a great way to ensure you don’t miss that the all-important personal time. Here are a few simple tips we put together to help you plan to take time for yourself.

Evenings For Yourself

Try to save certain weeknights just for you. If others ask you to do things those nights, just tell them you have plans. Use the time for gardening, reading, exercise, thinking, or the ultimate luxury of doing nothing!

Monthly Treat

Schedule a treat for yourself once a month. It could be on your lunch break, a weekend, or it could be leaving work early. Maybe you get a spa treatment, go see a movie, a haircut, or whatever treat you’re always thinking about but rarely get to do.

Schedule it in at least a month before to ensure that nothing gets in the way of that time.

Join the Gym

No time like the present to look after your health.  Dedicate 2 hours weekly to attending the gym.  Go in with a plan so you can make the most of your time, rather than grazing from machine to machine.  If you are not confident to train by yourself, hire a personal trainer to help you along your journey.  Booking your training slots in advance will help you stay committed.  At Steelextreme we specialise in 1-1 Personal training, where the sessions are tailored to you and your goal.  If you can’t join a gym especially for those in lockdown, go for a walk.  Use this as YOU time, put in your headphones and enjoy the relaxing time, listening to your favourite music or audio book.

Leave Work on Time

This is one of the simplest things you can do when you’re craving personal time. Many of us stay at work late on a regular basis. If this is you, make it a point to leave work exactly on time at least once a week, to start off with. And then enjoy that time by participating in your favourite hobby or spending time with a friend you rarely see.

Take an Adult Education Class

Have you been wanting to learn something new or brush up on something you learned a while back? During this pandemic a lot of these classes have gone online, making it very easy and accessible for everyone.  

You can learn a foreign language, try yoga, or brush up on your painting skills.

Taking Time for Yourself on the Go

Some of us spend hours commuting to and from work. This can be a great chance to take time for yourself!

Commute Via Public Transportation

If you can, ditch your car and let someone else do the driving. Use that time to plan your day or do some reading, writing, creative thinking, or even meditation.

Driving in Your Car

Make the most of this time, and vary how you spend it. If you always listen to music,  audio books, or even quiet time.

Time Away From The Kids

You love your kids, but sometimes you just need a break from parent life. Here we have come up with some ideas to help you step away from the parenting role for a bit.

Organize a “Mum’s/Dad’s Morning Out” Circle

If you have a friend or group of friends, you could arrange to share babysitting services between you, a few times a month so that others in the group get some time alone.

Hire a Babysitter

Make a plan to have a babysitter that you trust watch your children once a month or once a week so that you can take time for yourself. Take it a step further and make that a date night or a night you participate in a class or hobby.

In Summary….

If you feel like you need to take time for yourself and relieve stress, there are many ways to do it. Even if you have a chaotic life where there seems to be only seconds to spare on any given day, it’s possible to carve out time for yourself by simply planning ahead. Make this a monthly occurrence to begin a healthy self-care habit.