If you laugh when someone asks when you relax, you for sure need to read this post! Relaxing should not be something you wish for! It needs to be something you prioritize. I know this isn’t easy though so in this post I mapped out 4 ways you can make time to relax. And yes that means you with the super busy schedule! I totally get busy and I can still use these tips to help make it happen, and so can you!
I can already sense some of you wanting to click away from this tab but please stay with me. The thought of relaxing can actually be stressful for some of us. It seems hard to imagine not checking something off! And I can totally relate to this because I used to feel the same way. I finally learned to work on this more because I was always overwhelmed and stressed and knew I couldn’t go on like that forever!
Do Not Disturb
Put your phone on do not disturb each night. This is probably the easiest thing you can do and something you can start right away! I have my phone charging next to my bed because I use it for my alarm each morning. Now, I go to bed early and I would put my phone on the charger and without fail some group message I was in would all of a sudden go crazy!
I was then completely out of rest mode and into curious mode or I would pick up my phone to see what was going on and let’s be honest it was never anything completely important. The result would be me getting out of rest mode so when I would put my phone down again I would need to wind down all over again.
This was not helping me at all and then my husband suggested the do not disturb feature. I set it for 8ish each night and my phone just turns it on all by itself. I do have it set to allow phone calls to come through in case of an actual emergency but for everything else, I can check it in the morning!
Now you don’t have to just use this at night to sleep. Going out to dinner? Turn it on! Having family time? You know what to do! Less distractions lets your brain focus on one thing and will help you feel less overwhelmed!
Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is a little harder than the do not disturb tip but it is so important! You need to learn how to set the boundaries so you can say no to things. This is how you prioritize time for yourself and for rest. You don’t actually have to attend every party you’re invited to and when you’re asked to volunteer for things at work or your kids school, you’re allowed to say no to them also!
I know this is hard for some people. Learning to say no isn’t always easy and I totally get that but it is something you need to work towards. If you are presented with a choice and your initial reaction isn’t complete excitement, well then maybe this time is a good time to pass. If you keep saying yes to everything, what you’re really doing is saying no to yourself and we can’t always have that!
Now I am not telling you to tell off your boss and refuse to do your job! Please don’t go well this blog I read said…. My point here is that you have the option to say no and you have to use it more than you’ve been using it so you can have time in your life for yourself and rest!
Making Time For Fun
If you happen to be in a particularly busy season then you really need to listen up here. You have to schedule in time for fun things. I don’t care how silly that may sound to you, it has to be done! If you do not have enough time in your week to take time to relax then I want you to open up your calendar right now and fit it in. Even if it’s just 15 minutes a day that you walk away from your phone or the chaos and just do something for yourself! You need to plan it.
Think about it, just saying I’m going to make more time, isn’t going to happen because if it was that easy you would be doing it already. The fact that you’re not doing it already means you need to try something new. So now I want you to try scheduling it into your calendar. I don’t care if you start with scheduling in 5 minutes to sit quietly on the couch, it’s a start!
Setting Reminders
We all get wrapped up in our busy schedules and sometimes we just need a little reminder that the chores can wait until tomorrow. If you find yourself always trying to cross off another item on the to do list then you need to try this out.
Set a reminder for a certain amount of time or a certain time of the evening. When the reminder goes off, it’s time to put whatever you’re working on away! The laundry can wait until the morning and so can that soaking pot. I know, I know you want it all done so you can relax but friends the problem here is you aren’t relaxing! You aren’t giving yourself the time your body needs so you need to start changing what you’re doing!
It’s ok to leave some tasks for the next day, trust me the laundry will still be there in the morning. To make this work I prioritize my to do list with things that are an absolute must first. That way I get done what is completely essential for that day! The rest can wait until tomorrow. Stop making yourself feel guilty for resting when there’s a pot in the sink. Your body and mind need to rest more than that pot needs to get cleaned!
As a society we encourage everyone to work as hard as they can and while that is a good trait to push it also has its downfalls. Some people look at rest as a mark of failure, and I really just want to know when did that happen? When did we start commending people who work nonstop? It’s time to change that mindset because we are all overworked and completely stressed and it isn’t helping anyone!
Need more help with this? I have a free 30 Day Self Care Challenge just for you! Each day you will be given a tiny self care task to help you prioritize your time for you! Click the link to join now!
