Free up time in your daily life just for you. It can be time for you to enjoy your coffee on the porch or to read a couple of chapters in a book. Never feel guilty for making time just for you. There may be many roles you play including spouse, parent, and employee.
However, that doesn’t mean you should lose sight of your own needs and your desires. When that happens, you may start to feel robotic in what you do and what actions you take. You may not feel like you are realizing your full potential.
Trust your Instincts
When it comes to doing what makes you happy, go with your gut. As long as what you do doesn’t harm others or hurt your overall well-being, then take part in it. I have always enjoyed live music so I go to plenty of concerts. Many people think that I am too old for that or that I should save my money.
Yet it is what makes me very happy. For those few hours, nothing else matters. I can let go of stress, not worry about things at home, and just enjoy the show. I have also made some wonderful friends that share the same love of music. Some of them I get together with regularly.
Others, I only get to see at a concert so it is even more special when I do get time with them. You know better than anyone else what it is that will make you happy. Think about how you would feel if you didn’t take part in those activities. If removing them would reduce your level of happiness, then keep taking part in them. Not everyone will understand that, but spending that time on what you enjoy is for you – not for them.
Own Who You Are
Don’t make excuses for spending time on what you like to do. Own who you are and what you enjoy. Your personality should reflect what you enjoy taking the time to do. Men seem to have a harder time than women with this, especially if what they enjoy doing isn’t always deemed as masculine.
For example, I once worked with a guy who enjoyed baking. He loved to try new recipes in his spare time. Yet he was very hesitant to tell people what he liked to do. When he would bring goodies to the office, people would comment that he was a lucky guy that his wife made such delicious items for him.
He didn’t share with many of us that he was the one doing the baking. Only those that he trusted not to tease him about it. In a facility that was mainly men, you can imagine how he thought they may react to the fact that he was their boss but at home baking in the evenings.
It can be hard at times to stay true to who you are and not hide your habits or hobbies. Your personality is unique though and you should be proud of it. By taking time for yourself to enjoy what you like, you will become more comfortable in your skin.
Don’t apologize to others if your path is one that is different from theirs. One of the bases for quality relationships is not only accepting what you have in common with someone but also respecting the differences.
If you aren’t accepting of yourself and what you offer, how can you expect anyone else to be? Learning to love yourself and to be kind to yourself is a huge step towards happiness. If you can’t enjoy spending time alone with you, why would anyone else want to?
Reflect
When you spend time alone, you can relax and you can reflect. Think about some good memories that you have. They will put you in a good mood and help you to feel content. Think about the challenges you have worked to overcome and be proud of the steps you took to make positive changes.
You can also reflect on the future and how you plan to achieve the goals you have in place.
The process of reflection allows us to slow down and to be in touch with ourselves. We may live a very fast-paced life, and that means that we don’t always get the results we are looking for. We can develop tunnel vision and reflection allows you to really see the big picture.
Give your Time
Even though you are making time for yourself, do what you can to donate some time now and then. If you enjoy knitting, make some extra hats and scarves that you can donate to a homeless shelter. If you enjoy baking, take some cookies over to the local senior center for them to enjoy.
Go through your home and clean out clothing and other items you no longer use. There is always someone who can use them. Donate them to a shelter or a second-hand store. Do what you can to give back with some of your free time.
Hobbies
Find a couple of hobbies you really enjoy. If you aren’t sure, try something new. Perhaps a dance class or an art class. You can also spend some time creating a book club or you can do some home repair projects. Your hobbies should reflect who you are and what you enjoy taking part in.
They can help you reduce stress and to feel like you are completing something positive. A couple of hobbies can prevent you from getting bored or taking part in activities that are negative.
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