TAKING TIME FOR YOU

The crunch of last term is over. Classes start for some of you in January, for others the week after. This is the week between, the eye of the storm. 

I’d encourage you to take time for yourself to do some of the things you’ve been putting off because you had other tasks needing attention, or at least other tasks that you felt you should be doing.

How do you take time to yourself when there are always other things you could be doing, that you feel you should be doing?

You give yourself permission, and you schedule. And you accept that your schedule will never be perfect.

What would that look like this week?

First, there are some areas that do need to be attended to. From an academic perspective, they are pretty minimal this week: Check daily—but only once daily—your campus website for COVID instructions, emails from instructors, and grades. Make sure your course enrolments are registered. Order any texts and supplies you will need for next week. If you received a grade you disagree with, make the necessary appointments for dealing with the issue. Schedule the time each day for such college administrative items. They should take no more than half an hour out of each day.

Second, block out other commitments, such as family, health, social, fitness, grooming, etc.

Third, I hope you have a lot of space left in your scheduler. Make a list now, of what you would really like to do for yourself, activities that you would really enjoy. Schedule these into your calendar. 

Now set reminders for the start of your “Me Time” activities. Sometimes boundaries that keep us from doing what we enjoy are the hardest to keep.

When you hear your reminder, wrap up what you are doing. Stretch, Endorse yourself for switching to Me Time.

And do that thing. Endorse when you return to your other activities for taking that special time for yourself.

When you find yourself guilting during Me Time, congratulate yourself for catching the mental guilt or worry habit, remind yourself that you have scheduled (or will later schedule) time to deal with the worry. And continue your Me Time.

What happens if something comes up that I absolutely must deal with?

If something comes up that must be dealt with, either (a) schedule that something for another time or (b) reschedule the Me Time activity. It’s easy to forget to reschedule our Me Time when it has to be interrupted or postponed.

At the end of the day, reflect on what you enjoyed. Yes, look at your must-be-dones and adjust your scheduler where you need to. Then close by looking at what you are going to enjoy tomorrow.

This is so easy to write. So easy to say. But the habit of giving yourself the respect of Me Time and the self-permission to enjoy it is often one of the hardest habits for achievers to develop. The benefits include long-term greater creativity and productivity.

But that’s not why you do it. You do it because you look after the you that is at the core of what you do, what you value, and who you are.

Take care, and see you next week—keep in touch. I’m booking now for sessions that start next week: [email protected]

The information in this blog cannot take the place of support from your own mental health professional or community health resources. Reach out to them. And IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS  PLEASE DIAL 911.