Give Yourself Time This Week
One of the greatest pleasures of my new morning routine is that I start my day off doing nothing. I lay down for a while before getting ready and then sit with a cup of coffee for a few minutes.
It never takes me more than 20 minutes for a relaxing cup of coffee – and usually much less – and yet when I miss, I feel how tense and more stressed I am on my morning commute.
What I miss is that I can do nothing , be alone for a little while before I step out into the world and my daily routine begins.
In the article “ Start. Spending. Time. Career coach Brad Waters writes that while you probably have to-do lists to work on and goals to achieve, you also need to give yourself some real, genuine time on your own.
One of the kindest gifts we can give each other and ourselves is the freedom of free time. Unrestrained, uncontrollable, guilt-free time. Time to sleep, wake up slowly in a natural rhythm, snuggle up under the covers and listen to the sounds of our house, then the birds, and then the trees. To prepare hearty food, chew it up and taste it. To feel the individual drops of water when we shower, and then let our hair air dry in the sun when we go outside, doing absolutely nothing. Be mindless, playful and youthful. And admitting that everything else that we are not doing at this moment will be fine if we wait a few more moments.
True unstructured free time – when you let go of the expectations and demands of others and yourself – helps relax and rejuvenates your mind, Waters writes.
“We lose our balance when we don’t free our brains from the constant barrage of decision-making, judgment, labeling and mental chatter that accompany us every moment of our busy life,” he writes.
During the week, morning is often the only time I need to pause and relax. For you, this could be after work or during an afternoon walk . Either way, allow yourself to enjoy some time alone – your to-do lists will remain there when you return.