Four Simple Steps for Making Time For Yourself

The holiday season is here and your to-do list is growing by the day. Remember: making time for yourself is just as important as anything else on that list. Giving yourself the gift of “me time” will tame tension and help you deal with the challenges this time of year brings. As an added bonus, a less stressed-out you creates a happier holiday season for the family, too! Making time for yourself is as easy as following these four steps.

1. Gauge where your time is going.

If you’ve ever tried to create a budget, you know the first thing many money-mavens suggest is to keep a record of outgoing cash so you can see where your money is going. You can use this same tactic to see how you spend your time for a few days. You may find something as simple as running more errands in a single trip frees up the “me time” you’ve been missing. Next, pinpoint places where you can pencil in an appointment with yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there.

2. Create a to-do list that’s all about you.

Think of this as the grown-up sequel to the wish list you made for Santa. Write down the activities you want to do, and annotate how much time you need for them. Graduate your list from activities that take a short time — such as five minutes to do some deep breathing — all the way up those that take several hours, like watching a favorite film. When you see an opening on that time record you just made, match up the available timeframe to the treat!

Consider these simple ways to treat yourself:

  • Reading a chapter of your favorite author’s latest title
  • Seeing a movie or play that only you want to see
  • Taking a long bubble bath (add a do-not-disturb sign on the door!)
  • Attending a group activity like a book club or knitting circle
  • Exercising (a leisurely stroll on your own street counts!)
  • Crafting, scrapbooking or coloring in an adult coloring book
  • Planting a windowsill herb garden

3. Delegate to lighten your load.

When you review your time record, you’ll probably find you spend a lot more time cleaning, clearing clutter, and doing laundry than you thought. These tasks can eat up a lot of your day year-round, but they become especially time-consuming when you add in the extra work that comes along this time of year. The most important thing you can do for yourself is ask for help. The burden of housework shouldn’t fall on one person’s shoulders, so speak up! Post a chore chart that assigns each family member his or her share of routine cleaning, plus all those extra tasks that come along with prepping for guests.

4. Pamper yourself with a professional cleaning.

Is there too much to do, too little time, and too few helping hands? Give us a call! Custom Cleaning of the Treasure Coast, Inc. has been cleaning Treasure Coast homes, offices and commercial businesses since 1991. Contact us today at 772-220-7915 to schedule your free estimate.