Put Leisure time on your Calendar
It makes a world of difference
I know what you’re thinking. Who, in their right mind, is going to add a note to ‘Read 3 pages before bed’ on their calendar? Isn’t it something that comes naturally to people?
But the fact is, in an already over-saturated world of digital distractions coupled with the never-ending list of chores and commitments, we forget about something as simple as leisure time.
As a working mom or a work-from-home mom, this is one thing I’ve had a tendency to overlook in the past.
We’re so focused on ensuring other people are taken care of that we forget to take care of ourselves.⠀
Pro Tip: Don’t expect others to remind you about taking time for yourself. They won’t. It’s always better to consciously set aside a specific time each day exclusively for yourself and your hobbies.⠀
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For many of us that could mean listening to music, reading a book, watching TV or going for a leisurely stroll. ⠀
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It may seem particularly tough when the kids are younger, but I urge you to make 15 minutes a day, three or four times a day, when it is just all about you.⠀
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Doing so will make you more productive and more mentally capable of tackling the bigger tasks when they appear.
Add it to the calendar and also set an intentional reminder or a gentle alarm to ring 10 minutes before you need to get into the leisure activity. This helps us lift ourselves out of whatever we’ve plunged into and come up for air.
My evening walks, for instance, are my leisure/workout time. I both walk because it’s good for my health and because it’s the one of the most relaxing physical activities I know. There are times when I will just stroll instead of walking briskly, savouring the chill of the evening air as it nips gently at my fingers and my ears. I let myself enjoy the sounds of kids playing, the birds flying home to roost and the sky slowly deepening into a shade of orange and purple as it readies to settle down for the night.
That leisure time, that complete me-time, is the biggest reminder that my life is worth more than the checklists I’ve completed or the goals I’ve managed to achieve or the money I’ve made that month.
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.-W.H.Davies
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