{"id":13696,"date":"2013-04-22T21:23:06","date_gmt":"2013-04-23T05:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=13696"},"modified":"2013-04-23T07:54:55","modified_gmt":"2013-04-23T15:54:55","slug":"5-ways-to-make-time-for-yourself-without-feeling-guilty-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-make-time-for-yourself-without-feeling-guilty-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways To Make Time For Yourself Without Feeling Guilty About It"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/b>All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy\u201d- English proverb
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

It just drains all of life\u2019s enjoyment.<\/p>\n

You just want to relax and watch a good movie but you feel guilty about claiming two full hours out of the day.\u00a0 Or maybe you want to curl up and read the latest issue of Cosmopolitan magazine, or maybe you feel like enjoying a long nap?<\/p>\n

You’re not alone.<\/p>\n

You squeeze everything out of every living minute; you\u2019re speed-crazed, time-obsessed, tech-dependent, and a productivity freak.<\/p>\n

To complicate matters, you\u2019re flooded with time management techniques to help you be more productive every day of your life.<\/p>\n

But having some down-time (whatever that means for you) is not a waste, even though you might think it is.\u00a0 Having nothing to do for a while is the ultimate luxury of our modern days.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s first assume you work hard most of the time and you deserve a break once in a while.<\/p>\n

Your problem is you think you can\u2019t afford to take time off.\u00a0 Hence, the feeling of guilt when you do.<\/p>\n

As a result, you keep putting off a simple and effective reward for your efforts \u2013 Me time<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Less is more<\/i> is a notion that simplicity and clarity lead to better architecture, design, fashion and yes, productivity.<\/p>\n

Try practicing one of these mind shifters to enjoy more guilt-free Me time:<\/p>\n

1. Think of down-time as an investment <\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>An electrical car needs a couple of hours to recharge after use.\u00a0 Your mind and body are the same \u2013 they need to be refueled and energized to go back into drive mode.<\/p>\n

Think over the long run \u2013 you want to conserve and even compound your energy by investing small amounts of time in Me time on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

In any act of creativity, be it in arts or business, taking a step back from what you\u2019re doing to letting your creative juices do their work is the best advice.<\/p>\n

In her book, The Creative Habit<\/i>, Twyla Tharp suggests the nifty trick of always stopping when you still have some energy left.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t drive yourself to the point of being totally spent.\u00a0 Try to stop while you have a few drops left in the tank, and use that fuel to build a bridge to the next day\u201d<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Let go of the to-do list for a week <\/b><\/p>\n

Trust yourself to work on the most important tasks for your business and allow yourself to experience seven days without a constant reminder of what\u2019s still left to do.<\/p>\n

If you have a crazy case of hamster-wheel brain because you\u2019re always thinking of what to do next, you\u2019ll find even more benefits in training your mind to let go of the to-do list.<\/p>\n

For some, yoga and meditation help.\u00a0 For others, various restorative activity make them appreciate the present moment.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

By being less obsessed with checking off the items on your list, you\u2019re helping your mind focus on the true top priorities.<\/p>\n

3. Make a conscious effort to block a day off with nothing on your schedule <\/b><\/p>\n

Instead, put fun time on your calendar.<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t think you necessarily need a list of fun activities to do.\u00a0 What you do need is a way to trick yourself to do these activities.\u00a0\u00a0 So pencil them in your calendar well in advance. Then don\u2019t move them under any condition.<\/p>\n

4. Take pride in what you\u2019ve completed<\/b><\/p>\n

Give yourself a nudge for work well done.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let the perfect be the enemy of the good\u201d Voltaire<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a perfectionist, revisit 3 Rules to Help You Fight the Tyranny of Perfection<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

5. Let go – Hang around small kids or adults who haven\u2019t grown up<\/b><\/p>\n

Play a board game.<\/p>\n

Tell a story.<\/p>\n

Play outside.<\/p>\n

Read a children\u2019s book.<\/p>\n

Dance.<\/p>\n

Challenge your assumptions about what being more productive means.<\/p>\n