How to Make Time For Self-Care & Relaxation in a Hectic Schedule
Is your life incredibly busy? It's becoming the norm, with many people turning to second jobs or side hustles to make ends meet as the cost of living rises. This can mean that your schedule becomes jam-packed quickly each week. And aside from work, there's so much more else to do. Chores, errands, kids activities, socialising and life administration. Sometimes it feels as though you need a time-splitting device to squeeze everything in. It can be pretty challenging to carve out some time for self-care, relaxation and decompression if you have a hectic schedule.
However, you need to find some time for these activities, as you can risk burning out if you don't. Burnout can take months to recover from, so you must remain proactive regarding self-care and relaxation. But what if you can't seem to find the time for this? This helpful article will share how you can make time for this essential activity to stay on top of your wellbeing and mental health. Read on to learn how.
Book Time to Watch a Movie
Nothing says relaxation more than chilling out on your recliner sofa with popcorn, a refreshing beverage and a good film or even an old VH1 dating show. As part of your weekly schedule, book a couple of hours a weeknight to enjoy a film. Don't schedule any social catch-ups or after-hours appointments on this day, and ensure you complete your work before clocking off in the afternoon. This means you'll have the time to chill out, enjoy a movie (or show) and put your feet up. This may seem indulgent, especially if you're super busy. Still, you need to make time to decompress and relax.
Replace Doom Scrolling with Micro Mindfulness
Do you find that you spend your spare time scrolling Facebook or Instagram, getting lost in the social media wormhole? Doing this can be quite tempting, as it requires no effort and is an easy way to veg out. However, research shows excessive social media scrolling can increase anxiety and decrease wellbeing. Instead, install a mindfulness app that allows for short, guided mindfulness exercises you can do when you usually scroll on social media. This may be on your lunch break at work - you can book a room for peace and quiet. Turn out the light, and engage with your body and breathing. Even if it's for just five or ten minutes a day, you'll notice a dramatic improvement in your mood and mental health.
Enjoy a Hot Bath
Another way to carve out some time to relax is by enjoying a long soak in a hot, bubbly bath. You can do this on the weekend - a Friday night after work is perfect. A steaming hot bath is the perfect way to soothe your tired and sore muscles and decompress after a week of hard work. You can be a bit indulgent here by taking some snacks and a beer or wine in the bath with you. If you're on a health kick, swap the chips for some wholemeal or rice crackers and a healthy dip. You can buy some bath products, such as a bath melt or bath bomb or even sprinkle in soothing lavender or ylang-ylang essential oil to introduce aromatherapy into your bubble bath.
Engage in a Hobby
Another excellent way to make time in a hectic schedule for self-care and relaxation is by engaging in a hobby activity. There are a range of different hobbies to suit busy people. You could take up knitting or embroidery, or journaling. Some folks enjoy board and card games, which you can enjoy with a group or alone. Others like puzzles, video games, or painting. Try to find something you can achieve in an hour or so if that's all your spare time. The great thing about a creative hobby is you can pick it up where you left off last time. For instance, if you colour in or paint, the art is still there waiting for you when you next have a spare moment to enjoy it.
Arrange a Wellbeing Day Off Work
Suppose your schedule is too hectic to allow for any other suggestions in this article. In that case, one thing you can do is book a wellbeing day off work. If you have a permanent role, you should have some leave entitlements. Some workplaces even offer wellbeing or mental health days as part of their workplace agreements. By booking a day in advance, you can dedicate the whole day to self-care activities without worrying about work.
A Self-Care Summary
This helpful article has taught you how to make time for self-care and relaxation amidst a hectic schedule. Try some of these suggestions out, and remember that you need to be proactive about managing your self-care to maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.