Let’s have time for ourselves, starting today

“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” This quote by the famous American tennis player Arthur Ashe, after whom the main stadium at the US Open complex is named, is often used as a motivational message that on the way to any goal, you should get to work right away, without waiting for happier circumstances. However, today’s pace of life is such that many people need encouragement and motivation not to become more productive, but to slow down.

If you catch yourself spending most of the day in fifth gear, doing only what you must and not what you truly need, it is important to pause for a moment and listen to yourself. Chronic fatigue, poor sleep, and lack of energy are just some of the symptoms through which our body signals that it needs a break. You can wait for them to pass, but that is like ignoring the warning light on a car engine. The problem will not solve itself, and there is a risk that you will burn out.

Take control of your day 

To avoid that, do not postpone activities that recharge you under the excuse of not having time. Time is a precious resource that should be managed carefully, but we often forget that we choose ourselves how we will spend our 24 hours. Grand kafa reminds us of that once again, with the recognizable message “Let’s make time” – for ourselves, for moments of relaxation and enjoyment, for sorting out our own thoughts – and to do it already today.

Even if it seems like you have no free slots, you can surely free up at least half an hour for a break. Turn off your phone ringtone, postpone a meeting you agreed to only to please others, and free yourself from the pressure of having to be the best parent, partner, and friend.

And here are some activity ideas you can start today:

• A walk in the park: Maybe there is a park near your home or workplace, a tree-lined promenade, or a nicely arranged riverside walkway. Even if it is not really close, change the route you take home today. Spend time on a relaxed or brisk walk, depending on what suits you better. Breathe in the fresh air and let your thoughts wander freely. 
• Home exercise: Start the day with simple exercises like the ones we used to do in physical education class. Although they may seem like the last thing you want to do when you are tired, exercise is a powerful remedy against stress and exhaustion. Make the goal 30 minutes a day all at once or in short 10-minute intervals.
• Reading, podcasts, gaining new knowledge and skills: Instead of wasting your break during the day on your phone checking messages, emails, and social media, spend that time on an activity that fulfills you most, while also broadening your horizons and knowledge. With today’s available apps and tutorials, you can even learn foreign languages completely free of charge. There is no better or more useful way to relax and escape everyday stress. 
• Coffee without rushing: Let the break for enjoying a cup of your favorite coffee become your time to clear your thoughts and relax, a moment you consciously give to yourself. After that, all obligations and deadlines seem less frightening and easier to handle.
• A relaxing bathroom ritual: Showering always feels good and refreshes everyone, so why not turn this daily routine into a multi-hour, relaxing bath ritual? Besides unquestionably relieving emotional and mental stress, a good detox bath will also cleanse your body of harmful substances. After that, you can set aside a little more time for facial care and give yourself a complete treatment that will surely restore your energy. 

Why it is important to find time for yourself

Self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity, and it has nothing to do with selfishness. If we do not listen to ourselves and take care of our own needs, we risk “boiling over” because under pressure everything breaks, and so does our body when we overexert it.

No matter how many obligations you have at work and at home, it is important to admit that you cannot do everything and, perhaps even more importantly, you do not actually have to. Arrange tasks according to importance, and simply cross out or postpone the ones that are not important for another time.

The only thing that cannot be postponed for another time is self-care. 

Start where you are now, with what you have, do what you can. Grand kafa tells you that the beginning is the moment when you decide to truly change something.