Taking some time for yourself is one of the most important things in this busy world that we live in. There always seems to be something to do and to just switch off creates major challenges for so many of us. Most people are aware of the consequences of not taking time out and yet so few people do so with any regularity.
Better than simply taking time out is taking time out with no distraction or other tasks to do. In fact, making the time out the task is many people’s solution. If the only important thing you have to do is to spend time on your own doing your own choice of thing, then the quality and effectiveness of the time out is hugely increased.
Really it is impossible to take time out when you are thinking about things that you have to do, or places you have to be, or worrying about aspects of your life. In fact that kind of time out is likely to create more stress and worry that you are not doing all those other things.
Time out is a discipline – just like time management (which of course enables time out to be included in our schedule) or organisation skills. It takes hard work and commitment, but the benefits are extremely powerful and enhance our ability to focus and be effective in our work, our relationships, our hobbies and all other aspects of our lives.
So, think of the things you would do if you had no tasks left to do and no other commitments for your time. Then schedule these things into your schedule on a regular basis and go and do them.
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Dan O’Neil says… Cheers EJ
I find that with some good relaxation music and being alone, you actually can take time out without scheduling other stuff into your schedule.
It does take some practice to really switch off though so keep in mind that at first it might not get you totally relaxed.
I like your suggestion of scheduling other tasks you normally wouldn’t do though, I will give that a shot and see how it goes, cheers.
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Dan O’Neil says… Thanks Josh.
A day of distraction free for me is listening to music, and just enjoy it – definitely relaxes me. It takes me to a new dimension, where my thoughts seems to drift away (for a moment.) After this, I feel energized, and ready to face S-T-R-E-S-S again.. =)
Dan O’Neil says… Thanks Rose.
Thanks Dan for this post.
No doubt about it, most of us simply don’t take enough time out to reflect on what is really important to us.
On one level it sounds a bit clinical, but I can see the logic in actually scheduling into your day the fun things you really want to do.
Cheers
David
I’d have to agree – it definitely sounds clinical! Some people need that discipline though!
Thanks, Dan
This is a nice way to free the mind and let go. I believe this is fundamental to improving the quality of life. Great post.
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Hi Kim, thanks for your comments.