We’re all busy. So busy that it can be hard to clear our schedules and take the time we need to relax, unwind and recharge our batteries. In these fast-paced modern times, taking time out is all about making time to do it. So here are our top tips for making time to take time out.
Drop All Non-Essentials Tasks
Pull out your diary and take a look at the next month’s schedule. Is it filled with non-essential busy work or high priority tasks? It’s probably a mix of both. Finding time to take time out is all about dropping the non-essential tasks from your day. Keep anything that’s urgent or can’t be postponed or cancelled. Move everything else to another week, until you have a solid block of time that you can use for relaxation or to get away.
Delegate
Now that you only have a list of essential tasks, see what you can outsource to someone else. You could hire a virtual assistant or answering service to handle calls while you take time out, have someone look after the mail or hire a cleaner and gardener to take care of chores around the house. You may be surprised by how inexpensive it is to outsource your work. You may only need to do it for a week or two, to give yourself a well-deserved break without worrying about tasks being neglected.
Take a Short Break
Not of all us can take months off from work, socialising and life. Especially if we have families. But you may be able to steal short blocks of time here and there. Think of it as a mini break from reality. Perhaps you and your partner could take a long weekend and stay holed up in a hotel outside the city. Or maybe you can give yourself every second Friday off, to really unwind and gain some perspective. Taking a short break can help you get the space you need, without the stress of being away for too long.
Ask for Help
Desperate for a break but just can’t see a way to take time? Ask! You may be surprised who offers to help when you ask for a hand. Could your parents look after the kids for a few days? Would your boss allow you to start work early for a week, so you can take an extra day off during the week? As the old adage goes, ‘ask and you shall receive’.
