Do you create space for yourself? If not, why?
For most of us, life is very busy. We have jobs, families, pets, partners, friendships and businesses to navigate. Advancements in technology have improved how we live our lives, but they have also intruded into our private space. Most of us are attached to a phone, iPad or laptop for a large proportion of our day.
The demands of work, family and other responsibilities can feel overwhelming, and finding ‘Me’ time becomes more and more elusive.
How can we then find space, when our lives already feel so crowded? “I don’t have time,” is an often said complaint. Yet to live truly creative lives, or lives that really fulfil us, we need to create moments of peace and tranquility. Finding space isn’t always easy, even though most of us crave some ‘down’ time, some time alone or just to be. However it needs to be a conscious action that we take, to enrich our lives.
Creating space can be a physical action or a perception in your mind. We can establish a room in our home that is just for us, or a quiet corner where we can read.
I closed my Reflexology business last year and the room in my home where I ran my business, was now vacant. My husband was determined to revert it to a bedroom. “We don’t need another study,” he said. However I was equally determined to keep it as a place where I could write and create. A private place to call my own.
Sometimes having some space in your home isn’t possible, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t set aside some time in your daily life. You just need to have the intention to do things differently. Maybe this might mean a day in nature. Maybe it might be coffee or lunch with a friend. Maybe it could be an hour just to yourself to read, or paint, or take photos, or exercise.
Creating space is also a conscious perception, a decision you make to just breathe, tap into your emotions and become aware of things around you. It could be a time when you meditate and step away from your chattering ‘monkey mind.’
It could be a time where you set stronger boundaries so that you aren’t available to everyone at all hours of the day. Perhaps you can ask for help or delegate. Every thing doesn’t need to be done by you.
Do you create space for yourself? If not, why? We are all deserving of a wonderful, fulfilled life and I know that our responsibilities and commitments can often get in the way. How then can we add one more thing to an already overburdened life? Creating space isn’t an extra burden. It’s actually a life line!
I’m taking time out to attend a Creative Business Summit this week, in Kiama, NSW. I know that it will fuel my creativity, enhance my knowledge and inspire me in so many ways. What about you? Can you find some time just for you, to recharge, think more clearly and find inspiration?
By taking some time out for yourself, you are taking steps to meet your physical, emotional and mental needs. You are creating opportunities for yourself to thrive, to grow and to recover. Little pockets of space allow you to refresh when you feel depleted. A walk in nature grounds you and reduces stress. Spending time with friends nurtures your mental state.
Every one of us craves space at some time or other. Why not make the decision to include it into every day? Take that half hour to sit in the sun with your morning coffee. Spend that fifteen minutes meditating every day. Turn your phone off or leave it behind when you go for a walk. Just close your eyes for awhile when feeling tired.
Having these moments to ourselves restores our energy, helps us make considered decisions and allows us to create from a place of fulfilment rather than depletion.
And isn’t that the best way to live!
With love,
Judy xxx
Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.
References: Photo by Abhishek Tirkey on Unsplash.