Want to know a secret? You'll never have more time. And it's up to you how you choose to spend the time available to you.
I used to think that my levels of busyness and stress were medals of honor. I completely forgot about myself, let alone how to take care of myself. I also forgot who and what was important to me. I chased a never-ending to-do-list.
I'm so grateful for the time I got to spend with my Papa in Germany this summer.
Last year I could take him outside in a wheelchair. Now he's completely bedridden and sleeping a lot. Even though it was more difficult to interact and engage with him, being together, holding his hand while he slept, was worth my "vacation" time.
What (or who) are your priorities?
Here's a little exercise to help you bring more clarity:
1. Write down all the tasks/ activities that you do in a day. The small and big ones, the mundane and important ones.
2. Add how much time each one takes you. Sometimes you may be surprised by what you find.
3. Ask yourself, how important is each of these tasks/activities? This will help you put things into perspective and you may want to shift some things around.
4. Add all the things/activities that you would like to do, but you don't have time for.
5. Write down how much time you think each task/activity will take you. You may be surprised again.
Just the simple act of getting this on paper, out of your head, is already a huge help in knowing how you (can) spend your time.
Change begins with awareness. When we are not aware of what's going on, we just stay on auto-pilot and continue to be in the same loop. And you know what? The choice is always yours, even though it often doesn't feel that way.
Here's to more time for yourself and who and what matters to you!
May you have PEACE, LOVE & CALM - today and every day.
About Andrea Deierlein & Thrive Reiki, LLC: Andrea's work specializes in helping people transform the pain of life challenges and daily adversity through the practice of Reiki. She helps people struggling with stress, anxiety and overwhelm, to relax, calm down and breathe again. Focusing on stress management and the mind-body-connection, her clients shift out of survival mode, build focus and resilience. Connect with her on www.thrivereiki.com or follow her on Instagram @andreadeierlein