In the busyness of everyday life, it’s challenging to find just a few minutes for yourself where you can take a breather and put your feet up, so to speak. You have a myriad of tasks waiting for you from the moment you wake up to right before you’re ready to flop on your inviting bed. And when you do, you are assailed with feelings of guilt. You have to get the kids ready for school, get out the door on time, cook dinner, bathe the kids, put them to sleep, settle the house, etc. How can you just take 15 minutes to pause when you need to run around? Even if you do sit down, your mind is racing, and the never-ending list is not ending.
Some of us might find ourselves at a point where we go, ‘That’s it, done. I’m going to sit for a few minutes and enjoy a cuppa’. And when you’re able to do it, you feel refreshed and ready to resume. And sometimes, it seems so difficult. If it were easier, you would already have been doing it. So, how do you do it? You will need to be intentional about it.
You might start by blocking your calendar for those precious 15 minutes somewhere after you return home and before you start the second shift at home. Or, you can add this in big, bold letters on the whiteboard in your kitchen, letting your kids and partner know that’s your time to refresh after work. You and your partner take turns with it and agree to manage the chaos, storm, or whatever it is you feel might need attention as you take your well-deserved break. Be mindful, be gentle, and be compassionate. Let guilt come up to you, hug it, and let it go. Let anxiety knock, take its message, and send it on its way through the back door. Redirect your focus to your body and your breath, and smile.
That’s’ your 15-minute miracle, your loving gift to yourself, your partner, and your family. You can use this time in several different ways. You can stretch, listen to music, journal, deep breathe, look out the window, take a quick walk around the backyard, balcony, or driveway, smell the flowers, touch the leaves, have a warm beverage, bring your awareness to your senses, or simply move around. The more you consciously practice it, the more you will start to settle into it. Give yourself permission to embrace it, and let yourself know that when you feel calmer, things will seem less overwhelming.
And if you’re wondering why I said 15 minutes and not 10 or 20, it’s because I learned from my clients that 15 minutes was the timeframe that worked the best for them. Whether to wake up early and enjoy a hot cup before starting the day, or to take a quick shower or go around the block after work and before starting the chores, that was their magic number. Go ahead, use creativity, and find out what works for you!