Summer has come to an end and for many that means back to school for our kids and all of the after-school activities that come with that. It can be hard to get back into the groove of a packed schedule, and finding time for self-care may sound impossible. Here are some tips that might help you stay organized and find time for yourself to recharge:
1) Start a bullet journal: Do you consider yourself a creative person? This may be a fun activity to get involved with. All you need is a blank journal to start and you can add anything you’d like: to-do lists, a weekly or monthly calendar, a gratitude list, books you are currently reading, quotes, mood-tracker, budget-tracker, habit-tracker, etc.! By adding to it daily you can reflect on where and how you are spending most of your time and start forming healthier habits based on your values.
2) Delegate tasks: Sometimes we get stuck in the mentality of “I will just do it all myself because I know exactly how I want it done!” This type of thinking process can easily lead to burn-out and an over-packed schedule. Learn to delegate tasks to people you can trust and work on managing your expectations. Things may not be done exactly how you wanted, but can you be flexible in your thinking and allow others to complete the task in their own way?
3) Stick to the basics: At times we tend to over-complicate things. We might feel like we want to go above and beyond in many areas, but if we can stick to the basics, we may save time and money. Planning meals for the week? Stick with simple ingredients that you can make 2-3 meals from. Organizing a meeting? Don’t overstretch yourself with the small details and focus on the main message you want to get across to others.
4) Clear your mind: Start each day with a simple 10-minute guided meditation. Apps like Insight Timer are a great free tool to use to start practicing clearing your mind in the morning before the chaos of your day begins. Journal to reflect at the end of each day before going to bed. Did you complete the tasks on your to-do list? Did you notice any feelings come up throughout the day that may be lingering? Write it out and clear your mind before going to sleep.
We hope you have found these tips helpful!