It’s all so quiet … looks like time stopped, but in fact, it did not. It flows as fast as ever and still feels like there’s not enough time for what you love. Ever felt like this? Maybe you thought that with quarantine it would all change but you woke up a month later without any book finished, or a daily workout or whatever you promised yourself you’d do when there was time.
I know the feeling, this is why today we’ll discover together how to make time for what you love irrespective of the constraints. Lack of time has been one of the most common issues in modern society but can be mitigated if we live in awareness.
Why is time for what you love important?
All of us have something to prove. We begin with our parents or teachers, then we try and prove ourselves to society, to our bosses and colleagues, sometimes even our spouses. The come children and we constantly prove our affection if not more. We spend an enormous amount of time trying to please others in one form or another. But what about you? Do you do enough to make yourself happy?
Give to others out of abundance, not scarcity. So how can you share happiness if you don’t make yourself happy first?
Sometimes it is easier said than done, but I’m going to share only a few ways to make time for what you love. It can be reading, listening to music, being with your loved ones, exercising, or whatever else makes you content.
Utilize the commute time
Most people commute to work every day for at least 30 minutes, but the average has reached 59 minutes, according to a study performed by the TUC. Usually, that time is. What if you were to use that time doing something you really like. Luckily now there are multiple options both audio and video besides the normal paper. You have access to audiobooks, podcasts, music playlists, movies, TV series, documentaries, tutorials, courses, and a lot of other media. But still, most people spend this time browsing through social media or listening to the radio while driving. Stop wasting the commute time, think about your passions, and use it to rejoice.
Make house chores pleasant
We spend on average around 2 hours per day doing household chores. Ever thought of making those fun and a source of pleasure? While washing dishes or ironing or cooking play an audiobook or your favorite music playlist. Cleaning the house is an opportunity to exercise, even in a professional manner. If you don’t believe me, see here some options.
Who says that you should be alone while doing chores? Get your loved ones to tag along (maybe even help) and do stuff together. Play word chain or mind games, tell stories, jokes, or invent other fun activities.
Share your passions with your loved ones
You might not have the same passions as your dear ones, but these can turn into an acquired taste. To prove it, take turns in practicing your hobbies so that everyone gets a chance to feel content. Today you can ride the bike together, tomorrow organize a book club, the next day paint and afterward a movie night. This way you make time for what you love and even discover other distractions.
Wake up 30 min earlier
If you still feel the day is not enough, try waking up just 30 minutes earlier than you usually do (and maybe than others in the house do). It might be a bit hard initially, but if you use these minutes for yourself, it won’t feel it as a burden. You can meditate, jog, write, or anything else that fills you up.
Reduce “wasted time”
Knowingly or not, throughout the day we waste a lot of time. We do this by procrastinating or poor planning or engaging in activities that don’t bring any added value like social media browsing, etc. These are time thieves and result in low energy, preventing us from doing what we actually enjoy. Identify and reduce the wasted time so that you do more of what you love.
Some might say “Easier said than done!”, I say: “Where there is a will there is a way”