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I was reminded today about how important health is.
It’s important to remember that this is not just your mental health but also your physical health. There is always a lot going on in our world today, but it’s essential to spend some time and focus on yourself.
Taking a break might be what you need.
We all have commitments, whether it be a full-time job, a second job, starting a business, a family, and the list goes on. We need to remind ourselves that taking time out for ourselves is crucial.
One thing I need to be reminded of is that it is okay.
So, in this post, I want to share with you a few things I do and some ideas you could try.
The point is to allow yourself some time to reflect on what you are doing and take care of yourself.
Taking A Break
If you work multiple jobs, want to start a side hustle, have family obligations, or don’t have enough hours in the day, this is for you.
You need to allow yourself time to breathe.
I cannot tell you how often I’m stressed out and don’t take time for myself. Then I remember it’s okay to do it. During that time, I find the solution I’m looking for.
We all need a little RnR in our lives!
If you don’t have enough hours in the day, you tend to work too much.
It might also mean you have so many obligations and deadlines that you are spreading yourself too thin.
If this is you, reread this blog’s title and continue reading.
The main focus here is to get out, get some fresh air, or even change your location.
You might also have days when you are not motivated to do anything. That’s a good time to sit quietly and focus on your breathing.
You will feel better after a few deep breaths (if you can sit there for a few minutes, even better).
Now, let us get to a fun check-in for you!
- What is your posture like if you are sitting at a desk or looking down at your phone?
- Are you hunched over and shoulders rounded?
I ask this because right now, mine are!
This is an excellent time to focus on your posture.
Even if you only fix it a few times daily, that’s better than never.
Stretching
When was the last time you stretched? Do you work out, run, hike, and stretch before or after?
When I stretch for ten minutes a day, I feel a lot better.
Over the last few years, I have done at least ten minutes of stretching. I have found doing this in the morning works best for me. But I think you should give it a try, it’s not a long time, and you will feel better!
This is very important if you work on a computer or spend a lot of time sitting.
Try to build a few minutes into your day.
If you work, you should be taking breaks anyway. After all, you may as well get in some movement.
You might even improve your productivity!
I highly suggest Justin’s stretch flow routine with my friend (and previous coach) if you want a quick video.
This has helped me a lot over the last year.
The best part is that it’s easy to do. I think you should check this quick two-minute video out below.
If you are interested in a longer video, continue reading (but after watching Justin’s video).
Yoga
I separated this section from the above one because I feel that yoga is something to do when you have more time.
At least from what I’ve done, it is generally around 20-45 minutes to get in a yoga session. If you are not experienced with yoga, let me say that it will kick your butt!
Again, the focus is on your body and moving around.
To get a little personal, I need to focus on my posture. I work a lot in a vehicle and spend a lot of time on a computer. I noticed I had shrunk by an inch when I went to the doctor!
Honestly, I was hunching over, so once I was told to stand up straight, I stopped hyperventilating.
Here is one thing you also need to fix. This is with stretching, yoga, and finding time outdoors.
Instead of saying, “I don’t have time,” you must change your mindset.
Another way of putting it is that you aren’t prioritizing time for yourself.
Taking the stretching example, instead of “I don’t have time to stretch,” it becomes, “I’m not making stretching a priority.”
Once you change your mindset, you will try and find ways to make the change.
There are many videos online dealing with stretching, yoga, meditation, and many more topics for your health. I recently found a video for spine stretches.
It is appropriately titled The Posture Fix.
If you enjoyed the video and want more information, they are offering a free trial with their yoga class!
It’s neat that they are focused on men getting into yoga, but honestly, anyone can join and benefit from their hundreds of videos, and they even have a posture fix blog.
Get Out And Move
If you want another idea, my advice is to spend time outdoors.
It feels great to get some fresh air, whether walking, hiking, biking, camping or just spending time with family on a picnic.
Having time outdoors is not only a great distraction but also helps you focus on what is important to you. You might even get some ideas for your business or topics in your next blog post!
Wherever you are, you can also do a quick bodyweight workout, which has recently been my go-to type of workout.
Any movement you do will do wonders for your mind and body. The main focus is to get out and get moving.
Meditation
I mentioned above about your mental health and focusing on your breathing.
Over the last month, I decided to take between five and ten minutes each day to meditate. I even put out a 30-day challenge on my blog.
If you have not tried guided meditation, you might be shocked at how amazing it is.
The main thing I have noticed is that I am more present now than before. I have also applied it to my daily life of focusing on what is happening around me.
We all live in the past (thinking about what has happened) and the future (what will happen), but it takes time to be present. To read more about this topic, click here.
This could be when sitting in the parking lot waiting for the workday to start or listening to focused meditation.
There are many applications you can use. I have used Headspace and am currently trying the Calm app. But a good free way to find guided meditation is on YouTube.
What Are You Going To Try?
The key is to remember to keep yourself healthy, which will help in all aspects of your life.
It’s important to know we all have 24 hours a day, and how you use them is up to you.
I challenge you this week to make yourself a priority.
We are all busy and have obligations. We all feel guilty putting ourselves first, but guess what?
You will be surprised how much better you will feel.
Think about taking a break, going for a walk, a bike ride, spending ten minutes stretching out, or meditating.
You will be more relaxed and better focused, and you can bring others along with you!
Just remember that it’s okay to take a break.
While we are on this topic, What did you do for your last break?
Leave a comment below!
Yes I agree with you we both need a day off and sometimes to stay healthy too. It will make no since if we over work without getting a break. There is another life after work so need to balance.
I heard about meditation and yoga and i read it in your article too I have tried to meditate but for long I plan to learn yoga exercise as wee. I hope many will benefit from your article. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, and I agree we all need to take a break. Especially if we work full-time jobs and try and build something on the side.
Even if it’s just a walk or a five-minute meditation (which I have done and was surprised how much it helped), yoga is amazing, and I would like to get back into it. There were some links above that have some good stuff to check out too!
Take care of yourself!
What a great reminder to help keep our personal sanity and focus than to simply take a day off. I can attest to this being important if it’s feasible — I recently took a half day to visit some places (about a hundred miles away) that I had been putting off for years. It was such a nice chance to explore and recharge the mental batteries with an adventure and break from the routine.
Hi Aly! Thanks for the comment, and I couldn’t agree with you more. Yesterday, I went on a hike. Getting outside, fresh air, and birds chirping.
Often, we get caught up in our daily lives that we all forget to take a day off.
I hope you remember to do it more often too! I would say put a reminder on your calendar. Even if it’s just an hour or two, you will feel better. I know I have.