Free to Do What You Love - Make Space for You
You know the feeling - that one where you wake up thinking “Today will be the day! I will finally have time to do it, no matter what.” Only to be followed by falling asleep that night promising yourself, “Tomorrow, for sure, it will happen.” Finding time in the day to get everything you want to get done is tricky, if not impossible, even WITH proper planning. Without it, fitting in the things you love doing may not happen at all.
How to Make Space
What’s the one thing you love to do? Maybe it’s more than one thing. What makes you excited for the weekend, inspired to get out of your comfort zone or create something, satisfied to a point of complete peace? These are the things you always want to spend more time doing, but often what get pushed to the side as the demands of everyday life and responsibilities creep in.
What can you do? Here are a few tips to create the space you need to feed your soul:
Make a Plan
As the saying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. If you’re serious about needing to free up time to devote to what you love, you must commit to it with a plan and be determined to follow through. Budget the hours you have to work with. If your passion includes a friend, ask them to hold you accountable. If you’re going it alone, keep a calendar or set a timer to keep yourself on track. After time passes, your new schedule will become habit and it will be much easier to move on to the next thing on your list.
Write It Down
Writing things down is a great way to solidify ideas and plans while taking some of the stress of remembering off of your mind. When planning your day, jot down what you need to get done and make a “Priority” list from that list, making sure your passion is on it. Still searching for that thing you love? Think about what you loved as a child. Who or what did you admire? Write the answers down, along with a list of your interests and skills. Once you see them on paper you may be surprised how ideas start flowing.
Start Saying “No”
Don’t be afraid to turn down requests and invitations from others – be it work or play-related. Filling your schedule too tightly will only add stress to your day and compromise the time you need for your passion.
Wake Up Earlier
Starting your day a little earlier, even if only half an hour, will provide that extra time you need to fit in your passion. You can also begin the morning with less stress and rushing around to get ready, setting you up for a more focused, productive day. Give it a try!
Jump In
Above all, don’t be afraid of change. If your efforts to free up time are not working, try something different, and start now. Allow yourself to explore and create a schedule that works for you. At the end of the day, don’t stand in your own way by overcommitting or putting your needs last. In the long run, feeding your mind and soul will keep you stronger, healthier and better-positioned to take on the world.
