Are you busy? Do you often feel flustered, impatient or exhausted?

 

I’ve yet to meet many people that say ‘no’ to these questions! It’s like being ‘busy’ is unavoidable or a measure of success. But the truth is we NEED downtime. Downtime allows us to feel, reflect and make better decisions. In fact, in my humble opinion, downtime is the secret to happiness. 

 

Imagine feeling calmer, more connected to the people you love and more confident in yourself. Well, I”m here to tell you it starts with self-care. 

 

But why is self-care and downtime so hard to prioritize? 

The question I want you to ponder is:  What do you value?

 

If you value family, friends, connection, love, laughter ….I guarantee taking care of yourself will impact your own happiness, which will then extend outward to other areas of your life. 

 

One of the most powerful examples I can share with you is from a past client of mine. She was having a hard time making the transition between work and coming home to the business of kids, dinner, homework, etc. Even though she felt she had no time, she agreed to take a 10 minute walk outside focussing on breathing in the fresh air and gratitude for the little wins in her day. She told me, this simple act of self-care made her evenings with her family and kids (relationships that she deeply valued) much more relaxed and happy. A big change from her old ways of snapping at her kids and feeling overwhelmed. 

 

There are many ways for each of us to cultivate our calm. Do something for yourself that you truly enjoy - and reap the benefits of a calmer presence later!

 

Here are my top tips for squeezing some downtime into your life...but first, schedule it in... make it a priority.
 

• A short bike ride around the block - for pure pleasure (not exercise)...make it playful and free!

• Breath work in the car before you come into the house after work  - 4, 7, 8 breathing is a good one to start with

• A short walk at lunch...with no headphones/music

• Meditate in the car when waiting to pick up the kids from school 

• Lie down in corpse pose with a weighted blanket and breathe 

• Journal before bed

• Yoga or stretching every morning before coffee

 

FRESH TIP: Make some rules around your phone to allow for downtime (we waste so much time on our damn phones). I encourage at least 10 minutes/day of solitude...whether you call in meditation, mindfulness or relaxation, it doesn’t matter. But be with yourself, breathe and just BE!

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Once you’ve reconnected with yourself and the phone is down, try giving your child your undivided attention for the next 10 minutes. This will work wonders for connection, behaviour and happiness - for both you and your child! And if you are questioning where you will find this 20 minutes in your day, remind yourself of what is most important to you and what you value.