Mental Health Tip Of The Week: SLOW DOWN

Many of us live multiple lives. You have your social life, work life, school life, family life, personal life…and it seems like the list could go on and on. My question is, when do we take time for ourselves? Like real-time? I thought that grabbing a coffee or getting a pedicure counted as “me-time”. But in reality, 90% of that me-time diverges into something else. I think social media and mobile devices can make it a challenge to give yourself your undivided attention. I think the reason I still feel burnt out and worried after completing my self-care routine is that I’m not being intentional. It’s easy to get caught up in life and just watch the world run right past you. Sometimes we put ourselves in auto-mode to get through the day.

I’m challenging you to put intention in at least ONE thing you do every day. Put your phone away, and just do you! Whether you decided to be present while having a meal, or brushing your teeth, it doesn’t matter. This mental exercise helps us take a breath and step back from our daily activities. I think forgetting your future responsibilities for a couple of minutes a day can make us feel powerful. At first, you might worry that if you don't think about your next task, then you will forget. But eventually, you feel a new sense of control of your time and schedule. In a world where we are constantly trying to please people….give it a rest! Clear your head. Please yourself!

Many of us use the excuse, “I’m too busy.”, or “I don’t have enough time.”. We all get 24 hours in a day. We all have multiple responsibilities to tend to. Whether you are the busiest or the most carefree individual, you are in control of your 24 hours. It’s not about having enough time, it's about TIME-MANAGEMENT! If you want to get some stuff done, try writing a short to-do list (notice I said short), and prioritize 1-2 of those to-do tasks. If something is a “priority #1” then you should have a good reason for why you want to accomplish priority #1. Make a list. Prioritize. Give a reason. My priority for myself this week is to slow down so that I can feel less anxious and be more productive!