I just finished, “Overwhelmed Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time,” by Brigid Schulte. The biggest thing that struck me, is how BAD Americans are at taking time for leisure, when we do take time off we often feel guilty. What is leisure anyway? For many of us we don’t know anymore, because we live in a society that thinks work is far better than leisure.
Many of us feel guilty for taking leisure time to play. When we do take time for ourselves, many times it is fractured/interrupted time filled with multitasking and constant interruptions by our phones with new messages and status updates. Research is finding that play is what enables humans to create, improvise, imagine, innovate, learn solve problems, be smart, curious, resilient and happy!
Take time for yourself, guilt free. We give you permission.
Here are 5 tips to help you on your way towards guilt free leisure time:
#1- Stop feeling guilty about taking time for yourself. When you do take time to play or relax you fully enjoy it and experience it.
#2- Unplug. Set reasonable parameters for using instant communication and technology and set aside time every day where you are technology free. Give yourself time and space to do “nothing.”
#3- Choose happiness first. Happiness breeds success and achievement. The converse is not necessarily true.
#4- Remind yourself that play is useful. Humans need it, give yourself permission to take time for it.
#5- Keep it simple. Live within your means and give yourself financial margin, where you have savings if something unexpected was to happen. Literally there is a weight that is lifted when you know you have money in the bank for unexpected emergencies.
