The Importance of Taking Time for Yourself 

Earlier this month I went to an event hosted by a panel of women for a new networking app that provides women with resources, advice, and community support on one platform. The evening & discussion was all about connection to ourselves and others, manifestation, and overcoming fear. Going to the event was something I was doing solely for myself. I love these kinds of events, they make me feel so inspired. I love connecting with like minded women in a social environment, and learning about all things that fall under the wide umbrella of Wellness. But, as much as I enjoy these types of events, I could have thought of a thousand reasons as to why I shouldn’t go, especially on a school night! Getting childcare, going into London during the week, I could probably get the info online… on and on the list goes… 

I ended up going, and I am so pleased that I made the effort to attend. It’s incredible what happens when we make time to do things just for ourselves- how our energy shifts when we make time for the things that we enjoy that go beyond the demands of our daily commitments. Connecting with people that light us up, engaging in conversations that we find inspiring, is so uplifting & good for our soul. 

I think for many of us we can become disconnected from these moments, with what we truly enjoy and what we really want to spend our free time doing. We can put others’ needs before our own- making plans around our friends, our partners, our kids and not really stop to consider, what would I really like to be doing? Becoming curious about what that looks like for you is the first step to bringing more of these moments into your life. Consider, when was the last time you did something just for yourself? How did it make you feel?

It’s important to take time for ourselves so that we can figure out what truly inspires us, what makes us feel most ourselves, makes us feel happy, alive, and also cared for and supported. When we give ourselves the space and time to connect with what we enjoy, what we desire, what we need, we learn more about ourselves and our interests. Connecting with the things we enjoy and pursuing our own individual interests and desires can lead to integrating more moments of happiness, connection, and fulfilment in our day. 

These moments don’t have to be costly or time consuming commitments. It’s about being conscious of the experiences within our life that make us feel most connected to who we are. Life is full of small moments, simple pleasures, that can bring us joy and happiness. These moments are often overlooked, but they are all around us, waiting to be discovered. It’s the conversation with a friend about a topic you both love, or the feeling of a warm hug from a loved one. It’s the taste of a home-cooked meal, listening to your favourite music, or a walk in nature. These simple pleasures are the most unassuming experiences we commonly take for granted or move through in such a repetitive nature that we risk not even noticing them pass by. But if we pause for one moment to reflect on them, embrace them, relish them, there’s no telling just how much happiness you can find in a single day. 

Finding this connection to our lives is a journey that is unique to each of us. It’s about discovering what makes us happy and fulfilled, and then making time for those things in our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the demands of our daily lives and forget to take time for ourselves. But when we do take that time, we can learn more about ourselves and what brings us joy.

By discovering what simple pleasures bring us joy we can integrate more of those moments into our day and create a life that is full of more contentment. Allow yourself to fall in love with becoming curious about what brings you joy and fulfilment, taking risks & meaningful steps outside your comfort zone to pursue the things that make you feel like you are honouring a life that makes you feel inspired. Fall in love with finding the courage to be unapologetically yourself & embracing all the things that make you, you. Fall in love with the smallest things in life, not only the most significant, and absolutely everything else in-between.

Journaling for Joy 

1. How do you want to feel when you wake up each day? 
2. What activity or things have you done recently that has brought you joy, happiness? 
3. What would you like to spend more of your time doing and who would you like to spend this time with?  
4. Describe your favourite thing to do to relax or shift your mood if you are feeling low.
5. What are 4 simple pleasures that bring you the most joy in your day?
6. How do you prioritise self-care and show yourself kindness and compassion each day?
7. What aspects of your life are you most grateful for?
8. What place makes you feel most peaceful? Describe that place using all five senses.
9. What motivates and inspires you?
10. What one thing can you do today that is just for you?