How to mindfully be happier and healthier…..especially when you feel like you have no time!

How to mindfully create a happier and healthier version of yourself…..especially when you feel like you have no time!

How often do you hear yourself saying, ‘I don’t have time for that’ only to put that important thing for you at the bottom of the to-do list?

Time, especially time for ourselves, is one thing we all wish we had more of. Despite knowing the importance and the benefits of taking time for the things that are important to you, it's easy to find reasons to put it at the bottom of the list and get sidetracked by distractions.

There will always be distractions, but it is possible to be more mindful of how you spend your time to feel happier and healthier!

When we started working together, one of my coaching clients was overwhelmed with life.

She was unsure about the next steps in her medical career and questioned what made her happy.

She realised that getting to the place she was had also resulted in her not prioritising what was important to her. She was no longer spending time on activities that bought her joy.

And finding it increasingly hard to create time to think about where she wanted to get to or how she could be closer to her dreams, or who she really wanted to be.

Amongst all the busy..ness of life, she had lost herself.

She had a desire to feel happy and fulfilled every day.

So that she could feel energized and be present in the relationships that were important to her but also so that she could start to tackle some of the more challenging questions about what to do next in her career.

Her diary felt busy, she was saying yes to things when she wanted to say no.

She didn't feel able to ask for what she needed to be able to do the things that were important to her. So they constantly got bumped to the ‘do that tomorrow’ or ‘try again next week’s list.

Then she realised that unless she started to prioritise what is important to her, she would not have the energy to be able to do the things in life that she wanted to do, or be the person she wanted to be......and never stop feeling stuck!

What she was able to do was to find that feeling of freedom, to find joy in life again and to feel more of a whole person – true to herself. Not just the parent, partner, friend or colleague but actually really her.

And here's the best thing....she felt like she actually had more time.

Life felt less stressful, even when it was busy, and the challenges were easier to deal with.

Here's how she did it....so you can too!

1. Understand and prioritise what brings you joy

How often are you doing activities that bring you joy and fulfilment? Can you even remember what those activities are? What are your passions, the things you do that make you feel alive? When did you last spend time doing these….solely to make yourself feel whole? Get clear on the important things in your life that contribute to your happiness and health. Start seeing these priorities as non-negotiable

. 2.Define your goals

Take time to get clear on your goals and dreams. Writing them down, journaling about them and giving yourself a realistic timeframe can help. Maybe it’s that you want to learn a new skill, or revisit an old activity or find that quiet time to head to the coffee shop with a book. Whatever it is, make it come alive - seeing or voicing the words to other people. Who is the person you want to be in 3 months' time? Look at what you need to make it happen, is it a 30-minute class a week or a day a month or maybe an uninterrupted 20 minutes every evening to watch an online yoga class. Get specific and envision what this would look and feel like on your ideal day.

3.Voice your needs

Is there something that you need to be able to have more time for you? Do you need your partner to take over some of your responsibilities for the time so you can be undistracted? Asking for what you need but also being able to share why you need it can be a challenge. It will get easier by being more open about your priorities and the dream at the end of the tunnel. The people who love can be supportive, but only if you let them!

4.Find accountability

Getting support and accountability can help to keep you on the right track. A coaching relationship is the perfect place to start. With the right person, you can have dedicated time to think, explore and define your needs and create tools and strategies to be able to voice them. I work with my clients to create a sustainable approach to change that allows them to life their dream life and to be the person they want to be. A coaching relationship is perfect for regularly checking where you are right now and where you want to get to. It's also a fantastic way to celebrate your successes!

5.Practice being present

There is no benefit from feeling guilty or shaming yourself about what you didn't do. Instead, be mindful about what you did do and what you can do in the present moment. This could be as simple as scheduling your priorities into your calendar. Every little step in the right direction is a step forward. When a new day starts, remind yourself to be in the present and focus on what you can do that day. What can you do today that will prioritise your needs?

6.Optimise your schedule mindfully

Be mindful of where to make small changes to get the biggest impact in your day. What activities do you spend time on that don’t bring you joy or are not contributing to moving further towards your goals? Try eliminating activities that do not align with your priorities or drain your energy. See what is possible to delegate or create alternatives. Create the schedule that will allow you to be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself....everyday!

If you are struggling to make time for yourself and want to learn how to get a better work-life balance, especially when you feel short on time, come and join the next Reset Your Medical Career Workshop! Click the link to learn more and to register https://www.resilienceyoga.fr/resetyourcareerworkshop

Image by Austin Schmidt Unsplash