How many times have you heard yourself say I don’t have time to go for a walk, cook a healthy meal, practice yoga, or call my best friend? I hear myself saying similar things to myself quite often, and yet I somehow have enough time in my schedule to check Instagram every 30 minutes for who knows for how long. Sound familiar?
Creating space in your schedule to do the things you say you want to do but don’t is easier than you might think. It takes being more purposeful with your energy, focus, and time. So, if you find yourself binge watching the latest Netflix series or going down the Pinterest rabbit hole for an endless amount of time, here are three steps to take:
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Stop what you are doing. Turn off the device.
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While paused, notice what you were doing. Observe the source of the distraction or reason for the activity. Ask yourself: what am I avoiding? Or am I numbing out, and if the answer is yes, why? Don’t beat yourself up or scold yourself, it’s ok. Just notice.
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Next, take a conscious step towards reallocating your time or recenter your focus on the very things you want to enjoy or experience, like taking that walk or hearing your best friends’ laugh because it lifts your spirits.
Shifting from unconscious decision making, or moving throughout your day on autopilot, takes slowing down, making a conscious choice to do differently, and then doing so. It’s that simple. Give it a try the next time you’ve watched that video of a cute seal fetch a ball for the 10th time.