We get used to constantly being on the go, but do you ever stop and be in the moment? 

How much time during the week do you take for yourself? 

These are important questions to answer because you may find your answer to be a small amount of time or even no time at all. 

Most of us play the role of provider in at least one aspect of our lives. This role as a provider may be as a supervisor, parent, caregiver, doctor, therapist, and the list goes on. This is why scheduling time to be alone is crucial to maintain balance in life. We need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.

What should I do during this time? The answer to this question may be different for each person. Ask yourself, “what do I need right now?” 

This time may be catching up on a book, watching a new TV show, doing a personal errand, or finally doing that art project you have been wanting to do. The point of taking this time is to take care of yourself, but also hitting the pause button on your schedule. Life is full of deadlines: Finishing a paper due for class, finishing a report for work, or making sure you pay your bills on time. We often overlook the importance of the current moment and take too much time living in the future. 

You may be thinking, “do I have time”? The answer is, absolutely! Even taking time to enjoy your morning cup of coffee can be the time you need to feel prepared and refreshed for the rest of the day. Take an hour before bed to relax your mind and body. Whatever you need to do to feel rested and refreshed make sure you schedule some time to do it. The time to relax is when you feel as if you do not have time. 

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” – Esther “Etty” Hillesum