Life Resolution

Go, go, go! It seems like I’m always going. There’s always something for me to do, whether it be cleaning the kitchen, catching up on schoolwork, or working that full time job. Don’t even get me started on spending quality time with the family! When is there ever going to be time for me? When will I get to rest?

Possibly never. Now, don’t get me wrong. I can usually get the recommended 6-8 hours of sleep each night, but every day I still wake up more tired than the first. I can drink all the coffee I like, exercise to get those endorphins, and take naps whenever I can squeeze one in, but they will never equate to a full night of rest.

This year I want to focus on resting— not just on getting enough sleep or having the liberty to take a nap every once in a while. I want to be able to feel adequate and at peace, to sit down and read a book when I need a break from the crazy world around me.

Easier said than done, right? Right. So how am I going to make myself a priority this year? How am I going to find the time to focus on my rest and health when there are so many obligations that I can’t discard lest my world fall apart?

There is no perfect answer, but there are techniques that I can take to mitigate the situation.

To start with, I will be implementing a planner. This will help me to schedule and cross off my daily tasks. The important part will be penciling in at least 30 minutes of rest and relaxation for yours truly.

The kitchen that I spent an hour cleaning? It’ll just be dirty again tomorrow. I’ll forgo deep cleaning everyday and stick to a daily general cleanup, saving the deep cleaning for a specific day of the week.

Schoolwork? By allotting 30-45 minutes to study daily and work on assignments. This will help me avoid procrastination and eliminate some of those stressors that I have dealt with constantly in the last year.

Work? This can’t really be helped, as I am obligated to be there from 0730 to 1630 five days of the week, sometimes more. But I can use breaks at work or down time to catch up on school work or personal administration things so that I don’t have to deal with them when I get home in the evenings. It seems like a little, but every bit counts and can go a long way.

In regards to family time, it’s only me and my husband. He likes to do his own thing for a bit, which gives me time to get what I need to do done. All we really need is a nice dinner together and some time before bed to either watch a movie or talk or more. If you know what I mean.

Taking the time to read a book, take a nap, or endulge in some self care will greatly improve things for me in the long run.

Incorporating these small changes to my lifestyle will surely give me more time to rest and focus on myself and my well-being. It may not seem like a lot, but big changes take time. One day I will be done with school, and I will move on to another job. Life is always changing, but the only constant is myself. Learning to take care of myself and prioritize my rest will help me to be a better me.

This is not a New Years Resolution, but a life resolution.