As promised, here are another five strategies for getting the most out of your free time. You can see the first five strategies, or go back to the original post. Enjoy!
6. Say "No." People chat, friends request favors, and your free time shrivels away. Your good nature has placed you on the losing end, sacrificing your time to everyone else. Stop.
Don't be afraid to deny others. It's not rude. You are taking care of yourself, which is among your top priorities. Politely explain that you cannot spare the time, or don't explain at all. Remember, the choice in spending your time remains yours.
7. Take action. What will you regret not doing? If you'll spend the rest of the day wondering why you didn't act, your time has been compromised. This is no way to spend a restful period.
Free yourself of those nagging thoughts. Ask out that cute hairstylist. Wash your car. It doesn't have to be glamorous or life-changing, just knock it off the list. Don't give an extra moment to thinking, planning or waiting for that "if I only had the time" moment. Complete it, and move on.
8. Don't over-schedule. Tailor your activities to the time available. Avoid racing from here to there. Stress is not relaxing.
Cut the day's to-do list in half, even if it only contains fun stuff. Allow yourself down time. Relax. The Type A rat-race is for workdays. You can still make task-oriented progress, but have more fun doing it.
9. Learn from mistakes. We all make mistakes. It happens every day. The real trick is learning from them, and integrating that knowledge into future decision-making.
Forget berating yourself. That goes nowhere. Take time and analyze what went wrong. It may be painful or embarrassing, but it could save you a great deal of misery in the long term. Every mistake has something to teach us. Be sure to understand their lessons.
10. Evoke a Response. Adrenaline. Dopamine. Catharsis. Any time we release ourselves from everyday normality and feel something, we rid ourselves of tension.
The best entertainment (whether a movie, basketball game, or bungee jumping) evokes emotion. Use this response. Get out of your head for a moment and simply feel. You'll be amazed at how much stress is wiped away.
Super Extra Bonus Strategy:
11. Forget this list. Sometimes, you have to do that which is stupid or wasteful. It's human nature. We cannot be efficient every waking moment.
The single most important concept to take away from this list is the difference in your goals during recreation from those during work. You must focus on revitalizing yourself, even for a short time. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best strategies depend upon each individual.
Experiment. Find the methods that work for you. Learning and exploration are half the fun of your pursuits, leading you to become wiser and more productive. Remember, we are trying to build a more sustainable you. Leave the schedule at the office, and enjoy yourself. You deserve it.
6. Say "No." People chat, friends request favors, and your free time shrivels away. Your good nature has placed you on the losing end, sacrificing your time to everyone else. Stop.
Don't be afraid to deny others. It's not rude. You are taking care of yourself, which is among your top priorities. Politely explain that you cannot spare the time, or don't explain at all. Remember, the choice in spending your time remains yours.
7. Take action. What will you regret not doing? If you'll spend the rest of the day wondering why you didn't act, your time has been compromised. This is no way to spend a restful period.
Free yourself of those nagging thoughts. Ask out that cute hairstylist. Wash your car. It doesn't have to be glamorous or life-changing, just knock it off the list. Don't give an extra moment to thinking, planning or waiting for that "if I only had the time" moment. Complete it, and move on.
8. Don't over-schedule. Tailor your activities to the time available. Avoid racing from here to there. Stress is not relaxing.
Cut the day's to-do list in half, even if it only contains fun stuff. Allow yourself down time. Relax. The Type A rat-race is for workdays. You can still make task-oriented progress, but have more fun doing it.
9. Learn from mistakes. We all make mistakes. It happens every day. The real trick is learning from them, and integrating that knowledge into future decision-making.
Forget berating yourself. That goes nowhere. Take time and analyze what went wrong. It may be painful or embarrassing, but it could save you a great deal of misery in the long term. Every mistake has something to teach us. Be sure to understand their lessons.
10. Evoke a Response. Adrenaline. Dopamine. Catharsis. Any time we release ourselves from everyday normality and feel something, we rid ourselves of tension.
The best entertainment (whether a movie, basketball game, or bungee jumping) evokes emotion. Use this response. Get out of your head for a moment and simply feel. You'll be amazed at how much stress is wiped away.
Super Extra Bonus Strategy:
11. Forget this list. Sometimes, you have to do that which is stupid or wasteful. It's human nature. We cannot be efficient every waking moment.
The single most important concept to take away from this list is the difference in your goals during recreation from those during work. You must focus on revitalizing yourself, even for a short time. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best strategies depend upon each individual.
Experiment. Find the methods that work for you. Learning and exploration are half the fun of your pursuits, leading you to become wiser and more productive. Remember, we are trying to build a more sustainable you. Leave the schedule at the office, and enjoy yourself. You deserve it.
