Thought of the day: Take "me time" like a dog
You'll be surprised how much better a relaxed mind and body performs, creates, builds.
Look at this guy:
That’s Max, my dog.
Max really knows how to relax and take “Max time”. You could say he takes his
me-time to the Max!
Sensimism takes inspiration from nature. Max is a good example of that.
When did you last allow yourself to relax like Max in the photo?
I mean really do whatever the fuck you feel like doing, let it all hang out, put your baggy comfy clothes on and just relax.
Don’t plan any projects.
Don’t think what needs to be done, organized, bought, written.
Just do the one thing you want to do - fart into the couch, watch a really shitty reality show, animals being dicks on YouTube - you know what turns your mind off.
Put your phone into flight mode. You don't need to be reachable all the time.
Close the doors. This time and space is only about you. No partner, no friends, no kids, just you.
What's the benefit?
Longevity. Prolonged stress shortens your life.
You'll be a better person: mum/dad, partner, friend. Better equipped to respond to stressful triggers with calmness. Or at least with less anger.
You could argue, that me-time is a service to others!
You’ll be more creative. I find that most of my good ideas and thoughts come to me when I take me-time, rest my mind, let it wander. There’s not much room for creativity if your mind is being chased by other people's deadlines, projects and ideas.
You’ll radiate positiveness. People will notice and respect you more.
Enjoy it, don’t feel guilty.
No, it is not selfish. Taking care of yourself is the opposite of selfish: by being a more balanced person, you are a better partner, parent, or friend.
Max enjoys his sofa time (despite looking like roadkill).
A lion in the savannah enjoys his chill time. Lions lie around for up to 20 hours a day. Almost every other animal spends most of its non-eating/hunting time just relaxing.
It’s only us humans that feel like we need to be always doing something, be productive.
You don’t.
The world will keep spinning. The universe will keep expanding. The sun will keep burning up. Climate change will continue.
Literally nothing will change if you take time to yourself and relax, recharge your batteries, and invest your most important resource - your time - into YOU.
Well, one thing will change - you will feel calmer, happier and less rushed.
“But what if I don’t have time for that?
Then it is your job to find time for that, by cutting out or postponing whatever you can.
Again - if you push all your work until tomorrow, NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING will change. Your boss might be upset - who cares, in the long run and bigger picture? His/her anger doesn’t matter. Your career will not be derailed by that (because you will feel recharged and deliver even more later).
It is your responsibility to take care of yourself, your health, and that means introducing me-time into your calendar as one of your top priorities.
Remember to keep a balance - this me-time is there to give you the energy to then get up and do something meaningful.
Me time turns into apathy if it’s not balanced out with being active, creating something, working on something you enjoy or that brings you the means to a good life. Yes, even a bog-standard job is fine - it pays your bills, trips, gym, food you enjoy.
Even Max has to get up from his me-time and piss around the entire neighborhood or chase deer in a forest. Or fetch a stick.
Balance.