Wish you knew how to make time for yourself? Perhaps you’d love to fit in some daily meditation, a self compassion practice, some yoga stretches? Or even just some reminders to slow down and take a breath now and again? But life feels too busy. There’s so much to do and worry about, so many other needs to be met. And you struggle to make time for any self care.
Earlier in the year, I shared these 10 simple practical tips with The Sea Circle community. They’re designed to help you carve out a bit of time for yourself, ripple by ripple. They were written to help subscribers make use of all The Sea Circle goodies I provide each month (meditations, journal prompts and ocean wellbeing practices), but they’re useful to anyone.
Use them any time you want to create a little more space to look after your own needs.
Some practical tips for when you’re wondering how to make time for yourself:
Little ripples
Sometimes, finding a big chunk of focused time for ourselves just doesn’t feel possible. But weaving simple practices into daily life can be surprisingly powerful. I’m always amazed by how a little ripple of time here and there can build into a wave as the month progresses.
1. Piggyback on an existing routine
Combining a new routine with an old one can help it stick. Especially when it’s something really simple. How might you use your monthly Sea Circle gifts – or other self care tools – to create more space for you as part of an existing regular pattern of behaviour in your life?
Take a minute right now to brainstorm some ways you might add a minute of extra inspiration or self care encouragement to an existing daily activity. Listening to your favourite music on the school run, a yoga stretch as you dry off after a shower, practicing mindful breathing as you shop… The possibilities are endless!
For example, to turn your morning routine into a moment of inspiration… you might simply place an encouraging postcard print or favourite quote near your toothbrush. Each time you brush your teeth, you can bring your attention to the image. Then, consciously set an intention to invite more of its message – or this quality of presence – into your day.
You could do the same thing by placing a screensaver on your computer before you start work. Or by sticking a postcard print or affirming message on the mirror to notice as you pass.
2. Bookend your day
I find that getting up a little earlier – or settling into bed to nurture myself a little earlier – can somehow *magic* up free time from nowhere.
For example… you could set your alarm 15 minutes earlier in the morning – and as you slowly wake up, listen to an ocean meditation. Or aim to go to bed just 5-10 minutes earlier, and use that time to try a journal prompt or two before lying down to sleep.
3. Be prepared to make the most of chance moments
Download an audio meditation or a soothing recording of sea sounds onto your phone, and pop your headphones in your bag. So that later, you can quickly transform a few moments of waiting for an appointment or a bus. Or bring a deeper moment of relaxation or ocean inspiration to a familiar walk, a shopping trip, or commute.
I’ve taken to playing ocean sounds while I’m washing up or cooking, and it totally shifts my mood. It’s a simple way of soothing and caring for myself as I go about my day.
4. Find a friend
Some people are more likely to engage in an activity if they’ve made a shared commitment. In The Sea Circle, I host online retreats where we come together and feel that sense of shared adventure. It powers us forward, and helps us to deepen that commitment to ourselves.
If you have a friend who also wants to make a small positive change in their life, you could offer to support each other. Every now and again, try sending each other a text or email offering some encouragement and accountability. It’s amazing what a free encouraging words can do at the right time.
5. Find a buddy or community elsewhere
If you don’t have someone to buddy up with in your daily life, you could join a community like The Sea Circle. Or a supportive online group. Seek out a buddy there and offer each other some light touch encouragement every now and again.
One big wave
Some people find it easier to schedule a chunk of time for self care, rather than rippling it through each day. You might prefer to set aside a morning or evening each month for self care (or for looking through all the lovely Sea Circle materials!). If so, here are some tools that might help:
6. Schedule
Schedule some time each week or month (planning this in advance, and marking it out in your diary). This makes it less likely that you’ll forget or schedule other things at that time. It can also be a way to give yourself “permission” if that helps.
7. Make it regular
When we make a regular commitment (i.e. I’ll start every Monday morning with half an hour with The Sea Circle…) it’s often easier to remember. And to commit to. As it starts to become part of a regular routine, we’re more likely to keep that time free.
If you’ve found it helpful to share encouragement with a friend or a community – or conversely, struggled to find that support – you could try working with a coach.
You might like to join me for some Blue Health Coaching, life coaching, or quarterly Sea Soul Sessions. All of these can create a space to develop self knowledge and self care strategies, reflect on your progress, and find greater motivation to make time for you
8. Set reminders
Diary reminders can be brilliant – and annoying – so see what works best for you! Some people love being reminded to pause for their scheduled self care or Sea Circle time. Especially when it arrives just as they’re about to be distracted by something else…
Reminders can also be useful for those ‘little ripple’ moments. I used to have one on my phone that simply said, “5 deep breaths” (which popped up randomly in meetings). It often worked to make me do just that – transforming how I felt in that moment, and reminding me that I can always give myself those breaths.
9. Make it special
Take a minute or two to make yourself comfortable before you start meditating, journaling, stretching, reading or whatever activity you’re planning to do. Go to the loo first – it might sound a bit silly, but so often we don’t even allow ourselves to do that!
Get yourself a warm drink or some water, gather some things that you love around you (like fresh flowers, or special reminders of the sea), and create a sense of ritual. Play your favourite music or the sounds of the sea. The more you enjoy this time and feel the benefits, the more likely you are to do it again…
10. Make it easy: join an organised event near you
Could you book in to join someone else’s organised retreat or workshop? Or schedule a regular spa treatment or class?
By offering an online ocean retreat each month in The Sea Circle, I’m already doing the scheduling and reminding, and making it regular. So all you need to do is turn up.
That means that if all you do is join the ocean retreat each month – or listen to the recording in your own time – you’re already spending an extra hour or more each month tending to your own needs. The same applies if you’re able to attend a regular workshop, yoga class, or coaching session every month.
That’s my lot for now. I hope that some of these simple ideas help you discover how to make time for yourself. And if you’re in The Sea Circle, I hope they encourage you to create space to explore whichever materials are most inspiring to you.
Emotional blocks
When it comes to putting ourselves first, sometimes practical tips just aren’t enough. There are so many emotional blocks that can also prevent us from making time for ourselves. So if after trying these tips, you’re still finding it hard to prioritise your own needs, or to feel worthy of your own time and support, let me know. And I’ll write more about the emotional blocks another time.
Do you have any tips of your own to share? I’d love to hear them.
If you’d like to join us in The Sea Circle, find out more here.