Eliana
The first thing that comes to mind when talking about schedules is work-related activities, deadlines, and things such as doctor’s appointments. On the other hand, our free time is often an afterthought, not really getting too much attention.
In reality, we should be treating our free time the same way we do our appointments and meetings. In this article, we’ll be listing some of the most important reasons for scheduling your free time and different ways you can put this time to good use.
It gives you a greater sense of control
Our hectic daily schedules and the seemingly never-ending list of tasks can easily make our life feel out of control. This can cause that unsettling feeling that everything’s slipping through our fingers – like we’re missing out on life. The truth is, we all have a couple of things we’d like to do or accomplish in our lifetime. However, we rarely seem to find time for the things that truly matter, despite knowing they’ll make us happier.
By scheduling your free time, you can finally make room for hobbies, activities, and projects you’re passionate about. Not only is this an opportunity to reprioritize, but it’s also a great way to prevent anxiety about the future.
Taking time for yourself is vital for self-care
Our health and wellness often take a backseat due to the number of tasks on our daily to-do list. However, prioritizing self-care is vital, and this is when scheduling free time comes into play.
Whether that means Googling restaurants that offer the best brunch in South Miami you can treat yourself to or booking an entire day at a local spa, make time for the things you love. Not only will taking care of yourself ensure optimal health and well-being, but it’ll also help you be your best, most productive self. This, in turn, will help you put your best foot forward both in private life and a professional setting.
It’s a great way to show others you prioritize them
Other than helping you take better care of yourself, prioritizing your free time will also leave more room in your schedule for interactions with those who matter the most. The truth is, spending time with those you love and care for is important for keeping relationships alive and thriving.
So if you’ve been neglecting your partner, family members, or friends because of work, free up some time in your day to spend with them. This is the best way to make it clear to them that they matter more to you than your work.
It helps you to actually unplug from work
Speaking of work, we live in a time when a constant connection has become the norm. These days, you’re expected to check and answer emails even when you’re not on the clock. In fact, many of us respond to calls after hours. Not only does this make it more challenging for us to spend quality time with friends and family, but it also makes it impossible to actually unplug from work.
The truth is, we feel our best, most productive selves when we get the chance to refresh and re-energize. So rather than letting work-related activities creep into your free time, focus on making room for some “me time”.
It allows for greater flexibility in your daily schedule
Other than helping you detach from work-related duties and obligations, prioritizing free time will also make your days more flexible. For instance, imagine you’ve scheduled to meet with your client at a particular time of the day. Something happens, and they’re suddenly running 10 minutes late. Rather than feeling stressed out, you remember you’ve scheduled half an hour of free time after the meeting.
In other words, scheduling free time is a great way to accommodate any change in plans without unnecessary stress. This ability to adapt your schedule according to your work needs will allow you to have more flexibility in your everyday life while also helping you avoid having your day ruined by unpleasant surprises.
It can help boost your creativity, memory, and overall happiness
Our brains, just like our bodies, need some downtime for several reasons. For starters, when we let our mind wander, this is when we actually start to feel more creative. Secondly, when we prioritize free time overworking and making more money, it helps boost our overall happiness. This is because we don’t feel pressed for time, which improves our overall satisfaction with life.
Finally, when we feel fresh and focused, we’re more likely to learn and memorize things better. This also makes it easier for us to process important information that we take in during the day.
You’ll have something to look forward to every day
Another important reason for scheduling your free time is that it gives you something to look forward to. The truth is, our schedules can get a little hectic sometimes, making it difficult to stay motivated and productive. However, when you have your day planned out after work, things somehow seem a lot less challenging.
No matter how stressful your day is, this anticipation will keep you going. It’s actually a great motivation and productivity hack. You trick your mind into giving your best at work – even when you don’t feel like it – knowing you’ll get rewarded later on.
You actually get to have some free time
We all wish we could have more free time in our schedules. But sometimes, life simply gets in the way of us making time for things we enjoy. That’s when we end up running from one task to another, never really getting to have some time for ourselves.
By making room in your schedule for unwinding, you can manage to make certain things happen. Besides, it’s much easier to say no to things you don’t want to do or feel like they’re a waste of time when you have your spare hours planned out.
Wrapping up
The idea of blocking out a particular amount of time in a day for something that’s not work-related may seem strange at first. However, doing so is not only beneficial but it’s also becoming more of a necessity these days. After all, every single day we’re writing the story of our life. So, why not make every single moment count?
Eliana Davison is a Writer/Marketing Specialist with a high interest in wellness and healthy lifestyle. A writer with a sole purpose to inspire people with her work.
