Most of us need to build more downtime into our lives, and as the new year rolls in, it’s the perfect time to commit to stopping, slowing down, and giving yourself time to breathe. It isn’t about the big flashy shows of relaxation or overhauling your lifestyle and completely going against the grain, it’s finding pockets of time that allow for you to stop, it’s about tweaking what you do to force you to slow down, and it’s giving yourself permission to stop and accept that you need to do less in that moment, not more.
Let’s take a look at some ideas that might just work for you.
Have No Cook Nights
Cooking can be an incredibly fun and even therapeutic experience, but even those who love cooking need a break every now and again. So choose one night a week, or a month, etc, to have a night off from the kitchen.
Order a takeout, try pizza places in new areas, order a meal delivery service, batch cook so you only have to heat something up, or try a new restaurant. It doesn’t matter, but committing to something low effort that doesn’t involve prep or masses of clean up afterwards.
Book Something That Forces You to Slow Down
It’s not just booking more activities; it’s booking activities that require downtime, that need you to stop and be in the moment. A massage, a facial, a session in a float tank, a cold plunge. Even a haircut counts, as you have to sit still in the chair.
And, don’t forget this part, book it in advance. This way, you know it’s coming, you can prepare for it, and keep the time free in your schedule so you don’t skip it.
The point is that you’re giving yourself something you need while building rest at the same time. It doesn’t actually matter what the activity is, just that you let someone else or something else take over, and you stop and relax, even if just for an hour.
Go for a Walk
Not to get to work, not to take the dog for a walk or follow a trail or path, just to walk, with no destination, no specific end point. Think Forrest Gump and just walk.
It doesn’t need to be a long walk; it can be ten or twenty minutes only, or a whole day if you want, but head out with an aim, no “getting your steps in,” just walk.
Cut Something
Not a physical thing, but from your schedule. If you really want to embrace more downtime this coming year, less is more. Cut one thing from your list of obligations. Maybe one club you don’t really enjoy, or you say no to that extra shift, or you make adaptations like ordering your groceries, not going to the store. Cut something that gives you time back, and you won’t miss it. Lighten the load, take a breather, and treat yourself to the joy that is having less on your plate.
