WHY TIME MANAGEMENT CAN BE A FORM OF SELF-CARE

From meditation to grabbing coffee with good friends, practicing self-care can come in many forms. For those who feel at ease with more structure in their lives, here’s how managing time can be your best form of self-care. 


BY: AMY HANNEKE, RDN, LD

Self-care is quite the buzzword these days, and can make something very different for each individual. For some, that may be winding down the day with some hot tea, or listening to their favorite podcast. Or it can be something that’s seemingly mundane, but has the ability to make you feel calm and organized.

Enter: time management.

On the surface, “time management” seems cold and rigid. The amount of structure that goes into organizing time seems almost incompatible with living mindfully and intuitively. It may seem rigid, but here are a few things to consider:

  • Blocking your time creates more margin for what matters most, such as time with your loved ones or time resting.
  • Organizing and learning about how you spend time can teach you how to capitalize on your most productive times of day – so there’s less time wasted and more time leftover for the end of the day.
  • Designating time for work and chores, and knowing that you have time for yourself later means that you’re less likely to multitask. This can help you feel more closure when turning off your laptop so you can draw more satisfaction from rest.
  • “Fancy” self care like bubble baths and long yoga classes are amazing, but not always attainable. Work in simple strategies to manage stress that fit well in your everyday life.

While there are many different tools out there to help you time block and schedule, you can start off with a simple 3-step process that doesn’t require a ton of planning:

  1. Pick your top priorities for the day or work session. Sometimes it’s one, sometimes it’s three – but try to keep it at three maximum.
  2. Turn phone on “do not disturb” or silent.
  3. Write down a loose step-by-step game plan for how you’ll get things done.

Sounds pretty simple, right?

Now you’ve created a process that helps you stay on task with a goal that have been broken down into smaller steps. The tip here is to stay adaptable and not be hard on yourself, especially if you don’t get everything checked off.

For some, this process of ‘knowing’ what’s next can actually help you feel more relaxed and at ease in your day-to-day.

For those who appreciate structure, this may just be your best form of self-care.

Adapted from the original article.

Amy Hanneke, RDN, LD is an Idaho-based Registered Dietitian and owner of Satisfy Nutrition.  Through an anti-diet approach in her nutrition coaching practice, Amy firmly believes in helping individuals live a life without restrictions, full of joy, self care, and delicious food. Learn more about Amy at Satisfy Nutrition.