“I don’t have time for that!”

We have all said that at some point in our lives. ”I don’t have time for that!” No matter what advice or help someone is trying to give us, the response is, ”I don’t have time for that!” I cannot count the number of times I have said that while thinking, “It must be nice to be them and have so much extra time!”

Here’s the thing though. Those people who you think have so much extra time really don’t have any more time than the rest of us. We all have the same 24 hours every day. The only difference is that they have learned the importance of doing certain things to avoid getting burnt out to the point that they cannot do anything else.

I struggled for years before I finally started to figure out the things I needed to do to take care of myself. I know that sounds strange. How can an adult not know the things they need to do to take care of themselves right? Everyone is different though so the things that people were telling me to do, didn’t always work for me. The advice was great! Don’t get me wrong. I just needed to find what worked for me. Here is a list of things you might like to try.

1. Drink water! Yes, I know water is ”boring”, but considering our bodies need it… I feel like it’s one of those things we just need to do. I really struggled with this so I started adding to my water so it has some flavor. My water has a few drops of lemon and grapefruit essential oils in it to give it some flavor AND I get some health benefits as well! Click here to find oils safe to consume.

2. Get some kind of exercise. This one is tough because many of us just don’t like to exercise. I started going to a gym with my friends which made it easier. It’s a lot of fun when you can give looks to a friend and laugh about how the instructor is trying to kill you. Going to the gym has helped me to feel a lot better about myself. I also feel a lot stronger than I used to.

3. Make sure to get enough sleep. This can be a tough one, especially if you are a new parent, but we need sleep. It is so important! I do not function very well without getting at least 7 hours. I’d love 8, but I’ll have to wait until summer for that. If you are one of the many people I know who struggles to sleep, it helps to have a routine. My routine is the same every night. I feed my cats, brush my teeth, get my diffuser ready, put on chapstick, rub my husband’s back, and put on hand lotion. I also do my best to stay off of my phone or iPad about an hour before bed.

4. Stop drinking soda. I know this can be SO hard! Where I grew up there was a very popular soda that was full of caffeine. I had tried stopping many times before, but it never worked. It was a huge addiction. I finally stopped drinking it in January of 2021. Thankfully, I had been drinking water with my oils in it and ran out of my soda. This seemed like the perfect time to try to stop again and I was actually able to! I tried a different soda about 2 weeks later and it tasted so gross. I only had two small sips of it.

5. Eat healthy. UGH! I know!! Hear me out though. I’m not saying to go on a diet and eat ONLY healthy things. The food pyramid we all learned about when we were kids still had fats and sweets on it, just in a smaller portion. Start with trying to increase the amount of healthy food that you do not eat as often. Leave everything else the way it is to start off. Then you can start to decrease some of the ”unhealthy” foods and choose another healthier option to increase.

6. Pray/Meditate. Whatever works for you. I do a lot of praying in my car because I spend so much time there. I have a 40 minute drive to work and home each day, so I use the time wisely. That way I don’t have to ”find the time” to fit it in.

7. Take vitamins. This is a biggie! Especially if you do not already do number 5! I grew up taking vitamins, but once I became an adult, I had a difficult time finding some that worked for me. Many of them made me feel sick or didn’t seem to do anything. When I started to use essential oils, I was introduced to the vitamins they have. I started those and they are the only ones I have been able to stick with. I have had less food cravings, more energy, better sleep, and my skin and hair look healthier. If you have been struggling with this as well, click here to check out the ones I use. (They have a vegan option as well.)

8. Hang out with friends. Yes, this is a tough one to do because not only are YOU busy, but your friends are also busy. You need to make sure you make time for your friends though because you need other people in your life. Since it is a tough one to make time for, try combining it with some of the other ones. I go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after work with a group of friends. This way I am spending time with them AND exercising. Many times we go to get food afterwards as well.

9. Find a release. You have to have something you can do to get rid of stress. I have many things I go between. Exercising is a big one for me, but I also like to float in a pool, crochet, read, take a walk, or chat with friends. If it was not for crocheting, I would have lost my mind while I was doing my master’s degree.

10. Get some fresh air every day. It sounds strange, but we all need to get outside and get some good old vitamin D from the sun. I love to sit outside when the weather is nice and do some work on my business or read. It’s so relaxing to sit by a water fountain, in the sun, and just listen to the birds.

This is not a list of everything you need to do, but I slowly incorporated all of these into my life over the last few years. There is no way you can fit all of these things or others into your life all at one time. Just pick one to start with and once you don’t have to force yourself to do that one, choose another one to add in. These steps have made me a happier and more productive person which gives me more time to get other things done.

Just give it a try. You’ll be surprised with how it will improve your life without really taking a lot of time away from other things. Once you start taking care of yourself, you will be better able to take care of all of those you love.