Learning to Live and Do What You Love

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Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what’s most important to me in life.

You may think that sounds a bit strange, or wonder, “how can you not know what is important to you?”; but please, allow me to explain.

Sometimes in life, we as humans get so caught up in doing the things we need to do in order to get by, that we forget to enjoy the process.

For example, I know many people that live their life in the form of a very strict routine: wake up, go to work, go home, go to bed… and then tomorrow, do it all again. And, of course, that is perfectly fine if that is something you genuinely enjoy; but, for me, it’s just not.

I started to feel as if I was missing out on so much more that life had to offer.

I felt selfish for taking for granted the fact that I am lucky enough to have a job and go to school; but it just began to feel as if every day was Groundhog Day. Coming to this realization is what brought me to this epiphany.

I wanted to have more “me” time. I wanted to do things that could briefly take my mind away from the stress of all of my responsibilities, something to make  it easier to remember (especially on more trying/draining days) why going to work and having a good education are so important. So that one day, I could have the luxury of doing these things more frequently.

As of right now, I am in no position to travel the world (something I would love to one day do), nor am I even in a position to just take a few days here and there to find some awesome trails to hike in nearby states. At this stage of my life, it’s just not realistic; but that’s okay! There are still things that I can do weekly, if not daily, to make sure I do give myself some “me time”, to keep me from feeling like a robot, or like I’m living on autopilot!

If you’re wondering what would be the best activity for you, ask yourself these questions: “What is it that I genuinely enjoy doing? During what activity do I reach a state of flow?

Personally, my top four favorite things came out to: 1.) engaging in outdoor activities with good company, 2.) working out, 3.) listening to music, and 4.) laughing.

But, none of my self-care activities have to equate to yours. Some people feel most relaxed when they are getting their nails done, hair done, or getting a massage. Other people enjoy yoga, partaking in sports, watching movies to unwind, writing freely, and really, anything that lets them take a step outside of what they HAVE to do, and into something they freely choose to do. The idea is to engage yourself in something that allows you to decompress and just be in that very moment. It should not have to be something you need to get done, like grocery shopping or cleaning; although, I suppose, if that’s something you truly enjoy doing, that could be someone’s “me” time, as well!

I’ve come to see an immense difference in my energy level at work and while doing homework when I make sure to set aside time to do fun things for myself throughout the week. That may seem counter-intuitive considering most of my favorite self-care interests require a level of energy driven activity, but it helps to give me something, that’s just for me, to look forward to; and, honestly, it allows me to better concentrate on the task at hand knowing that I had my fun time, but now it’s time to get down to business.

I believe that it is very important to find that balance in your life; so that you’re not just all work, or all play. Setting aside time for self-care permits you to have fun and take care of yourself, while simultaneously being responsible and preparing yourself for your future goals. There is no reason that present you should have to suffer for future you! Of course, there will have to be sacrifices along the way, but everyday shouldn’t have to be one! It’s all about time management, and reminding yourself that you are worth the extra effort; because you are! And, your happiness should always be a top priority for you!

So, now it’s time again to ask yourself, “what do I do to practice self-care?” And, if you still can’t think of an answer to that question, I think it’s about time you take the initiative and make sure you put as much effort into yourself as you put into your work and other responsibilities.

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– Virginia Johnson

Are you struggling with managing your time, prioritizing your work and personal life, or are you just interested in talking to someone about things going on in your life because you simply feel that you do not as you should? Sometimes having a partner in your journey can help. Give us a call  to set up a free phone consultation at Life Skills Resource Group Orlando at 407-355-7378, and one of our Orlando Individual Counselors, Orlando Life Coaches, Orlando Teen Counselors, and Orlando Child counselors would be more than happy to help you, a family member, or a friend work on changing your life.

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