When In Doubt: Take a Timeout!

Are you running on empty? Do you feel tired and wish for more sleep but keep waking up with ruminating thoughts on your mind? Do you have too many things on your priority list, finding that you’re too overwhelmed to get any of the items done? Don’t despair!

Take me for example: empty-nester, happily involved with a great guy, wonderful family and friends, two furry felines whom I adore – and yet–not sleeping well. Sometimes I worry over nothing important and feel stressed even when life is relatively good. Since I’m not depressed and currently don’t suffer from anxiety, “Why?,” I ask?

The answer: I have too many things I want to do and I want to do them all at once! Yet we all know there are only so many hours in a day!

I’m not complaining, mind you! This is a good problem to have – but I need to sleep!

The solution: Time to take a timeout. If this reminds you of you – try the following exercise:

Take one day this week, or even a half a day, where you have no obligations and carve out pure “me time.” Do whatever it is you want to do–play music, take a walk, sit by a swimming pool or in the park and be mindful of your breathing. Read a book, make a collage, call up old friends and chat—what you do matters less than how you do it, namely you must spend this time guilt-free! In other words, no regrets or statements that you’ve just wasted time. Au contraire: if you’ve done something to rejuvenate—you’ve given yourself a precious gift, hardly a waste of energy! So make a vow to give yourself a little self-indulgence.

Which reminds me–right now – it’s time for me to pour myself my decaf vanilla nut coffee with a hint of cinnamon, almond milk and Stevia, then dig in to my cage-free, organic certified-humane egg-white omelet, coupled with slice of succulent rye bread with a dollop of whipped cream cheese! How’s that for a mouthful of self-indulgence!