My last blog had some ways to get alone time, now that you have that time available, what are you supposed to do? Well, what you actually do is all dependent on your likes and dislikes, as well as exactly how much time you have. The number one thing you must do is take that time for yourself. I know it’s hard when you have that extra 15 minutes NOT to do an extra chore around the house, or get a jump on some work you need done, but you must resist that urge. You made this time for you to relax, not for you to work. Here’s a list of things you can do when you only have a short amount of time to work with.
1. Read – Pick a book or magazine and read. If you get lost in books and lose track of time like me, set a timer. You can set a stove timer, microwave timer, kitchen timer, watch timer, whatever you need just to make sure you will come back to reality when you need to.
2. Write – Start a journal, or just write what is on your mind, how you’re feeling, what’s going on in your life, anything that you can think of. Not sure what to write about? Use writing prompts. Most writing prompts are written specifically for children, but go ahead and use them anyway. Expand your imagination. You can always make your own once you get the idea of what they are. It’s just a short question, or statement for you to ponder.
3. Puzzle books – Have at least one puzzle book on hand, and when you have 15 minutes, do a puzzle.
4. Pick up the phone – call a relative or friend, or someone you haven’t talked to in a while and give them a call, especially if it’s a person who makes you laugh.
5. Play a game – play a game of solitaire (there are lots of different versions), play a free game online at any one of the sites that has free games to play, keep a couple of hand held electronic games on hand.
6. Breathe – Do some deep breathing exercises. Just relax. Meditate if you would like.
7. Exercise – You don’t need to do an entire workout to exercise. Pick one thing, stretching, walking, sit ups, leg lifts, mountain climbers, burpees, or any other exercise you enjoy doing. It will relax you, get your metabolism going, and give you a work out all at once.
8. Music – Listen to some of your favorite music, preferably a slower paced one, but anything that will make you feel better.
9. Laugh! – Go make a funny face in the mirror. Go read some jokes. Be silly.
10. Hobbies – No matter what your hobby may be, there should be something associated with it that you can do for 15 minutes. Whether your hobby is art (work on your current piece for 15 minutes), or mountain climbing, hiking, snow shoeing, skiing, or fishing (plan, make arrangements, pack your things for your next outing), or crocheting or knitting (work on your current project for 15 minutes), or scrapbooking (make a page or two).
11. Take an extra long shower – It helps you relax and gets you clean at the same time ;-D