So Yoga: September 2020

2020 is a crazy, weird year.

To protected ourselves and our loved ones, we can't kiss, we can't hug. We can't partner in yoga poses and rely on our yoga teacher to adjust us physically.

We have been learning, chatting, teaching, sweating in front of screens, instead of in classrooms, studios.

We have been hiding our breath and suffocating through masks. Even our kids. Especially our kids.

2020 is a crazy, weird year.

I can't help but projecting myself in 2021. Will things be the same, better, worse?

Well, 2020 may be the year of yoga.

When we practice yoga, we embrace our own body and soul. We send good vibes to ourselves and to our surroundings. It doesn't really matter if we're not perfectly aligned in the asana. Our body is unique, and adjust itself to its very best in every pose.

We have learnt we can practice yoga with peers around the world through a screen. We have found ways to reinvent our jobs, our passions. And we appreciate even more real, open-air classes, whenever it's possible.

We have been strengthening our lungs through yoga. To breathe better, with or without a mask.

Yoga is about being present now. There's no need to project in 2021. Today's today. Every day brings a whole universe of possibilities, challenges but also happiness.

So let's take one day at a time.

One breathe at a time.

Breathe. Smile.

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Do you live a busy life? Most people do! With all your responsibilities, commitments, and attempts at juggling work, a social life, and all sorts of other concerns, it’s hard to find time to spend just by yourself. You might not even think that’s something you want or need to do.

However, finding time to just be by yourself, doing something you at least mostly enjoy, can be very important to overall mental health and wellbeing. There’s a reason people preach the importance of “me time”! But if you’re busy all the time, how can you spare or schedule that kind of personal time? Here are 12 simple ways to dedicate more time to yourself every day.

1. ESTABLISH A ME TIME ROUTINE

With how crammed our schedules are these days, it might be tempting just to grab me-time whenever you’ve got a spare moment. In actuality, however, you’d net more positive benefits if you carefully set aside some moments of me-time into your schedule. It doesn’t have to be much – it can be as simple as:

Giving yourself a moment of quiet meditation before starting your day
Set aside a few minutes every afternoon to do nothing but simply enjoy a glass of lemon water
Dance along to your favorite songs in the evenings

The idea is to have me-time routines well-integrated into your schedule so you’ll carry them out without second thought. That way, you will always have some time for yourself!

2. MAKE BATHTIME ME TIME

No matter how much you love them, having to share a space with someone can get maddening after a while. So although it may seem selfish or inconsequential, it’s essential to set up some hard boundaries – and the bathroom’s a perfect place to start.

When you’re in the bathroom, it should be your sanctuary, no matter how temporary. Consider:

Locking the door when you’re using the bathroom
Take time to read something you enjoy
Enjoy a warm, soothing bath with various products
Make it a luxurious experience
Take the time to practice positive thinking directed at yourself
Remind yourself that this is an act of science-backed healthcare

3. PLAN BOTH SHORT AND LONG ME TIME

Vacations aside, what’s so crucial about actually taking the time to plan a little me-time if it’s only for a few minutes?

As it turns out, making sure you get the most out of your me-time takes a little more planning work than you might think. Here are a few reasons why:

Science has shown that high-quality me-time has a positive effect on your mental health and working capabilities.
Different amounts of me-time will confer different types of benefits for you.
Short and long me-time recharges us in different ways.
High-quality me-time may take more time, but we still need short me-time sessions to stay charged and balanced in the interim.

Regardless of whether you’re blocking out an entire Sunday for relaxing or setting aside 15 minutes every day for me-time, it’s a good idea to get it all sorted out in advance – so that you can focus on relaxing when the time comes!

4. GET A MASSAGE

Struggling with your positive thinking exercises? Declaring you could kill for a good back massage? There’s a good reason for that. Studies have shown that massages help with:

Relaxing us in the short term
Reducing stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine
Alleviating long-term chronic pain
Lowering anxiety and depression levels
Increasing the quality and length of nighttime sleep

In other words, try scheduling a massage session as a monthly me-time ritual. It might just be exactly what your soul needs to recharge back up to full!

5. MAKING COOKING ME TIME

Cooking is an activity that many find to be something they enjoy. Time pressures and the demand for perfection often mean that we don’t get very ambitious with what we make – which is a shame. After all, food is such a universally bonding experience and one that can be incredibly intimate, given the right circumstances.

So instead of just ordering another round of takeout, why not try:
Attempt overly-ambitious meal, just for the fun of it.
Make a fresh-baked cake or pastry you saw online.
Try out a new recipe
Cook and experience dishes from other cultures and countries
Try replicating a meal you had only experienced once on vacation
Experiment and have fun with cooking and baking

Either way, the goal is to have a fun learning experience that you get to enjoy!

6. MEDITATE

As studies have shown, meditation is something that’s incredibly beneficial for our psychological and physiological health. Meditation sessions, however, don’t always have to be a weekly block on your schedule. It is an activity that you may practice anywhere, anytime. All you have to do is:

Consciously focus on inhaling and exhaling through your diaphragm
Try mindfulness meditation by observing your thoughts as they drift through your mind
Practice shifting into a peaceful state of mind
Take a deep breath while waiting for the bus or sitting at your chair for work

This way, you can carve out small oases of calm no matter where and when you are. Additionally, practicing meditation in little moments like these helps you get the most out of your scheduled me-time later too!

7. INCORPORATE ME TIME INTO CHORES

No one is a fan of chores. They are, after all, necessary tasks that are full of drudgery. However, you can kill two birds with a single stone and turn your tasks into me-time as well! That way, you get to enjoy yourself and do something you might like while getting your house cleaned and in order.

So – just how are you to bring both your to-do list and your me-time together? Here are some things you can do while carrying out some tasks:

Listen to a podcast
Play your favorite songs
Watch your favorite show.
Gamify your chores

8. LEARN TO VALIDATE YOURSELF

Do you crave constant attention, messages, and plans 24/7? Are you the type of person who’s terrified of being on your own? In such a situation, the idea of alone me-time might be terrifying. This, however, may be indicative of a deeper-rooted problem – the inability to give yourself the validation you so crave.

As you can imagine, this isn’t really healthy – especially in the long run. After all, the best kind of validation comes from inside.

If you think this might just be you, you can try combating this by:

Disconnecting yourself from all electronic devices
Spending some time entirely alone for a while
Take this time to tune into yourself, your needs, and wants
Meditate, and self reflect on your actions and behavior.
Teach yourself to give the validation you desire

9. TAKE A CLASS

For some people, quiet relaxation isn’t really their idea of a fun time. Instead, they would rather spend their me-time doing something, like picking up a new skill. If you find yourself identifying with that, consider:

Checking out online classes
Identify your ideal learning format
Find an online class
Lookup a self-guided class
Read some technical and informational books
Watch some videos to learn new skills and information

There are more positives associated with this than you’d think, too! Science has shown that learning, in general, is great for your brain’s health. So keep joining new classes if that works for you!

10. CONSIDER WORKOUTS YOUR ME TIME

There’s no denying just how important exercise is for our physical health – and there’s plenty of studies out there to back up this fact. With that in mind, have you ever considered treating your workout time as your me-time as well?

Here are a few methods you can lay down some rules, as such:

Inform everyone that you are not to be disturbed during your workout sessions
Use it as an opportunity to clear your mind
Go for a nice stroll by yourself
Set aside a special outfit for workouts
Start your workout session from the beginning again if you are interrupted for non-essential reasons

11. HAVE CUT-OFFS FOR RESPONDING TO EMAILS AND FINISHING WORK

In this day and age, there can be a widespread demand and pressure from bosses and colleagues to be available 24/7. This is even more so if you are running your own business and need to create a strong, professional image.

This, of course, is not stress-free or healthy in the slightest. It results in your work bleeding over into your home and gives you no real chance to rest. The biggest way this shows up is often in the form of work correspondences via emails and messages. Just how are you supposed to cope with it all?

Set aside a strict, limited amount of time to reply to work emails and the like – and no more
Enforce clear limits – if your work ends at 5:30 pm, you will not be answering any more emails after that, no matter how important
Filter your correspondences into important and unimportant messages, so you can attend to what’s immediately relevant and deal with the rest later

12. PRACTICE GRATITUDE

With just how busy our schedules are these days, it’s likely that you’ll struggle to find some me-time – much less engage in activities that make you happy. So, just what else can you do?

The answer? Gratitude. Studies have shown that spending two minutes or so to appreciate the blessings you have helps with:

Developing social support
Centering and grounding one’s mind
Increasing energy levels
Elevating positive self-esteem feelings
Fortifying one’s immune system
Reducing stress and depression
Sustaining one’s mental and emotional psyche
Heightening one’s intelligence

It’s not very hard to practice gratitude. Just spend a few minutes to give thanks for what blessings you have in your life over your coffee or while doing morning yoga, and you’re set for the day!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON SOME SIMPLE WAYS TO DEDICATE MORE TIME TO YOURSELF EVERYDAY

Me time is extremely important for physical and mental wellbeing. It enables you to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the world and focus on someone who genuinely really matters – you!

It can sound a little cliche, but taking time for yourself and for self-care can make a huge difference in daily stress levels, anxiety and depression symptoms, and even things like productivity and concentration. As such, make sure you don’t neglect those needs in your everyday life!

Source: https://www.powerofpositivity.com/time-to-yourself-everyday-tips/

Also

www.soyoga.com.sg

and

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