Take a break, reclaim your life! I just did.

Do you wake up every morning and follow the same routine over and over again, everyday?

Do you have a mental list of things you plan on doing ‘once you have the time to’?

Does the phrase,’Where is the time?’ come spontaneously to you whenever anyone asks you about a recent movie, a book or a cool cafe that just opened in your town?

Do you realise it feels okay for you to say yes to all these?

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself nodding in response to all the aforesaid questions. Most of you do one or many of these and quite frankly, till recently, I did too! I was also running the same rat race… what I did not realise is that this race has no end. We are just running in loops! There never will be time at my disposal for myself. But this realisation did not come from an inner enlightenment..nah! We never listen to what we say. It was when I saw people around me, mostly women, trying to outpace time, chasing deadlines, reassuring themselves that the fatigue was just a phase, that I understood I was also one of them. I was trying to do everything- juggling work, higher studies, my writing assignments, my blog, social commitments, family responsibilities…and the thought of giving up any of them made me feel like a failure. I have never been the one to give up! More I thought about it, the clearer it became. While I thought I was discovering myself by handling so many different roles, I was actually losing touch with my own self. I needed to declutter- not my house or my phone but my time! I decided to stop doing everything for some time and just spend time with my family and then restart doing what I missed doing the most. Basically, I took a break from everything! Trust me, it has been the best decision I ever took! I am picking up the pieces now but I am at peace and I know the limits. Now I am doing what I want to and not with the pressure of doing it just because I can!

Although I feel great and taking a break worked for me, it may not be the best or the most practical option for everyone. Yet, there are so many little ‘time outs’ that we can take in life and feel more in control. Here’s how:

‘Un’socialise with the social media!

Ah! The seemingly indispensable social media has brought the world closer and opened the doors of everyone’s homes to the over curious eyes of ‘wellwishers’. Although it grants you the immediate satisfaction of likes and comments the moment you upload a picture of something you cooked/painted/created/or just a picture you clicked, it also brings with it an urge in you to do it all over again and again and again…after all, a bit of appreciation never hurt anybody. Unfortunately, if it becomes the only motivation for creativity, you will find yourself spending more time addicted to social media, checking for new comments and responding to them than indulging in your rediscovered talent. Hibernate from the social media every once in a while. You wont believe the incredible amount of freedom you experience when you are away from social media. You need it, your body needs it and your mind definitely needs it!

A cup of coffee & a book- all you will ever need!

We are not talking about putting a comma to life and running away to the mountains. We are just talking about knowing and respecting our own boundaries and not pushing ourselves to the edge. All that it needs is taking out those ten minutes just for yourself and a cup of coffee(or tea, whatever works for you). No TV, no newspapers, no phones. Let your mind wander, do not limit it to the petty worries of the day, let it drift just like the smoke rising above your coffee mug. You are bound to feel rejuvenated and will start the day with a smile! Similarly, when you are winding down for the night, snuggle in your bed with a great book that takes away your mind from the stresses of the day gone by into a world of imagination. Better than popping those sleeping pills anyday!

Set lower standards for yourself

This is the toughest! It is a mean mean world where every single action is judged and every word spoken is interpreted into meanings more than one. As if that was not enough, we top it all up by setting such huge standards for ourselves that the most difficult person to please is the one we see in the mirror. This is so common, especially in women. We are always judging ourselves as wives, as mothers, as housewives, as employees and seldom do we give ourselves a pat on the back for multitasking with such efficacy. This is not a competition! Stop craving for perfection, strive for happiness!! You damn well deserve it!

Travel, wherever, whenever you can!

Nothing lightens you up like travel, absolutely nothing! It does not matter whether you are travelling to an exotic beach or just taking a road trip to meet a distant relative, what matters is that you are getting out and away from the incessant routine. Think of it as therapy, if not vacation. Enjoy the alarmless mornings, the lazy afternoons and the rejuvenating beauty sleep at nights. If you have kids and vacations are just an extension of the daily routine of shouting and running after them albeit at a different location, choose wisely. There are ample child friendly resorts that offer activities to indulge your kids in while you lay back and enjoy a martini.

Choose to do whatever you feel suits you the most, but do pause and recalibrate your mind. Don’t let the intertwining stresses of expectations and deadlines take away from you the essence your self. Take a break and reclaim your life!