Is It Possible to Put Yourself First in the Midst of a Busy Life?

I was going to begin my day with dishes. Can you believe it? What a miserable way to begin your day. Unless you like doing dishes, then, have at it. I just don’t always see how washing dishes as a way to take care of yourself.

On this day, I approached my sink half full of dishes and said, “f**k it, I’m going to do the things that I want to first.”

What did that mean to me this morning? Well, I’ve been wanting to write and read – I have a reading list and we are over halfway through January and I haven’t finished a book yet from my list. I haven’t written daily. Meditation? Yeah, nope. So, today I decided to do this differently.

While taking a class with Katey Schultz, she gave us a morning exercise to help feed your creativity (and sanity). I’ve written about this before but haven’t really done the practice much.

The practice includes:

1. Read for 15 minutes. This reading is meant for self enrichment. Right now I am reading ‘Still Writing’. Its not really a self help book but it does get my brain working in a writerly kind of way. And it is on my list.

2. Write for 15 minutes. This is a good time, not to work on your current WIP, but to write those journal pages. This post was written during one of those morning writes, simply because I came to a blank page, primed and ready to get something down.

3. Activity for 15 minutes. I’ve been trying to meditate and while that doesn’t seem very active, it is an activity. Sometimes I have a 15 minute yoga practice that I work on which gives me movement. Both are breath and body type of activities. And meditation is one of those goals I want to achieve.

4. Feed your creativity for 15 minutes. This one is interesting for me. In the past I’ve used picture books, photography learning books etc but that isn’t what I want to work on now. This would probably be a good place for my writing book that I am currently reading but since I’ve already done that – what do I do. Einstein sat for many hours in his study, just thinking. And I’ve been fascinated with this idea for a long time. I’m not quite sure I am ready for that just yet but I need to find a way to feed my creativity. Perhaps a bit of painting. I’m so not an artist but I like playing with watercolors. Perhaps that will get the juices moving.

My theme for the year is authenticity and what better way to figure that out than to spend some time with myself doing some of the things that I love. Each of these exercises is a way to explore and to grow and to find myself again – my true authentic self.

Did I answer my question? Is it possible to put yourself first in the midst of a busy life? I think I didn’t really answer the question. I just gave myself another to do list. Yes it is one that is doable and I enjoy, but, if you noticed, it takes an entire hour to do all of those things.

I don’t believe taking an hour for yourself is unrealistic. In fact, if you can manage it, this small block of time can help you to grow.

Until next time,

Angela