Investing in You.

It's ok to take time out, enjoy a treat once in a while!

There is no wonder why illness is so prevalent in adults. We prioritise everyone else but ourselves. Instead of playing out with our friends whilst someone else makes our dinner, we're worrying about everything from cellulite to how to pay the gas bill, trying to do a million things at once and getting no where fast. Instead of doing something for the intrinsic pleasure it brings, we end up spending time doing those things that we 'should' be doing, not those things that make us truly happy.

Taking time out for many adults seems a forgotten pleasure. Why is this? Who said that life should be hard work, filled with repetitive and often monotonous activity? Why is it so bad to treat ourselves once in a while to a small bar of chocolate, a lazy bath, an afternoon nap? A massage or other treatment. To ride a bike up and down the street just because we can rather than an arduous trip to the gym, sweating in a confined space breathing in exhaled air from other people? Why is taking a walk in the park seen to be a luxury these days? 

Why don't we take a proper lunch break away from the desk, away from the stress of work and have a proper break? I reckon that the time spent having a proper leisurely lunch would be a fabulous investment, not a waste of work time. Taking a break away from the screen, having some fresh air, a change of scenery, maybe even talking to someone would make a huge difference to productivity for the rest of the afternoon. 

Same goes for taking a break when you're a parent or carer, if it is possible to take a proper break and have some time doing things that you would like to do, your coping mechanisms will be replenished and you will feel much better.A trip to the cinema either alone or with friends can be a real treat, especially if its a mid-week quiet showing and you have the place to yourself!

 However I realise that sometimes its not possible to find child care or alternative care if you're a carer which can be a problem. In this case taking even a short amount of time to do something for yourself can be a huge bonus. This could be spending a short time reading, or taking a bath, or treating yourself to a nice bar of chocolate and a magazine. 

'But I would feel guilty' you cry! Well don't feel guilty without taking a break the whole system will go down, so its important that you look after yourself and do things that make your heart sing on a regular basis. 

Looking after your emotional health by taking breaks, some regular exercise and some fresh air can make all the difference to not only your work or family life but to your mood too. It actively alters the chemical balance within you, releasing those all important endorphins giving you a natural high. Fabulous!