Creating Your Own Space

In the ups and downs and the busy-ness of life, all the little things that need doing, all the worries that need attending, and all the responsibilities we have taken on, we start to feel tired and down.  We all know the feeling.  It’s a mix of tired, a little sad, a little uninterested in what’s going on.  Popularly referred to as burnout, it’s the kind of feeling that can stick around unless we can pause and rest properly.  It’s the kind of feeling that keeps coming back unless we can find a system for recharging, a system that lets us create our own space.

Creating your own space does not have one clear cut definition.  It can be a physical space, a special room in your home perhaps?  It can also be an activity that you do for yourself a few hours a week, an old hobby maybe?

Returning to old hobbies tends to be a good way for us to create our own space.  These activities, done purely for the enjoyment of it, tend to be forgotten as we get older and as the things that need doing pile up.  When we have children, we further tend to forget about these activities, and often we take on our children’s hobbies because we want to encourage these in them.

So how do we create this space and go back?  Try these three techniques:

• Schedule a time and stick to it!

If your weeks are full of scheduled activities then the best solution might be carving out time each week.  Half an hour to an hour or two each day (if time allows it) can be enough to get you feeling relaxed, recharged, and reinvigorated in this previous passion.

• Join a club or class or, better yet, teach your hobby!

Finding it hard to schedule your own time or keeping the discipline? Joining a club or a class can help give you that discipline.  If you are more confident in your skills, teaching your hobby can help too!  In both cases, being accountable to others can really help you stick to the habit.

• Try something new

Sometimes we return to our hobbies and don’t find the same enjoyment we used to. When this happens, do not get discouraged. You should keep at it! But as you do that, you can also try something new. Changing up the routine can help jumpstart the creative juices that recharge your spirit!

The most important aspect of creating your own space is to remember that the act of doing this is an outlet for escape and creativity, personal exploration and distraction, catharsis and recharging.  It is something we all need.

Worried that spending time on a hobby or on yourself may be irresponsible towards the things you have to do? Worry not! Studies have shown that hobbies are important, and they–in fact–can help you at work by keeping you more focused and relaxed.

Apart from creating and rediscovering this space and these activities, be sure to take care of yourself.  Eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.  If these things weren’t happening in the first place, the root of your burnout could be completely different, and you may just get further burnt out creating this space and time for yourself.  Self-care and “me-time” should always be considered!