In case you haven’t noticed.. I haven’t had much free time lately. It feels like I don’t have time to do anything–not enough time to blog or practice or read or tweet… It’s left me scratching my head, wondering what happens to the 24 hours I have every day.
I recently started a new job that requires me to commute 30 minutes each way, which means I’m away for 10 hours every day. It takes me an hour to get ready for work in the morning. I walk the dog for at least 30 minutes. It takes another hour or so to make and eat dinner. I sleep for 8 hours. That leaves me about 4 hours of free time at the end of the day. That should be enough time to practice, chat with my husband about his day, and watch an hour of some silly reality television show. So why does it feel like I can’t even catch my breath at the end of the day?
I don’t know!
But something’s got to give so I can get back on track and start to feel normal again!
How do you get back into the swing of things when it feels like time is working against you?
I am in the same place right now. My day is consumed with cooking, cleaning, work, homework, lectures, and being a taxi for my husband and myself. I was practicing 5-7 days from 45-90 mins each day and now I'm lucky if I get in a quick 30 mins 3 days a week. AND I DON'T OWN A T.V. SO I DON'T WATCH ANY SHOWS. I need balance, but I don't know how to do it. I will be checking your comments maybe someone will be nice enough to share their secrets.
It may not seem like a lot but I try and use my lunch break for something relaxing like reading, walking, hanging with Scarlet. It makes me feel less pressured to make relaxation time after work, although I do find it.
I feel the same way – the days just go by way too quick – and I always think I'll get caught up on the weekend, which never happens.
I find on the really hectic days that having a home practice is the best solution. I either do my own self-guided class or take an online class where I can select it based on the amount of time I have. This saves me the commute time of getting to a studio and I can wear whatever I want.
The other thing that really helps me is to try to turn off all the email/twitter/phone for a few hours and just focusing on what I need to get done.
Hope to see some other good suggestions here – as I need help too!
I am definitely going thru this currently. I was on spring break last week and now going back to class full time, it seems like I don't have time for all the nothing I normally do, but honestly, I make a list. It sounds silly but try it. I make a list (start small) of things that I must accomplish and things I would like to do. Check 'em off as you do them. I take care of my mother-in-law who has cancer when I'm not in class so I actually put things like watch Suvivor with Mom on my list just to make sure we get time to just sit around and do nothing. I try to plan meals the day before if not sooner that way I'm not scrambling to make something each evening. My favorite are things I can throw in the crock pot, tho now with warmer weather knocking on my door that is getting to be too heavy. I keep track of my practice in a day planner that I leave open on my desk. Maybe I'm a little anal retentive, but this is what works for me. Just remember: BREATHE
good luck on the new job my yoga practice keeps me focus and I always take me time everyday like reading and a hot bath
I do what Meredith says, use my lunch break time for me.
Also, books on CD/ipod for the commute. If you haven't tried them, you would be surprised what a huge difference it makes listening to a book versus news/radio or music. It's soothing and it makes that time feel productive rather than wasted.
I am married to a wonderful man, I have worked hard and full time to meet my professional goals every day in a high pressure career for 13 years, raised two beautiful children who are now 15 and 21 the 15 year old is a snowboarder,rower, lacrosse player, VP Student Councel…you name it-my 21 year old is working full time and attending business classes part time-is in her own apartment and amazes me wiht her strenght everyday) take care of my own house(laundry, 3 kitties, vacuum, dust, 2 bathrooms, laundry for 3 people, grocery shop you know the drill), love my elliptical most every morning and a yoga class 4-5 times a week.
In as much as my children are older and are (thankfully) growing up to be most beautiful, when I feel overwhelmed, the key is to CHOOSE TO NOT FEEL OVERWHELMED. When you are folding the load of laundry, stop and flow through it like your vinyassa class. When you can't believe it is time to clean the bathrooms again or vacuum again, just say ok…this is not a big deal. I choose to stop feeling overwhelmed. I choose to commit to my yoga practice, and that means organizing my time so that I can do that…I choose to live this way…not make mountains out of mole hills….talk to your husband about all of your monumental tasks you accomplish EVERY DAY!!! And you MUST take Sunday afternoons….you must flow through your busy busy week, knowing that everything you get done NOW, IN THE PRESENT, you don't have to do on Sunday afternoon…..that is family day. CHOOSE NOT TO FEEL OVERWHELMED….TAKE JOY IN WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR BOSS ETC FEEL FULFILLED…..and a committed consistent yoga practice is the most important piece to this life lesson….nobody taught me this…yoga taught me this
This is definitely the age-old question. I think the best thing you can do is try different things. Ask yourself if you can cook once for the week, or find a healthy place to eat lunch 1-2 times per week, "use" the commute time to read/listen to a book, or to meditate whether you walk or drive. I am struggling with this as I have been moving, and my routine keeps changing. I think the most important thing is to try different ideas until they start to stick. You will know when something is right.
Sometimes it's not so much the routine that makes us feel overwhelmed and tired, but what kind of fuel we're putting in our bodies. Check out what your putting in the tank. Maybe adding more raw fruits and veggies and cutting back on those heavy, processed, quick grabs we always wind up eating when we're stressed and pressed for time. If you have the right fuel you might be able to shave some time off your sleep schedule and add an extra hour or 2 to your day! :)Good luck and keep breathing!
Thanks! These are all very helpful suggestions. It's nice to know I'm not the only one. I'm actually doing better this week.. reading magazines during my lunch break helps. So does just getting in a few minutes of yoga a day no matter what! 🙂
Does a daily practice have to include asanas? Can it be a meditation once a day? Can it be 3×5-minute meditations throughout the day? There's a YouTube video of Rodney Yee doing "desk yoga" – a 5-minute relaxation exercise to be done at work – which might give you ideas.
Can it be putting calming, centring music on in the car or your headphones on the bus or train during your commute? If you're on the bus or train, can you put meditation music on your headphones and meditate for 10 minutes there and back again? If you're in the car, can you get some good mantras to sing along to? (it's amazing how many really good recordings are out there)
When you say it takes an hour to get ready for work, does this include getting lunch made and work documents, etc., together? Is it possible to do that the night before and put your bag by the front door?
We've found that having a warm shower half an hour before bed means a better night's sleep and only a quick wash is necessary to be very clean and fresh first thing in the morning – the Spouse's 90-120 minute public transport commute means he gets 3.5 hours between getting home and going to bed, and being able to sit and eat breakfast calmly, knowing he has everything together because he did it the night before, is a real boon.
Does the reality show really make you feel nourished and happy? Would shifting to reading, listening to radio drama or an audio book, or lying in the bath with the lights low and soothing music, or something else entirely give you a boost?
How can you turn ordinary tasks into meditation or at least truly conscious acts? I've recently taken to preparing lunch while singing along to favourite music and consciously sending healing into the food to be eaten the next day; I'm sloooowly learning mantras and playing them while I do tasks, or even dedicating the tasks to my idea of the Divine, and working out how they relate to the namas and niyamas (and other beliefs and ideas I hold to be valuable).
Because acting consciously in this way is not something I'm habituated to yet, it startles me just how effective it is when I do it.