How to Set Aside "You Time" Every Day

By Brittany Hawes on May 29, 2018

“You time”? Is that really something that can exist in the life of a busy college student? Well, it should be! It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of activity that comes with being in college, but if you let yourself keep going, and going, and going… you’ll eventually start to feel drained. You’re not the Energizer Bunny; everyone needs a break sometimes! If you never give your body and mind a chance to simply relax, you could wear yourself too thin.

But taking a moment to yourself isn’t as simple as making the decision to do so. In college, it’s hard to find time to yourself. You’re constantly surrounded by other people, whether it be in the dorms or in your apartment. Even if you’re the kind of person who thrives off of attention and loves to be surrounded by people, you might begin to lose sight of the things that really matter to you when you’re caught up in what everyone else is doing, including whatever drama they might have going on in their lives.

Another hurdle? That infamous college student’s packed schedule. When there are things like classwork, tests, parties, jobs, activities, and events cropping up all year long, even during the summer for some, it can be quite the task to set aside a little bit of dedicated “you time” every single day. But when you’re always on the go and always with something that needs to be done, you start to lose that drive for your personal ambitions and future goals. So, how do you find the time to have “you time” and let your body take a few moments to breathe?

Firstly, it isn’t about finding time… it’s about making time.

You look through your schedule and notice that you’re going to be pretty much bogged down with work the entire week. You have classwork to complete, an internship to show up for, and plenty of other tasks that you need to get done. But you notice that you have small gaps throughout the day. Maybe an hour or two here, before your next class starts, or a few hours before bed each night. This is where you will find your time. Why not do something you like to do while you’re on your lunch break? Go get yourself pampered! Get your nails down, order your favorite meal at a café and read a good book, or take a brisk walk at the local park. Those little breaks can be made a lot more meaningful. It all depends on what you make of it.

You can also plan ahead so that you will be able to set aside “you time”. Instead of waiting until the last minute to complete that assignment, do it in between classes, before work, or whenever you have time. That way, you can use those few hours before bed to decompress with your favorite drink and an episode of Tokyo Ghoul.

Need some ideas on where and how to spend your “you time”? I’ve listed three easy ideas below that you’ll be able to work into even your busiest of days.

set aside you time every day

Image via Pixabay.com

1. Exercise

I know, I know — you said you’d never join the likes of those nefarious gym-zombies, with their yoga pants and limp muscle T’s, the ones who seem to always smell like barbells and that tangy vitamin water. But listen to this: exercising is an easy and healthy way to give yourself some “you time”. The best kind of “you time” is time spent working on you. Exercising will strengthen your body, fight away potential health problems, and help you feel good about yourself. Plus, if gyms really aren’t your thing, you can always exercise on your own.

If high-impact exercises don’t sound appealing, you might choose something a little less strenuous, such as yoga, walking, cycling, rock-climbing, or even tai chi!

2. Write in your journal

When you were younger, did you keep a journal? It might have been filled with embarrassing things, like how much your crush sucked for not noticing you or how you hoped to live in a castle one day, but boy, didn’t it feel great to have something to pour all of your inner thoughts out to? Just because you’re a little older now, it doesn’t have to mean you’re too old to continue with your journal!

Journals are where you can write down your dreams, your ambitions, and your future goals. It can also be a place to vent when you feel like it’s a problem you want to deal with yourself. Journals are amazing! Take it out after a long day and scribble down all of your thoughts. This is a sure way to spend some quality time with yourself

The first step in journaling is finding the perfect journal. Why not start your search in Uloop’s online store?

3. Explore nature

Sometimes, I get bored of being surrounded by traffic, pavement, buildings, and the not-so-peaceful sounds of a college town. When that happens, I’ll pack up my snacks and water bottle, head to the animal hospital I volunteer at, and see which happy pup wants to take a short hike with me. I’ll usually head to a nearby park that has nature trails (Florida is full of ‘em) and go exploring. I used to be nervous about nature trails (ack, bears!) but now I love them!

There’s something truly amazing about walking alone through a forest. You get to escape the hectic hustle and bustle of your everyday life and get back to what makes this world beautiful. A peaceful walk is also a good time for self-reflection.

How do you set aside “you time” and decompress?

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