Finding a Slice of Solitude

Ask most people and they’ll tell you life is busy. For me, it involves part-time work as a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor, running Pilates training on the weekends, and living in a city with no family support. Throw a toddler and a baby into the mix and things get pretty hectic.

It’s easy to get stuck in the Groundhog Day nature of it all, eventually getting bogged down as life seems to snowball out of control. So, how do I not lose my head when week after week ticks by with my physio waitlist siting at six patients deep, the Lego on the lounge room floor hasn’t shifted for at least four days, and my three-year-old is asking me for the forty-seventh time why she can’t eat ice cream for breakfast?

The answer is simple. And what’s more, it’s been shouted from the rafters for longer than I can recall. It took me a long time until I finally accepted the necessity of it, but since then, I haven’t looked back (it was either that or collapse into the fetal position in the corner of the room waving a white flag).

Two simple words: me time. Yes, me time. It’ll look different for everybody, depending on your schedule and commitments, as well as your hobbies and goals. So, what does my time look like for, well, me, and how did I ever begin to prioritise it? The first step is to recognise its absence. Then have a serious chat to those that are going to need to get on board with it. For me, that was my husband. For others, it may also include older children or a boss.

Next, make the time. Notice I didn’t say find the time? Unfortunately, we can’t just conjure up more time (there’s not a few spare hours hiding at the bottom of the laundry basket, sorry). You need to make it. It doesn’t have to be hours either (though fabulous if it is). Just a few minutes can be enough. Take a long hard look at your week. Where can you make sacrifices to get yourself a few extra minutes?

For me, it involves getting up a little earlier so that I can have a coffee on my own before the kids wake up. A bit of a juggle with day-care and hubby, and I’m able to squeeze in two Pilates workouts each week and two, blissful, solo runs (no pram, thank you very much!).

And finally (deep breath for this one), I’ve also given up Netflix in the evenings so that I can focus on my creative hobbies (who needs reruns of The Office anyway?)
So, with a little tweaking to your week, you too can say goodbye to the I-don’t-have-time- for-me-time mantra. It’s time to take charge and carve out your own slice of solitude (maybe with a coffee in hand).