In a previous post of mine, titled ‘The idea of chosen time,’ I delved into how your time is yours, and it is something you own. When I wrote that, it was an idea I had only just begun to come to terms with and actually apply to my life and my relationships. But now, many months on from that, I’ve found this chosen time to be a two-part idea instead of singular. There’s much more to the idea of chosen time when you don’t see it as something you apply outwardly to your life, but inwardly too.
Once a week, my housemate organises game nights with his friends. And I think it’s the sweetest thing. He carves out that one night a week to socialise and share his love for such games. I like the concept of this, and the routine involved with designating time to something you enjoy. It reminds me of how important it is to mark certain time as your time, literally just to do something you really love.
As you may know, I got back from Paris the other week and it was a much-needed trip that served me so well. But even before that, I had invited one of my uni friends to come home with me for a couple days. I hadn’t realised that while organising these trips, they were much more than a little break away from my usual.
They were necessary intervals for me to actually enjoy myself. In other words, without really noticing, these were mindful, purposeful treats for myself. No matter what your life is looking like right now, I think you might deserve a treat. However, to maintain the rewarding aspect of a treat, try not to overdo it.
There are so many aspects of your life that are too lovely to ignore and have you succumb to plodding alongside them. Lift up those exciting parts and eat them, kiss them, run with them – enjoy them.
To keep it simple, whether it’s booking that trip away, or signing up for that pottery class, buying that new jacket, getting into a routine with the gym, binging your favourite show, or just designating that one day a week to doing all of the above, cherish that feeling of joy and use it all as something to look forward to. This is the sweetest method I know for keeping in tune with yourself.
This might be the most neurodivergent thing I’ve ever said, but not too long ago I realised how much I like music and how much I enjoy just sitting there, listening and thinking. I love it so much so that, every now and then, I save a couple hours in the evening to do just that; I think it goes without saying that I find myself up and writing something down halfway through my designated music time.
I know far too many people who have wardrobes full of forgotten hobbies, little do they realise those were the things that made them sparkle. Now, ask yourself, why would anyone that’s aware of that deprive themselves of that?