Get truly focused with my relaxing ‘just for me’ day
Ending the year with a celebration always feels great and it’s good to give the past a good send off whether it’s been a good year or not. Around this time of year I like to pause for a minute and reflect on all 12 months as I wave them goodbye and move forward with new and exciting things. I have found that this is one of the best ways to unwind, make new plans and get yourself ready for a great year ahead.
Take a deep breath and relax
This is a perfect point to take some well-deserved time out and re-connect with who I am and where I am going in life. It’s important for me to really say goodbye to the past and work out what I want from the future. I like to know where I am heading next and I feel that this is the perfect time to stop and think about it all before life starts moving forward again. If you struggle to find the time to make new aspirations, this is a great way to ensure you take a moment to do some serious thinking. Establish what you really want next in life. I love how it helps me get ready for a new year and new beginnings and really get focus on achieving my new goals.
Me time – my relaxing day
To help me unwind on the day I make a list of some of all my favourite relaxing things I like to do. The relax day is about letting the past year go with all experiences good and bad. It’s about looking forward to new things and focusing on what you want next. It’s also about really checking in with yourself and making sure you are okay. Reflect on the year that has just gone and think about what worked for you and what didn’t. The plan is to have a go-slow day to reconnect and reflect on who you are and where you are going. I find It helps me to re-focus and make the right plans for the year ahead. This way I can check how I am doing and am more likely to succeed as the year unfolds.
How to start – think of some relaxing things to do
I first started out by creating what I called ‘me time hours’ a few years ago, but I enjoyed it so much that now I make a full day of it. The full day actually allows me to take time out from the world and to recharge, and it also gives me some much needed space to think. I can say that I have never missed a time out/me time day since. It really gives me something to look forward to after the carnage of Christmas and because of that I do it every year now. If you plan your day right it will turn out to be a really great and relaxing day and could have such a positive and lasting effect for the whole year. Also, if you need some time out in-between Christmas and new year it’s a great relaxer, but feel free to fit it in wherever it suits you and just find the best time for you and your needs. The most important thing is to have the time to yourself, really relax and enjoy your day completely. If you do this you will have a greater chance of getting the most benefit from your time out day and that can lead to a genuinely positive effect on your health, well-being and general outlook on life itself.
Preparing for your day
I like to start by making a list of the things I would like to eat and drink on my relax day to make sure I have everything I need. It’s a good idea to think about how you will feed yourself throughout the day. If you don’t want to do any major meal cooking them make sure you prepare for that in advance. I tend to fill the fridge with easy grab treats to last through-out the day and make sure I have a delicious and prepared meal for the evening. Next, I make a final list of some the relaxing things I would like to do. When finalizing your own list think about the things you love to do, but don’t always have the time for. That way its more enjoyable and more personal to you.
Finally I like to pick a day when the house is going to be quiet and I can be by myself. If you have a busy house think about when the best time would be. Maybe arrange to be in when everyone else is out. Also, think ahead about how connected you want to be with the outside world. We all have responsibilities to maintain, so if you need to keep your phone close to hand then go ahead, but try to take some time out and don’t get lost in scrolling through what the rest of the world is up to. This is your time and it should be special so try to reserve it just for you. Think of yourself as the VIP guest in your day.
Me time day – Let the relaxing begin
The night before I put fresh bedding on, so I wake up all relaxed and ready to enjoy my day. I like to start with a little lie in to ensure that I wake nicely recharged and relaxed and ready for my me time-day to begin. Next, I have a delicious breakfast of some of my favorite things and make sure it has a few healthy aspects to add to my well-being. Feel free to turn it into breakfast in bed if you want, it’s your day remember, just do as you please and definitely don’t get dressed if you don’t want to. The day is all about doing exactly what you want and when you want and doing it all in your own time. After a nice cup of tea, I like to pick a couple of favorite things to do and loosely plan them into my day. Today I am having a bit of a movie day and a nice hot bath a little later on. I also choose to have a little nap before lunch.
Lunch time – my first snack of the day
Relaxing is hard work, especially if you are used to being on the go all the time, and it’s inevitable that you are going to need nourishment at some point. Make sure you have some tasty and easy to prepare lunch ideas to keep you happy and to be able to continue the feel good factor of your day. I love to have a late brunch and am happy to do the little prep it requires, but feel free to plan your snack in any way you want. The key here is not to spend too much time preparing your lunch, to have what you would really love and to enjoy it thoroughly. Obviously after your lunch you will need to take it slow, so you want a nice easy afternoon activity to help you digest. It’s at this point I either watch a favourite film or read a book, but I have been known to take a little couch nap and allow my food to digest real slow. Remember the choice is yours, so do as you please. Here are some popular and easy lunch snacks to give you some ideas:
Making a new plan for the year ahead
It’s around this time that you should be feeling nice and relaxed and have a clear mind to tackle the one bit of homework for the day. If you are not ready, then simply move it to another part of the day. You know what suits you, so do it a bit later when you will be ready for it. I look forward to making a good start on this part, but only once I have had some time to relax. The aim is to stop for a minute and really think about the year that has just gone. I like to dig out my goals for the year before and remind myself what I wanted to achieve and when and find out how I did. This reflection is a great first exercise because it allows me to get in to the right mindset for setting new goals and making new plans. If you are new to this and it’s your first time, don’t worry. This can be an exciting time and you have a whole year to see what you can achieve.
Afternoon Treat – Relaxing activities
Once you have thought about and processed your experiences of the past year and made some plans for the new one, its time to have a little reward. I like to pick a fun activity to pass the afternoon in a totally stress-free way. Remember you are catching up and checking in with yourself so pick something that you love to waste time doing, even if its absolutely nothing, just go ahead and do it. The idea is to enjoy the moment and the time to be by yourself for a while. Read that book you have always been meaning to. Watch your favourite film again, because there will be no interruptions, listen to some of your favourite music, just make sure it’s more on the relaxing side than the dance floor carnage side.
Give yourself a bonus treat – Mini spa
The time you spend on this activity and when you fit in your bonus treat is entirely up to you. I have done this after breakfast, in the afternoon and even in the evening with a nice glass of fizz. It’s all about when you feel it would suit you. Over the past couple of years, I have tried a number of different things too. Some were great and some were just not for me. My favourite has turned out to be a nice relaxing bath. It’s all about feeling pampered and who doesn’t love a bit of feel good pampering? It can be anything you like, after all this your day and it’s all about you and how you feel. I like to have all my favourite beauty products on hand to make my mini spa that extra bit special. Here are some of the activities I have tried and loved over the years.
Evening time – reflect and be sure
Now you have had time to relax and reflect on your plans for the coming year, it is time to take another look at that list and see if your new goals still resonate with you and what you really want to achieve. Tomorrow is when you can start making plans to achieve all that is on your list, but today you should concentrate on making sure that they are things you really want. Try to think about what they will really bring to your life and if it is still the right thing for you. The key is to make your list about the things that will really mean something and make a difference. There is no point picking things that look great, but turn out to be not what you thought they would be. Choose the right plans now and you will achieve more and enjoy the outcome at the end too. I like to sit down with a nice dinner and a glass of wine and really think about what goals I have planned and how I planned to achieve them.
Me time – Final thoughts
However your day unfolds, I hope you really enjoy the time and reflection. If you have done things right, you should have experienced a truly lovely day relaxing in the best company and be ready for a good night sleep. If I end my day like this it tells me I have done it right. My plans for the next 12 months are ready to roll and tomorrow is will be the start of an amazing year. Remember you don’t have to do everything listed here. If you wanted to do absolutely nothing at all, then go right ahead. As long as you get the time out, clarity and reflection needed to take on your goals in the year to come. Good luck with your goals and have a great year.
