It has been a busy few weeks for me, with a website revamp, a pop-up event (more on that on Azorias’ FB/ Instagram), a part-time consulting stint, and an upcoming project—that at times I can’t help feeling like I am being spread too thin.
The truth is, I think most, if not all of us, are busy at some point. There are so many things to indulge our appetites in, especially with all the new technologies, giving us access to way more things than we had access to in the past. Another reason is this—we live in insecure times. So we feel this internal pressure to do do do do do all the time! In fact, some of us may even be addicted to ‘busy-ness’. Do you feel this way sometimes? Like if someone asks you how have you been, your chest puffs out as you tell your friend just how ‘busy’ you are. I am guilty of this too.
Nonetheless, I'm not going to pretend I like the 24/7 hustle. There's a time and place for that and it's not in my heart or mind at every waking moment. I don't want to glorify busy or have my hands in so many pots I look like I'm a big deal; or worse, start to think I am. The thing is, when we go go go all day, every day, week after week we leave no room for rest, family, recovery, or play. And I don't know about you but these four things are some of my favorites!
Whenever I feel myself all anxious from all my commitments, I will take a deep breath and slow down for a moment. I may be busy, but I will still find the time and effort to savor every moment! Here are some tips that work really well for myself to ‘enjoy life’ even at my busiest times:
1. Prioritize
Staring at a loooong list of to-dos is incredibly demotivating, so focus on what is critical, and do not get sidetracked. We can tackle 3, or even 10 things in a day, but not 33 or 50! So focus your energies onto the important agendas.
2. Enjoy the little things
Have you noticed the little things in your life recently? Whether it is licking a delicious ice cream or curling up at home on a rainy day, there are so many delightful moments in a day— if only we pay attention to them.
3. Make time for what (and who) you love
If all we ever did was work on and attend to our obligations it could become difficult to find any sense of enjoyment in our day-to-day experience! If we never make the time to do things we are excited about, we could easily start resenting our lives. That’s why it is important to make time every day for the things we really enjoy, and this includes spending time with my loved ones. :)
4. "Living in the moment"
Something I always remind myself on a daily basis is—“Be present”. Be present when I am meeting a friend, be present when I am admiring a scenic view in Paris, be present even when I am walking my dog. It is only when we fully immerse ourselves in an experience, that we can enjoy it completely!
This also applies to mundane tasks. We cannot run away from our responsibilities and daily duties/ chores. But admittedly, following such routines will cause us to feel tired and not enjoying ourselves. Well, the truth is that life has to be lived and felt in all these moments that we live! Whether we are cooking for our family or cleaning the house or working at the offices, we are actually making change for the better. Well, at least that is how I motivate myself, haha. So I try to enjoy even these mundane tasks because I remind myself that it is all for a better living/ future.
5. Learn to just let go
Learn not to stress over the things that are out of your control. Learn to let loose. If your mind is busy obsessing over all the things that didn’t get done today, then you are not relaxed.
6. Do a gratitude review
This really works for me. If you take a minute everyday to review your blessings, you will start to notice more and more things to be grateful for. This is such a simple yet powerful way to feel grateful, and ultimate feel the enjoyment in your life!
7. Reward yourself
I am a hedonist by nature, so I never feel shy to treat myself, haha. It could be a hair treatment at my favorite salon, a new pair of shoes, or a smooth and creamy Magnum ice cream covered in a thick layer of cracking Belgian white chocolate with almond pieces— small pleasures like these instantly bring such joy to my day!
Ultimately, a day without pleasure is a day wasted. While we should put in our 101% in things we do, balance is extremely important and striking them should also be our priority. So try to make time to enjoy little pleasures every little part of your day, and end it with a Magnum White Almond. :)
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