Do you ever
feel too busy to take even a single moment of time out of your hectic day just for
yourself? Have you been constantly searching
for more time in the day because you run out of time to get everything done?
I expect
that most everybody has 'time management' problems at one point or another in
their lifetime simply because we fill our lives with too big a 'To Do' list and
then frantically scramble trying to cross everything off that list every day.
But what
cost to our inner peace and our soul's inspiration do these stressful days
cause?
I had one
of those stressful days recently, and I decided to take just 20 minutes to write
in my journal. I knew in my heart it would be good for my soul and time well
spent as I truly enjoy the peace I feel from doing this simple activity. I have
been trying to plan more time to feed my soul every day by doing activities
like writing, reading, and being creative, but as with most changes that we try
to make, I find myself challenged many days to meet my goal.
So, on that
day when I struggled to find a spare 20 minutes to write in my journal, I was
rewarded with inspiration for this article:
Inspire and Rejuvenate Your Soul in Just 20 Minutes. I developed a list
to remind me of six simple, yet powerful activities to do when I feel
challenged to make time for myself, and I'd like to share this list with you in
the hopes that it will help you find those precious 20 minutes to rejuvenate yourself
and inspire your soul.
Here are
six activities to inspire and rejuvenate your soul in just 20 minutes."
1. Take
a short walk.
Walking can clear your mind and is good for your body and soul. You can walk
while listening to music, an audiobook, an inspirational podcast, or just your
own thoughts. A walk in a new place
can give you perspective beyond what you've seen driving in your car. I
notice so many more details when walking, like beautiful landscaping,
gorgeous flower beds or details on houses in my neighborhood that I've
never noticed before. Walking is a great way to slow down the pace of
life, see the same old place in a new way, or just get in touch with your inner
self.
2. Get
outdoors. Another activity that is good for both your
body and soul is to simply go outside your home or office and breathe in some
fresh air. Feel the breeze on your face and soak in some sunshine. Simply enjoy the day and marvel at the
beauty of Mother Nature. Or do another inspirational activity while you're
outside, such as writing, journaling, stretching, yoga, reading a book or
magazine, or meditating. Just enjoying being outside in the fresh air for
20 minutes can really shift your perspective.
3. Practice
gratitude. Focusing
on gratitude wakes you up to the precious, small pleasures in life, like
the flowers that are blooming or someone's simple kind gesture. There are
several ways to practice gratitude. You can write in a journal a few
things that you are grateful for and why, write a thank you card to
someone, or plan a fun gift or activity for yourself or a loved one to
show your gratitude. You can even practice a random act of kindness to a
stranger to foster feelings of gratitude within yourself. To learn more
about gratitude journaling and the benefits of practicing gratitude, I
recommend that you check out Sarah Ban Breathnach's book, "Simple
Abundance."
4. Write. Studies have shown that
writing just 20 minutes a day for four consecutive days can provide
positive health benefits for up to six weeks. You can learn more about
this technique by reading Louise DeSalvo's book, "Writing as a Way of
Healing." In her book, she explains
the process that should be followed to experience health benefits which
has three components: you should write about 1) a traumatic or challenging
event in your life; 2) the feelings you had at that time, and 3) the
feelings you have now about that experience. All three components should
be included in your writing to get the maximum benefit. Another thing I
like to do is to write in different places, such as outside or at a
coffeehouse, to see what inspiration comes from being in a new
environment.
5. Read. Read inspirational stories,
fiction, non-fiction, or anything else that interests you. Rejuvenate your
soul, expand your perspective and relax all at the same time by reading. I
often carry a book or magazine with me so I have it available if I have
some unexpected time or find myself waiting in line for a doctor's
appointment etc.
6. Be
creative. The
act of creation reveals your soul's innermost desires. Ideas and talents
that are uniquely yours will be realized when you create. Whether your passion lies in music, art,
writing, redecorating a room in your home, starting a new business, or any
other artistic pursuit, you will experience inspiration and can share your
unique creations with others if you desire. Or be creative just for yourself by
writing personal affirmations to review often for your ongoing inspiration
and personal growth.
So, the
next time you feel overwhelmed, overworked or stressed, take a break and spend 20 minutes doing one
of these six activities. Remember, you can inspire and rejuvenate your soul in
just 20 minutes!.
About Carolee: Inspired by
her passion to support others on their own personal growth journey, Carolee
Laffoon founded
Affirmations To Go, a company which encourages people to
create lasting personal affirmation products to carry with them daily to keep
them focused on their goals, hopes and dreams. Carolee publishes a monthly
newsletter
"Affirmation Inspirations" to share her favorite affirmations,
inspirations, and product specials. Visit
www.AffirmationsToGo.com and
sign up to receive her newsletter as well as participate in her special monthly
Affirmations product giveaway.
