One of the phrases we repeat most throughout adult life is “I don’t have time.” And yet life is essentially that: time. What you do with it, how you decide to invest it, what you fill it with. And before you know it, your days are completely full and you don’t have a minute left for yourself, you don’t have time to do what you love or feel like doing. Does that sound familiar?
Although giving yourself to others—to family, friends, or a job you love—is a beautiful thing, in order to give, you need to have, recover, and create… You need to be well with yourself and feel inner peace so you can create order outside yourself. Are we in agreement so far?
At Lulú Ferris, sewing is more than sewing, and to see what we mean, you only need to take a look at some of these posts:
- Sewing as a stimulus for your mind
- Sewing and crochet to help you relax
- Crafting as therapy
- Sewing for a good cause
- Sewing as a creative revolution
But let’s get back to the point. Making time to do what you love isn’t silly at all; quite the opposite. It’s healing! So here are a few little tips that may help you recover those seconds, minutes, and hours that belong to you.
Our example has to be sewing, of course, because it’s what we’re passionate about. But these tips apply to any other passion you may have.
1. Truly believe it: realize it
This is the most important thing of all. You really have to realize how beneficial this will be in every other area of your life. You have to truly believe that the time you devote to yourself is well-being and happiness that will show up in everything you do.
2. Time blocking: if you can’t “find” time, block it out
A day has 24 hours, which you should think of as 24 empty little boxes. Work, family, everyday tasks, necessities like eating or sleeping… everything has its own clearly defined time box, right? So do the same with the time you’re going to dedicate to yourself. Put it in a box and lock it with a key so nothing else can sneak inside.
3. Get organized and make agreements
If you live with family or a partner, organizing your time becomes a high-wire act. But nothing is impossible when there’s a will. So talk it over with the people who share your life, explain how important it is, and find that magical opening together. When you find it, respect it and give it the value it deserves.
4. Alone or with company?
If you also turn that time into something that gives you an extra benefit, you’ll be more committed to finding it, and it will be even more enjoyable. Maybe you’d like it to be your little pocket of solitude and silence. Or maybe it could be something you share and enjoy more with other people.
You already know that at our shop in Mataró we organize sewing classes and workshops that can help you spend time with others and also organize your time blocking. You also know that at Lulu Ferris we upload new tutorials every Friday, which can help you experience a certain relative solitude: you’re peacefully at home, but with someone helping and guiding you.
5. Start now
This tip is almost as important as the first one. Don’t wait any longer to make time, because time passes and runs out. Start right now—do it now. And start feeling a little more in charge of your life.
Go for it!