Wudatime

From a very early stage in our lives, we are forced by our environment to keep busy all the time. School, University, language lessons, sports, homework, and any activity that can keep you active. In the meantime, we cannot stop hearing about how important it is to enjoy life and to take things easy. But, aren’t those ideas contradictory?

They definitely are. So,what can we do about it? So far, we have tried to survive to the tyranny of the time while doing our best. Let’s focus on our spare time, isn’t it wonderful to have some moments just for ourselves? We can dedicate that time to our hobbies and passions, we can practice sports, watch films, paint, do nothing, listen to music, travel and many other options. Once we know what we want to do (or not do) let’s just do it.

Don’t get us wrong, if you want to dedicate your spare time to relax and do nothing, that’s great, your body may deserve and enjoy some rest after long days of work. But if you want to do things, don’t let laziness stop you from doing them. You know how good you will feel after starting that novel, or after rearranging that room.
Because some things just need to be done. Sometimes it is hard to find the right time. So, if you are feeling bored or don’t really know what to do, that can be the perfect moment! Take the first step, and then everything will come easier.

How can we do everything we plan in our free time? First of all, establish your preferences, you can do a list if you feel like –organisation also works for this- but this is up to you. As far as your ideas are clear in your mind, you are ready to go.

• Decide what you need to do, those things you definitely want to start or finish for good. Those should be on the top of your list, and you should find time for them. Establish a routine. Dedicate an hour or two a day, or the intensive way “it will be done just today, right away!”. Those moments of motivation, even if it’s cleaning and organising your wardrobe until it seems new, tend to be useful. You may get crazy for a moment, but you’ll make something out of it.
• Think about alternatives, “what if I cannot continue with…? I may do that instead”. Ok, you cannot find that Paul Preston novel you wanted to start to know more about the Spanish civil war… you probably had other ideas in mind, so you can give them a try. Of course, if this does not convince you, you can always go to your nearest bookshop and buy the novel again.
• Other duties that need to be done, such as home repairs, or fixing your relatives’ bicycles. Those may not give you pleasure, but during the time you resist to do them, you will have that little voice in the back of your head, aren’t you tired of it? Use that hour when you are tired of the novel, of tanning or of any other activities you were involved in.
• Finally, all those gratifying distractions that entertain you, don’t forget about them! They’re little moments of joy in our life, they are definitely pleasant but is that what they are, moments. You love that show, so why don’t you serve yourself with your favourite food or drink and get ready for a little marathon? Your only obligation will be to know if Kim left John and is running her own business (don’t worry, not a spoiler of any real thing, just making a story up). Well, if you have children it may not be true that this would be your only obligation, but maybe someone else can join you, not bad!

If you feel you cannot organise yourself in your free time. That you always complain because you did not do everything you wanted to you could try with the little tips we have just mentioned. They are not magical, but they may give you some ideas.

Very important: don’t forget to be realistic with your plans. Again, this is aimed to give you a hand to organise yourself if you need it, but if you overcharge the to-do list, you may end up frustrated or overwhelmed. And don’t worry if you are not able to do everything or if you do not follow the list from A to Z, nobody is going to come and check if you finished on time. This is only to help you manage your time if you need it. Now, good luck, enjoy your free time and make the most of it!