This is the third blog in the Pathways to Self-Care Series. Click to read Part 1 and Part 2
Do you remember the fun things you did as a child? How did you feel indulging in one?
The happiest moments would more likely have been something carefree, silly, without the pressures of time and structure. Amidst the never-ending pressures of adulthood, we find ourselves lacking in time and energy to earn our leisure time. It stands out so much more for a woman who finds herself juggling multiple roles.
I am conscious of my choice to write about Self-Care around Leisure as the first self-care area of focus. In our quest to be healthy, we might have been giving importance to areas around physical self-care. In our want or need to be a working professional, we might have been focusing on intellectually self-care. We might not have any pressing need or want to focus on leisure activities because we are well adapted to function without a leisure break.
Leisure activity is one that you do because it is fun to do and is not a task to complete. It could be something that you enjoyed as a child, for example, coloring. You can gift yourself an adult coloring book and enjoy its calming effect. A leisure activity could also be an activity that you have already been doing as a task. Cooking, for instance, could be a task while it can also double up as a leisure activity when you take time to cook for fun. A leisure self-care activity can be something that you have always wanted to do but didn’t have the time or means to do it. If you had always wanted to learn to dance, you could play a video tutorial, and starting learning to dance. A leisure activity doesn’t have to be something elaborate. It could be in pockets amidst your daily chores like taking time off to sip your coffee while looking out through the window.
Leisure activities are a proven stress buster. There is no one but you who has to give yourself permission to indulge in a leisure activity. Much more than indulge, know that it is one of the ways you can care for yourself. Challenge yourself to discover your go-to leisure activity this week and share how it felt like to indulge yourself.
About the Author
Jennifer Moses is a Career Guidance Coach at HerSecond Innings and a Counseling Psychologist based out of Bangalore. HSI community members can reach her by making at appointment at Coaching.
Her Second Innings supports women professionals on a sabbatical in their journey of getting back to work. The mission of HSI is to guide women to achieve financial independence. Support from HSI comes in the form of job interviews, reskilling programs in Automation and, free Career Guidance Counselling. Sign up with us and complete your profile to get a call from our counselors to know your job fit.
Disclaimer
“The opinions expressed are those of the author. This blog claims no credit for any images or content posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images and content on this blog belong to their respective owners. If there is an image or content on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it to appear on this site, please e-mail us with a link to said image or content and it will be promptly removed”
