You Deserve a Break – 5 Ways to Prioritize ‘Me’ Time During the Pandemic

Daily life already comes with more than enough stress. During the pandemic, people all over the world have struggled to stay calm. According to the American Psychological Association, U.S. adults report an average 5.9 stress level. In 2019, adults in the U.S. reported an average 4.9 stress level. Parents with children under 18 have it even worse. They report a 6.7 stress level.

Clearly, people need to find ways to prioritize “me” time and find opportunities to relax. That might sound impossible when trying to juggle your responsibilities during a pandemic. The following five approaches could make your situation a little easier.

Structure Your Day to Include Relaxation

Following a structured schedule lets you add intentional relaxation time to your day. Look for a few minutes of downtime shortly after putting the kids to bed, at the end of your workday, or in the morning before the rest of your household gets up.

Ideally, you should structure your day to include several relaxing moments. That way, you can look forward to your next break. When you feel like you’re at your breaking point, you can always remember that you have 10 minutes of scheduled relaxation in a couple of hours.

Know How Many Vacation and Personal Days You Have

At some point, you may need to take a few days away from work to focus on your mental and physical health. The American workforce wastes about 768 million vacation days per year. In many cases, you have to use or lose your vacation days. Unless you can bank your vacation days for later in the year—when post-pandemic travel might give you an opportunity to fully unwind—take your vacation and personal days to do things you enjoy.

If you don’t know how many vacation and personal days you have, contact your HR rep to find out. Just knowing that you have those days to take off from work could help you relax.

Create a Space You Identify With “Me” Time

You can train your mind and body to associate a specific place with relaxation. It’s the same idea behind only using your bedroom for sleeping. That way, your body prepares for sleep when you get ready for bed and climb under the covers.

Try to set up a separate living space with a modular sofa. Modular sofas can conform to your needs, so it’s relatively easy to create unique spaces within a room. Fill your area with other items that contribute to a calm, cozy atmosphere. Weighted blankets, throw pillows, potted plants and scented candles can work wonders.

Set Boundaries and Explain Them to Your Housemates

If you live with other people, the pandemic has probably forced all of you to stay home much more than usual. After a year of restrictions, anyone can become a source of stress. You might get along with your roommate or love your partner, but close quarters will add stress to your relationship.

Set boundaries to make sure everyone in your household understands when and how you take “me” time. You might establish a rule that no one bothers you while you’re soaking in the tub. You could hang a sign on your bedroom door to let people know that you need time alone. You could even make a rule that no one talks to you within a specific time frame.

Make sure you explain your intentions and make your boundaries clear. Other people can’t know what you expect until you communicate it with them.

Find a Project That Gets You Out of Your Head

Pandemic life can turn into a boring routine. You get up in the morning, work, eat dinner, and watch TV. Nothing seems to change and you feel stuck in a rut.

Find some relief by starting a project that gets you out of your head. Some options include:

• Learning how to knit or sew.
• Browsing randomly for some helpful life hacks.
• Writing a daily journal.
• Reading a book series.
• Listening to podcasts you enjoy.

Perhaps you learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube or pick up painting. Anything that creates an opportunity to think about something other than stress can work.

Conclusion

As vaccines become available to more people, states can start lifting restrictions and you can return to a more “normal” version of your life. Even if you get the vaccine early, you need to follow pandemic rules to keep others healthy. In the meantime, find small moments throughout your day when you can step away from your obligations and recover from stress.