How I learned to make time for myself in 4 steps 🗓️

Do you struggle to find time for the things you want to do? Or to simply take a break from the chaos of life?

If that's the case, let's get you from this:

To feeling like this wonderfully-dancing kid:

I used to feel overwhelmed and couldn't ever find the time I needed for myself. But, with just a few steps, you can feel confident with your schedule and gain control of your life and time, just like I did!

The first thing I had to do to make more time for myself was to learn about where my time was going. I learned that I spend way too much time on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube, especially before bed (which would explain why I felt so tired).

But it's not only about how you spend time on your media.

Perhaps you're participating in activities or groups that don't leave you satisfied and leave you feeling like you wasted time.

Maybe you spend a long time driving to and from work or school!

Try your best to consider everything.

When I was working on making more time for myself at 18, I was working two jobs and was at university.

I knew that the jobs I was working weren't important to my career, so I chose to set my priorities with school at the top.

To help you decide on your priorities, ask yourself:

• Do I want or need to prioritize my present or future?

• Will I have support from friends or family in setting this priority?

• Is this priority worth sacrificing other priorities for?

Take your time! These are hard questions to ask, so make sure to:

After I determined that school was my priority, I had to cut out things that were preventing me from focusing on my studies. For 18-year-old me, that meant quitting one of my jobs.

I liked being in control of my time, but I was still scared! I was worried I wasn't going to have enough money for groceries, or taking my girlfriend out, but with my support systems (family and friends), I made it through, thanks to them giving me:

And some money. Sometimes. On a more serious note: stay strong in your decision! You've set your priorities and are on a journey towards taking control of your time!

A time budget is simply allocating your time in your day to the things that you need to do. If you know you have 3 hours of homework on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, set that amount of time aside for homework!

I usually do this in a calendar that has the times of the day written out on it, so I can schedule the time I need for these activities.

By setting time aside for your daily activities, you make sure they get done, and that you don't slack off and spend too much time on your phone. This will help you find time for yourself.

Keep these steps in mind:

1. Put all of your scheduled items for the week or month on a calendar. Remember about work, classes at school, and other activities or clubs you are a part of regularly.

2. Identify when you'll need to set time aside for homework, traveling, cooking, and other responsibilities.

3. You should see some free time. This is your time! Use it to build skills, hobbies, or just rest. You deserve it!

4. Be sure to write your free time on your calendar. From personal experience, I know thatit's easy to lose time when you aren't organized.

I'm proud of you for taking the time to find time for yourself. Remember to give these changes some time to have an impact, but never be afraid to go through this process again if you aren't happy with how your life is looking!