Invest time in yourself

You get up early, and you get ready to go to work. You get in the car and you drive to work, or you walk to the bus or train and stand in line. You get to work, switch on the computer and stare at that screen for pretty much the whole day - perhaps interspersed with a phone call or a meeting, with people who have had the same morning as you so far.

The end of the working day arrives, often later than you hoped because its month end and you shut down the computer, walk out to the car or head back to the bus stop or train station and wait in line again. Finally you get home, make some food, stick the TV on, put you home computer on, stare at another screen for a few hours, then go to bed.

Does that sound a little bit like you? It is exactly how I used to be until I got so unhappy I knew I had to change before things got the better of me.

I wanted to work long hours because I wanted to earn the money - and it was fairly good money too. I could afford all the things I wanted for myself, but had no time too myself. I found I was becoming more and more miserable and despondent with my life. So I make a radical, life changing, decision. I sold my house, jacked in my job, bought a ticket to Greece and worked on a dive boat for seven months and now, 13 years later, I can still remember the warmth I felt, not just from the sun, but from inside me as though life was being fed back into me. I can not remember feeling happier at any time before this. I earned enough money to get by, went out every night if I wanted, or stayed in if I wanted. I cooked if I wanted, or ate out if I wanted. I went to the beach if I wanted or I went to the hills if I wanted. It was the first time in my life (I was 26) that I had ever done anything FOR ME, and the first time that I felt like I was living - I felt alive.

After this time in Greece, life back in the UK seemed decidedly uninviting and I could already feel the stress rising at the thought of returning to those dull, life-sucking days. So, as an incentive, I bought a one way ticket to Thailand in 6 months time. I got a contract job for 6 months with an agency, and I worked, and saved until the 6 months were up. The 6 months were tolerable as I knew there was an end. The trip to Thailand turned into almost 2 years travelling around South East Asia. Can you, right now, imagine what it would feel like to wake up on a Monday morning, and instead of feeling that dread of, having to go to work, you wake up and think, "what shall I do today"? It took a long time to get used to that wonderful feeling.

Since then, I have travelled to Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines (where I got married), Brunei, Singapore, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Belize, Mexico and America. I have been back to the UK for short periods in between and got short term contracts so I can stash some cash away so I can SPEND IT ALL ON ME! I took up photography, hashing (a Hub to follow on hashing soon), and taught myself web design by doing an online course. All things I had always wanted to do, but had never found the time because of work.

I'm not suggesting that you all resign from your jobs, sell up and go travelling (though I highly recommend it!). I am saying that this was what worked for me and if I hadn't done it, I am sure I would have ended up on anti-depressants or worse. 

Investing time in myself, albeit a very radical change, helped me see that by being a work, work, work person, you are missing out on the things that you are actually working for! Because you never have time to DO them.

I never had kids so that made life simpler, but even if you have kids you can and MUST find time for yourself, and sod the cost! The physical feeling of having no stress, no anxiousness, no guilt, no fast food on the run, no 2 minute showers, no housework piling up, is a feeling that we must all feel and the more often the better. 

EVERY DAY, go for a walk, a swim, a bike ride, a meal out, see a movie, a play, a concert, play a game of squash or tennis, take a sauna, whatever! Just stay in an watch a DVD or paint or make something. Have something to look forward to that is JUST for you. And switch off the mobile!

Make sure you use up your holiday entitlement at work! Don't just keep rolling it forward to the next year! Book things now for 6 months time so you have something to look forward to. Even better, if it is practical, take 6 months out and just go and see the world or just explore your country more.

Imagine that you have worked right up until you retire. You've saved all that money over all those years, and then you are diagnosed with a disease, cancer for example (and I know people that this has happened too so I am not just being morbid). All those things that you said you were going to do, you can't do because you are too sick. How awful would that be?

Don't wait for a rainy day!

Don't wait until you retire!

Invest time in you NOW and you will be a happier, more settled, patient, relaxed and clear headed individual. Isn't that something we all want to be?

PS: Obviously life being what it is, will still throw things at you that will make you stressed and anxious. I have not found a cure for a completely stress free life - but I am able to handle these obstacles much better than before as I can now think clearly!

Now, switch off the computer and go and get some fresh air, or put on your favourite album and sip a glass of wine, or go and book a spa treatment or an air ticket!

What are you waiting for?