Structure your time this summer!

For many of us, the summer is in full swing. Some of you may have holidays to escape normality for a few days, whilst others might prefer to spend some time enjoying the slower pace of life for a while and getting caught up on things that have been put on the backburner for a while. 

If you are a student, work in education or have children that are on their 6-week summer break, it might seem like an overwhelmingly blank page. As grateful as I am for time off, when you have been working non-stop for the rest of the year, a sudden halt makes me feel a little lost. So, by learning the hard way, I know it is important to schedule your time, so you know what you have and what you can do with it.

Here are 3 simple ideas to help you structure your holiday:

 

Number 1: Get your diary updated.

 

I find a diary or a print-out of a monthly calendar is a life saver. Firstly, you can see exactly what available time there is and you can add in any appointments you have or meet ups that have already been arranged. Keep it with you in your handbag or stick it to the fridge or memo-board. This will make sure that it is always in your memory and in an easy to access place. So why not just use your calendar on your phone? Well, you can, and I do, but having this extra hard copy of a timetable adds something different and you can take in the information rather than open the app, stare blankly and close it without registering what you wanted to look for! 

 

Number 2: Make achievable targets.

 

Believe me I’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt. It may be the perfectionist in me, but I always try to cram everything on my to do list into one session. Whilst this may be ambitious, it will ultimately lead to disappointment and the feeling that you have failed, which is probably the reason why you wanted to structure your time in the first place! Talk about counter-productive right?

First up – make a list of the large tasks and break them down into smaller achievable goals. This may mean that it will take longer to complete, but it stops you feeling overwhelmed. Make sure you include your everyday routine steps in your to do list; make your bed, brush your teeth. If you need to make a lot of small steps that you can easily complete to get you going, then do that. 

Number 3: Schedule in time for yourself and for fun!

 

Always remember, as regimented and tightly scheduled your diary might be, there will be days when you simply don’t want to do anything. Whether that’s because you are feeling poorly, have bad period cramps, or just can’t be bothered – we all have days like that, and it is important to make your wellbeing a priority.

That being said, if you are not feeling yourself, it might not be a good idea to isolate yourself. Maybe think of things you can do to take your mind off things.  Have a spa day, get all of your washing done, go for a walk, bake or put on a comforting tv series or film to make yourself feel better, Remember, it is your holiday so enjoy it in the ways you will, not what is popular or what you think others your age should be spending their time and money. The most important thing is your mental wellbeing.