How to build more downtime into a busy lifestyle

This is a collaborative post

If you’re a busy person, then you might struggle to find the time for relaxation. For some, relaxation might not even be a priority, especially when it comes at the expense of short-term productivity.

But human beings are not built for relentless work. Finding the time for relaxation is therefore crucial if we want our working lives to be sustainable over the coming months and years.

This is an economic problem as well as a personal one. According to recent data from the Health and Safety Executive, around 964,000 workers each year report that they feel stressed, anxious or depressed as a result of work. This costs around twenty-two million working days each year.

Finding a solution to this means finding time for relaxation. But exactly how might this be done?

Make downtime a regular part of your schedule

If you fail to protect your downtime, then you can be fairly sure that your other commitments will swallow it up. This goes especially if you’re a busy person, with work that spreads into the evening and weekends.

When you treat your breaks like any work-related commitment, you make it much less likely that they’ll be interrupted. Get into the habit of taking an hour off at lunchtime, every day, and you’ll be much less likely to find yourself still at your desk when the appointed hour arrives.

Rediscover activities that help you switch off

You might be unsure of exactly what you’re going to do with your downtime. This can be dangerous, too, as you might find yourself reverting to ingrained habits. The first instinct that many of us have, during spare moments, is to reach for our phones.

Photo credit Franciele da Silva via Unsplash

But of course, screen time can be a source of stress, as much as it can be a relief for it. It’s better therefore to identify a different activity. Perhaps one that you’ve abandoned in recent years.

For example, if you used to be an avid reader, it might be time to rediscover the habit. Whether you’re into fantasy epics, whodunnits, or graphic novels, reading can be a perfect way to fill those quieter moments in a way that isn’t going to inflict more stress.

Create an evening routine that encourages you to slow down

Among the more important parts of every working day are the ones that don’t involve working. During the evening, you might provide your mind with the soft reset that it needs to deal with the challenges of the following day.

Making the best use of this time might mean a little bit of planning. Scheduling exercise, meditation, or journalling might be helpful. Five minutes spent composing a to-do list for the following day might be all that’s required.

Take your downtime away from the usual routine

You might find that you take quick breaks beside your desk, and even longer ones, too. But this might be undermining your downtime, a little. Break time spent in this way might not provide your mind with the cues it needs to really switch off. Taking breaks in a different (ideally outdoor and natural) environment might help you get a little more from them.