PARIS, TN – Carving out time for yourself is an integral part of living a healthy, whole and balanced life.

Why it matters

Making time for yourself allows you to:

Recharge your batteries and counteract the stress and intensity of life
Reflect and rewind
Fill your creative well (solitude is critical for creativity)
Be more productive

How to carve out time for yourself

Put it on the calendar. You schedule appointments with your doctor, your boss and your child’s teacher, so why not with yourself? Set aside a certain evening for yourself or schedule a specific activity that will bring you pleasure. Consider making weekly dates for solo expeditions. Visit a museum exhibit or take a walk in the park. Putting the date on the calendar makes it more likely you’ll honor the commitment to yourself.
Take advantages of wait times. Read, listen to a podcast you’ve been saving or just savor a few quiet moments.
Get up a little bit earlier. Morning people tend to get more done during the day. Even night owls can benefit from waking just a few minutes earlier each day. Use this time for solely for yourself.
Stop multitasking. Really. Doing one thing at a time allows you to do that thing faster and better, which actually frees up time you could spend on something pleasurable.
Find a new activity. Take a class, learn a new sport or join a group that requires you to make a time commitment.
Buy tickets in advance — you’ll be more likely not to let life interfere in your plans.
Practice doing nothing. Turn off your computer and other devices and simply be alone with your thoughts.
Tap into your network. Swap babysitting or other chores with a friend. Now you each have a little time for yourself!
Identify time wasters. Are they really necessary? Can you give them up or turn them over to someone else to free up that time?
Do what you can with what you have. In other words, no matter how much time you have, fill it with something rewarding and enjoyable, even if it’s only 15 minutes. Focus on quality, not quantity.

Do One Thing: Take out your calendar and schedule a date with yourself — today. And, why not make that date our “It’s Time for Me” Women’s Health Advisory Council Spring Event.

Join us on Thursday, May 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a night of food, fun, and de-stressing. The event will be held at Lee School Lunch Room and will include presentations on yoga, essential oils, and how stress can affect women’s health, featuring our newest OB/GYN, Katherine Whitfield, DO, and Kristian Elliott, FNP with Paris Women’s Center. Dr. Whitfield will begin practicing at HCMC in June and is already taking appointments. There will be give-aways and door prizes as well as a special charm to add to the Spirit of Women bracelets if you are a Spirit of Women member.

The event is free, but you must pre-register by calling 731-644-3463 or by going online at www.hcmc-tn.org.

About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 8 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.