How to Maximize and Enjoy Your Free Time at Home

If your downtime seems to disappear into the ether, it may be because you’re getting sucked into mindless activities like watching TV or soap operas. You can fall into a rut of mundane activities, but deeds that are engaging, involving and creative are more likely to satisfy you.   Here are ways to make most of your time.

Make a “lite” list.

Scheduling some just-for-you hours protect against private-time bandits such as errands — and friends.  Avoid telling you pals “drop by whenever.”   Instead, say “I’m writing, painting, practicing piano, etc (insert your hobby here) till 7pm – so, stop by at 7:15,” for example.  That way, you give more time to yourself.  You own your time.

 Cap your chores.

Accept that keeping an immaculately clean inhabited house is impossible, and set a time limit for housework.  Schedule a “chore day.”  Do all your chores on this day, even if it means staying up to 1am — so you’ll have more quality time the other nights.

Curb your calls or chats.

If you don’t want to lose yourself in chat, impose a friendly limit, like set the alarm for 30 minutes or 1 hour depending on your chosen limit.

Take the “worthiness test”

Before you surf the internet, ask yourself if what you’re doing deserves your priceless time.  If not, remember what you were most proud to tell your coworkers you did during your spare time last weekend — and then do it.

Always take control of your time, take control of what you do, because, remember, you are your own master in this aspect.