3 Ways to Take a Break from Adulting
I am convinced that there is a reason why childhood is so short.Childhood, in all of its essence, is time spent in innocence, playing, learning and most of all, having few responsibilities. Ah, the bliss of this moment in time. *happily sighs*Fast forward to adulthood and we are (rudely) awakened to the world of bills, 9-to-5 jobs and the practice of small talk. Yup, I'm talking about adulting.Adulting includes the acts and behaviors involved in what is expected of you once you reach your late teens and early twenties. Often maturity, professionalism and of course, being responsible, falls under the umbrella of adulting. Other adulting acts include:
Parenting, caring for children
Planning for financial stability
Prioritizing your healthcare
Caring for your home
man reading book beside woman reading book
And so. much. more. Us adults have an incredible amount of tasks that we are required to take care of on a daily basis. And these tasks usually hold value in making our whole world go 'round.Even some of our self-care is included in adulting: building your self-awareness, managing boundaries and taking care of your physical self all apply.
So it is clear that as we learn how to best take care of ourselves, it helps to take a step back and think about how adulting impacts our lives. While there is no doubt that adulting is necessary, it’s just as important to allow ourselves to occasionally take breaks from the pressure, stress and busy-ness of our adult responsibilities.If your day-to-day life is filled to the brim with tending to responsibilities, take a look at these three ways you can take a break from adulting:
Enjoy a childhood past time.
When I was a kid, you could find me learning the latest Destiny's Child choreography with my friends or curled up somewhere, getting lost in a story. Dancing and reading were my absolute favorite childhood past times and I have to intentionally create space and time for them in my adult life.
Everyone's childhood experiences are different. So if it feels right, think of what talents, activities or past times gave you joy or made your younger self feel proud. Are there ways for you to re-engage or reconnect to that past time? You won't have to re-create the wheel with this type of self-care: dust off one of your favorite past times and enjoy.
Take it old-school and be tech-free.
Depending on when you were a child, technology may or may not have been a huge influence. Sure, many of us had access to the (family room) TV and the home (desktop) computer when we were younger, but there is no denying how influential technology is for both children and adults this day and age.Our devices also serve as tools for adulting, as we make calls, check our email and organize our lives using technology.
So with this self-care practice, take a break from adulting by unplugging, disconnecting and (temporarily) turning off your devices. This practice creates a way for you to intentionally make yourself unavailable for said-adulting tasks. It also creates space for you to do what you want to do.To deepen this particular practice, see our blog on How to do a Digital Detox.
Just. Play.
Yup, you read that correctly. Want to take a true break from adulting? Then roll up your sleeves and just play.Sometimes, adulting leave little room for humor, silliness or goofying around. Interrupt those habits with doing, creating and having fun. Take a true break from being serious, purposeful and practical with this type of self-care. Not sure how to play? (Serious question.) Start with one of these ideas or check out our blog on creative self-care:
Buy yourself a non-adult coloring book and your favorite coloring tools (mine were crayons!) to color. Bonus points if you color outside of the lines!
Get lost in a fictional story or teen novel.
Go go-kart racing or take a bike ride.
Dress-up in a costume, for a night-out, or whatever right and fun.
Watch a cartoon or a children's movie (Watching Shrek as an adult is golden!)
Visit an amusement park and treat yourself to a 'skip the line' pass for the rides
See what your children love and join them in play :)
Us adults deserve to occasionally tap out of all that we are tasked to do and just be a kid again. Let this type of self-care become part of your routine and enjoy some of that childhood bliss.
How do you like to take a break from adulting?
