#290 - THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF, with Kristina

In today's busy world, finding time for yourself often feels like a luxury. Yet, it’s one of the most important things you can do for your well-being.

In this episode we delve into the profound impact of dedicating time to self-care and reflection. Why taking time for yourself is not selfish but essential. And how we can get so caught up in our daily responsibilities that we neglect our needs, leading to burnout and exhaustion.

I share a personal story of a rejuvenating day retreat and how it sparked inspiration, creativity, and a deeper sense of peace for me - and how by carving out time for self-reflection, relaxation, and activities that bring us joy, we not only fill our own cup but also become more present and energized for others.

Key Takeaways:

1. Discover the transformative power of taking time for yourself.
2. Learn practical tips for scheduling self-care into your daily routine.
3. Understand the importance of setting boundaries to protect your 'me time.'
4. Get inspired by my personal retreat experience and how it sparked creativity and renewal.

Tune in and be inspired to prioritize yourself. Because when you take time for you, you show up better for everything else in life.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonates with you from this episode and what you plan to implement after listening in. So please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful weekend… and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Enjoy! 

 KK 💛

Dream Life Founder  

SHOW NOTES:

• Learn more & register here for our RECONNECT TO YOU Retreat. 🌿 Experience the joy of a wonderful retreat, while learning how to run your own personal solo retreats 🌿
• Learn more & register here for our FIJI REINVENT YOU RETREAT. Embark on a transformative journey guided by Kristina Karlsson, Sarah Pirie-Nally, Nicole Hatherly, and Shaynna Blaze.
• Join my Habit Club for the 100 Day Habit Challenge - just $9/mnth - and get support & accountability as you focus on changing the building blocks of your life - your daily habits. Learn more here…
• Buy our amazing Habit Journal - designed to help you build productive new habits. See here...
• Join my Platinum Coaching Program - where in October the focus is on going deep into Discovering the Power of Sharing Your Unique Story ...and writing a book. Learn more here.
• Join my virtual book club GROW for October where we'll meet weekly on Zoom to discuss and squeeze the learnings from this brilliant book, Superlife: The 5 Simple Fixes That Will Make You Healthy, Fit, And Eternally Awesome, by Darin Olien 
• Self-Belief Is Your Superpower: Unleash Your Life Purpose, Own Your Power, and Become a Magnet for Miracles by Tory Archbold. Learn more here..
• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here

TRANSCRIPT:

Hello and welcome back to another episode!

Today, we’re diving into one of the most important things you can do for yourself—taking time for you. It sounds simple, but it can feel incredibly difficult to achieve in our busy, fast-paced lives.

However, it's essential, and today, I’m going to share why it matters so much and how you can start carving out that precious time for yourself.

The idea for this episode came when I recently planned a day just for me—a little road trip to Sorrento to join a retreat at Aurora Bathhouse, one of my favorite day spas. I had it all planned, but I had a very full week with lots of traveling, family commitments, and work piling up. I think we can all relate to how we feel when there's a lot going on.

Often, the last thing we feel like doing is taking time for ourselves. But I know that when I feel overwhelmed, I gain energy by taking some time off to recharge. And I was right. 

As soon as I drove out of our driveway with a coffee in hand and an inspiring podcast playing, I felt a shift. I took a few deep breaths, drank my coffee, and smiled all the way to Sorrento. At the retreat, I was inspired by my friend and the founder of Aurora, Lyndall Mitchell, and her guest speaker, Michelle Wollhouse.

We did Pilates, enjoyed a nourishing lunch, connected with like-minded people, and spent a few hours in pure bliss at the bathhouse. I even went for a walk along the beach before heading back. That night, I wrote in my journal with so many new ideas, perspectives, and reflections. I felt like I had been away for days!

That’s why I wanted to talk about the importance of taking time for yourself. Life can get so busy, and with the constant demands of work, family, and social obligations, it’s easy to put ourselves last. But the truth is, when we don’t take time to nurture ourselves—whether through rest, reflection, or doing something joyful—everything else in our life can start to feel overwhelming.

Think of yourself as a well. When the well runs dry, there’s nothing left to give to others. But when you take care of yourself, you’re able to show up more fully for those you care about and for the things that matter most to you. Taking time for yourself is not selfish—it’s essential. You deserve it.

And when you make it a priority, your energy, creativity, and resilience increase. You become the best version of yourself. If you listened to last week's episode with Ros Lindsay, who attended our Fiji retreat, you saw how much can change in a year after taking some time out!

So, how can you make this happen? It starts with knowing what you truly value and prioritizing that. What lights you up? Is it spending time in nature, reading a great book, or practicing yoga? Maybe it’s something as simple as enjoying a cup of tea in peace.

Take a moment to think about what brings you joy and makes you feel most alive. When we align our time with what we value, it becomes so much easier to carve out moments for ourselves. If you’re not sure where to start, journaling can be a powerful tool to reconnect with what’s most important to you.

One exercise I love is asking yourself: “What would my dream day look like?” Write it down and see how you can incorporate small elements of that dream day into your everyday life. Perhaps it’s waking up 30 minutes earlier to enjoy some quiet time or scheduling a regular evening walk. The key is to start small and build from there.

Here are a few practical tips to help you create that space for yourself:

- Schedule it in your calendar: Just like a work meeting or family event, block off time for yourself. Whether it’s 10 minutes in the morning for meditation, an hour on the weekend for a hobby you love, or a full day just for you—put it in your schedule and honor it like any other commitment.

- Set boundaries: This can be tricky, but it’s so important. Let those around you know that this time is non-negotiable. You can say something like, “I’m taking some time to recharge so I can be at my best.” Most people understand and may even be inspired to do the same.

- Create a daily ritual: Find one thing you can do every day that’s just for you. It could be as simple as writing down three things you’re grateful for each morning. Gratitude is a powerful practice that helps shift your focus to the positive, even on challenging days. One thing I do daily is to sit in silence while I drink my morning coffee—no phone, no journal, no book. It's such a beautiful time.

- Be kind to yourself: Life happens, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. Maybe you miss that walk you wanted to take or don’t get to read that book you’ve been meaning to. That’s okay. What’s important is that you keep coming back to your intention to take care of yourself, no matter how small the steps.

To close, remember that you are worthy of the time and care you give yourself. When you prioritize yourself, it’s not just for your benefit, but for everyone around you. By making yourself a priority, you’ll have more energy, more joy, and more to give to the world. So today, I invite you to take a deep breath and ask yourself—how can I carve out some time for me this week? What small step can I take today?

And if you feel inspired, consider joining my ‘Re-Connect with You’ day retreat on the Mornington Peninsula in October or our 'Re-Invent You' Fiji retreat with me, Sarah, Nicole, and Shaynna at the end of October—just like Ros did. You’ll never regret investing in something like this—it’s truly life-changing.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. If you found today’s episode helpful, I’d love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review. As always...