It’s not uncommon to hear people complain about being tired all day long. In fact, we all feel this way at one time or another. We’re overworked and tired of everything. In all this, we forget to do the essential: take care of ourselves and simply enjoy life. We don’t know how to take care of ourselves any more, whereas taking the time to live is the key to happiness.

Today’s society moves at a frenetic pace. Everything moves so fast, and there are so many things to do on a daily basis, that it seems as if the 24 hours in a day are no longer enough. Between work, daily chores at home, responsibilities in society, we no longer even take pleasure in breathing, eating, sleeping… In short, in those moments that should make us appreciate life. But ask yourself, is this really the life you’ve dreamed of?

What does taking the time to live mean in concrete terms?

We are often very kind to others, but not to ourselves. We are constantly making efforts and sacrifices for others. Of course, this is important, but we mustn’t put our lives on hold for someone else’s sake. Going shopping, going on vacation, preparing a feast, treating yourself to gifts, getting a massage and pampering at an institute, going out with friends… These are just some of the (admittedly) pleasant moments we give ourselves from time to time to relieve the pressure. But taking the time to live goes far beyond that, it’s practically a lifestyle.

Living your life by making your own happiness a priority. It’s not egotistical to put your own well-being first, because it’s natural for you to seek self-fulfilment through your work. Besides, isn’t it said that charity begins at home? Whatever we do, wherever we go, there will always be unpleasant situations. As we often say, there are ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean we give up. Taking the time to live means making sure you’re in tune with everything you do. We have to accept all imperfections, appreciate everything we do without the slightest negative thought.

Remember this: you are the most important person in your life! Keep this in mind and treat yourself as well as possible. So, would you really do it? Despite all the stress and your various responsibilities? Would you be able to take the upper hand?

Enjoying life: is it really possible?

While it’s crucial to take care of yourself and take the time to live to give others the best of you, altruism and self-sacrifice are values that society preaches. In this sense, giving priority to one’s own pleasures and needs is perceived as unloving and repulsive to others. How can we avoid putting pressure on ourselves in this fast-paced society? Where a sense of responsibility is instilled from an early age, and where we’re expected to look after others? How can we take care of ourselves with so much stress?

On the other hand, we avoid taking the time to live, because we’ve always been molded from an early age not to fail, to be the best… So we’re convinced that we have no right to make mistakes. Which puts even more pressure on us, because we’re desperate to prove to others that we’ll fit into society’s codes.

We also found it hard to enjoy life, because we’re emotional beings. Especially as we often let our emotions get the better of us. We also condition our happiness on others. This also prevents us from taking the time to live. Indeed, some people think they can’t be happy without others. This can lead to emotional dependence.

On the other hand, we think we have to succeed before we can live our lives. We prevent ourselves from living in the moment because we hope for the best in the future. This way of thinking isn’t the best, because it can cause you to miss out on your life.

To take the time to live life to the full, follow these 6 rules

How can you avoid putting pressure on yourself to enjoy life without regret? Should you always put others before yourself? What can you do to make time for yourself? One piece of advice: let go and enjoy the present moment at your own pace. Of course, we didn’t all have the same outlook on life. As a result, our way of conceiving happiness is not the same as our neighbor’s, friend’s, brother’s. Nevertheless, to take the time to live, there are things that work for sure. These are not miracle solutions; the most important thing, after all, is willpower and taking action.

SETTING GOALS
To live life to the full, you must first have one. To have a life is to have objectives, to have a goal. Seneca said: “There is no fair wind for him who does not know where he is going.” When you have a goal in life and you know where you’re going, you do everything to better organize your time to achieve it. Taking the time to live means taking responsibility for yourself, so you can take full control of your life. This will make it easier for you to take ownership of things, and even to take ownership of yourself.

But it will also give you more motivation to work towards creating a new reality. Having goals will also enable you to focus on yourself, on what you really want. So you’ll pay attention to what you’re doing. In fact, it will help you avoid being scattered and responding to all the demands of those around you. But don’t be fooled if you think that daydreaming is all it takes to take the time to live, because you really need to be able to draw up a clear, defined plan, pursued methodically.

CHANGING BAD HABITS
Anything that doesn’t contribute to your happiness needs to be left behind. This is one of the secrets to enjoying life. When you know that you’re eating badly, that you’re overweight, that there are bad influences in your life, don’t go on hurting yourself. Exercise, eat healthily, turn to the right people, read a book, go on a diet… in short, revise your copy and do things differently to take the time to live your best life.

And while it may seem difficult to get rid of your obsessions, taking the time to do so can be useful – but for what? To identify the trigger: to know where and how bad habits start. We all recognize how reassuring they make us feel, but what’s the point of keeping them if we know they’re holding us back? To succeed in this step, you’ll need to understand how these habits affect your daily life. Then it’s time to replace them with new ways, without trying too hard. Think taking the time to live is too complicated? With a valiant heart, nothing is impossible. You’ll get used to it, you can be sure.

SETTING PRIORITIES BY TAKING THE TIME TO LIVE
As I said at the outset, the first priority is you. To be able to take care of yourself and live your life, you have to be able to find the time for it. This means sorting things out and listing them in order of importance, while taking the time to settle down and make time for yourself. Not everything has to be on the same level. In fact, that’s the order in which everyone should act. The decision whether or not to take the time to live is in your hands. In the end, you’ll find yourself aware that everything depends on you.

In any case, there are some things that must be more important than others. There are even emergencies. Get on with it! Do things right. The best way to organize your time is the Eisenhower matrix. But if you look closely too, there will also be other responsibilities that are trivial or to be forgotten altogether. Things you can delegate, that don’t need your attention, let them be. In this way, taking the time to live will no longer be a resolution for you, but a life choice. Don’t forget that setting priorities means giving yourself the means to achieve happiness, quite simply.

IGNORE PREJUDICE
It’s impossible to please everyone. Whatever you do, there will always be comments. You’re often told to be quick, to understand quickly, to save time and so on. The world around us is constantly trying to embrace us with this so-called model of personal success. Whatever the case, to take the time to live, we must ignore the dictates of society, the rules, the standards of “living in society”. This can shock, belittle or even displease. In reality, whether or not you follow what is imposed on you, criticism will persist. And even if you think you’ve done the right thing, others will continue to have negative opinions of you.

How can you avoid putting pressure on yourself, you might ask? Well, I’m just telling you that you shouldn’t! At least, not to please others if you really want to take the time to live. As long as you’re at peace with yourself and you’re not hurting anyone, go on living your life. You have nothing to lose by ignoring slander, because it’s your life and it’s up to you to live it in the best possible way.

DISCONNECT (TELEVISION, INTERNET, ETC.)
Social networks/media are there to distract. However, if you’re not careful, you could be spending a lot of time on them. If you don’t, you’ll be completely distracted from what you need to be doing. Overuse of screens can make us miss the important things, and prevent us from taking the time to live. So what’s the point of living all these years if one day you realize that you’ve been chasing life without really living it?

Technology condemns, the design of tools to simplify life has all but contributed to our mental well-being. Worst of all, they deprive us of a real remedy: living fully in the present moment. Exclusion, loneliness, anxiety… that’s why it’s so important to disconnect, to avoid harming ourselves, to recharge our batteries and give pleasure back to life. To take the time to live and enjoy life, prefer to spend time with your family. Why not organize smartphone-free, screen-free evenings from time to time with the people you love?

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL MEANS REVELLING IN SIMPLE MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS
Professional obligations are a major source of stress. It’s impossible not to wonder how not to put pressure on yourself with these enormous responsibilities. Then there’s family, friends and everything else. Just relax! You have to learn to let go of the pressure so you can take the time to live. Don’t hesitate to join a yoga class, take up meditation, go for a walk in nature…

… And above all

Don’t forget to give yourself regular (even daily) time to do something that makes you happy. Reading, going out, seeing friends, playing with your children, doing sport… all little pleasures that contribute to happiness. It’s not too much to ask, just enjoy what life has to offer. And, of course, share it, so that your joie de vivre can be felt everywhere you go. Taking the time to enjoy these little attentions and moments of simple happiness is the key to a successful life. You’ll be all the better for it. And you’ll be better able to take care of others too.

What’s your secret to making the most of life? Share it with us. And if you liked this article, please share it on social networks.