Seems a bit like an oxymoron doesn’t it… “scheduling time to relax?” But in this hectic world full of non-stop busy schedules for both family and business, scheduling time to relax is the only way we’ll ever get around to actually relaxing.

Relaxing is a crucial part to keeping our positive attitude and joy in life (not to mention our sanity). Here are some easy things to implement into your life in order to find some time to take a breather:

• If you don’t have a blackberry, palm pilot, or even a pocket calendar for your purse or desk (that’s what I have - I’m a bit low-tech, but it works), then you need to get one. These days everything has to be scheduled months in advance. My husband and I are constantly scheduling dinners with friends one to two months out because of our hectic schedules. And if I didn’t right every appointment and social gathering down somewhere, I’d never know where I was supposed to be.

• Again, if you don’t have one already, buy a filing cabinet for your home and your office (or home-office). Instead of scattering important papers wherever you might have a space for them, organize them logically and file them away. Then you’re not wasting time trying to find something in the paper mound you call a desk.

• Take a media sabbatical once a week or one weekend a month. Spend time with your family or catching up on paperwork or brainstorming new ideas, but do it without television, internet, etc. I know, it sounds terribly difficult, but it will help you to clear your mind and focus on the task at hand. And when it comes to your family, it will help you to gain real quality time with each other - you might even have a conversation or two.

• Take the time to enjoy your meals. Far too many people eat on the run - in their cars, while their rushing out the door, on a five minute lunch break because you have a deadline to meet. Take advantage of this time and relax. Have enjoyable, non-work (and non-stress) related conversations with family, friends or even co-workers/employees.

• Make lists of the things you need to do tomorrow before you go to bed and then forget about it. I have a tendency to get the most thinking done when I’m trying to fall asleep. I find that, if I don’t write the things down that pop into my head, I tend to replay them over and over so that I don’t forget them the next morning. Now I keep a note pad and pen next to my bed, so that when I get an idea while falling asleep, I can write it down immediately. My mind relaxes and I fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly.

• Last, but not least, schedule time to relax. Plan out your daily routine and when you’re going to take 30 minutes here and there to recoup. It may be when you have your morning coffee and read the paper (it’s always nice to not be rushed in the morning) or a quite lunch at the park. Maybe a relaxing dinner with your family (are you seeing the meal pattern here) or reading a book before for a while before you go to bed.

Regardless of what it is that works best for you, make time to do it. With out a little relaxation in your life on a daily basis (vacations just don’t always cut it), you’ll find yourself burnt out and frustrated, and nobody wants that.

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