I have decided that lunch is my favorite time of day but not because of the food! At my new position my lunch break lasts 45 minutes. It seems an odd amount of time but it’s actually perfect; a little more than a half hour but not a full hour to try and fill. A typical lunch break for me consists of finding a break room and an empty table then eating my packed lunch while reading on my Kindle. To some it may sound boring or lonely, to me though it is heavenly!
So, why do I love it so much? Well it’s really quite simple, for the last five years I’ve not had a lunch break! Yes that’s completely true and completely legal based on the job I was doing. Now don’t worry dispatchers get to eat but it’s very realistic to say that a lot of the time they are answering the phone and/or talking on the radio while they are eating. The same scenario applies to breaks, they get them, but it’s typically just a quick trip out of the room for a restroom break or to grab food and drink.
There are some dispatch centers that have a more structured atmosphere based on their policies and staffing. In those centers the dispatchers are fortunate to take time away from and out of the room where they can actually enjoy a “break” from their work. Unfortunately none of the centers I ever worked in were set up this way. Although it sounds terrible you do get used to it and it basically just becomes normal to you. As the saying so often goes, “it’s the nature of the job”.
Perhaps now you can understand a little more why I’ve decided I love lunch so much. For me it’s a time of quiet; to read, reflect and just feel at peace. I did have those times before but it was only on my days off from work. Those days off from work though also entailed cleaning the house, doing the laundry and grocery shopping, as well as whatever other errands may have come up. What is so nice about my schedule now is that I get a little bit of that “me” time every day.
Time for ourselves is so very important and for everyone that time means different things. Maybe you are someone who likes the hustle and bustle lifestyle and having time for yourself means you are out “doing”. Others may be like me who enjoy more of the slow lifestyle so you need that time to be in more of a quiet space. Whatever that time means for you just make sure that you get it in. I know that can be hard with the amount of demands on our time.
Those demands can range so much depending on the person; you may have small children and/or pets at home with you all day, you may also have older children who have different places to be especially with so many after school activities out there these days, maybe you have no children but you are taking care of an elderly parent or maybe you are doing all of the above!
That can also come with having a spouse to share life with, a home to take care of and maybe a part or full-time job thrown into the mix as well. Oh and let’s not forget those of you who may be going back to school with all of those other responsibilities or maybe you are only a student starting out who is just learning to balance life. Whatever your situation you need time for yourself.
Now I know that all of that is easier said than done, believe me I do! What I am trying to get across though is how important it is! We can’t just talk about self-care we have to do it, we have to make the time. I’m so thankful for me I now have this mandatory time built into my day but I realize that everyone else may not have that.
If you are like me and have a scheduled lunch break try implementing your “me” time into that if at all possible rather than continuing to work, or run personal errands. If you do not have a schedule break time during your day, make one!! You can find at least 15 minutes minimum in your day you just have to look for it. Fit it in wherever you can, morning, afternoon or evening; just fit it in!
If you need any help figuring out how to balance out your day or organize it better I would love to help you out with that. Organization is kinda one of my things, almost to a fault! So if you have any questions, need help or just have some suggestions please shoot me an email I would love to hear from you! All you have to do is reach out via the contacts tab on my site so please do.
~Carla~
Arise and Glow 