A Gift for You

If you could ask for a gift from yourself, what would it be? Money? Experiences? There are no wrong answers.

You’ve probably put a lot of thought into giving to others—so what about you? What will you give yourself?

We give to show we care. SWELL is rooted in self-care, so it’s fair to include yourself on the list of people to give to this year.

Hopefully you’re able to come up with a few ideas (and I encourage you to at least check one or two items off your list!). But if you’re struggling to come up with something, I’d like to suggest a highly valued gift of increasing scarcity that only you can create: time.

Specifically, time dedicated to caring for yourself.

Time—The Most Valuable Asset

Time is the one thing we are always using and can never replace. Once it’s spent, it’s gone.

Life demands that we give generously of our time—to work, to family, to daily responsibilities. In the rush of it all, it’s easy to forget to reserve even a little time for ourselves. After all, it’s your time.

If time is the most valuable thing we have, then intentionally giving some of it to ourselves may be the most meaningful gift we can give ourselves.

Are You Running a Time “Deficit”?

Do you feel like there just isn’t enough time to reserve some for yourself?

You can’t give more of something than you have. We intuitively understand this with money. If your expenses exceed your income, over time, that’s unsustainable. If you consistently run a deficit, you end up in debt.

The same is true with time. If you consistently give it all away, you’re left with none for yourself. That negatively impacts your ability to be present and show up for those who depend on you.

We put money aside in a savings or investment account so it can provide for us in the future. Similarly, we have to invest time in ourselves to be able to take care of ourselves in the future. We can’t afford to run a deficit.

Unlike financial debt, you can’t declare bankruptcy and wipe away your time debt. The only way forward is to begin repaying it—moment by moment.

Give Yourself the Gift of Time

So how do you begin?

If your time is already in high demand, how can you start reserving some for yourself?

1. Pay Yourself First

A common phrase in personal finance is “pay yourself first.” It means that if you wait to save money based on what’s left over, there usually won’t be anything left over. If you want to save money, set that amount aside first.

The same applies here.

If you want to devote time to self-care, it can’t be an afterthought. Plan it in advance. Identify a few moments in your day when you can dedicate time to yourself. If you wait to “fit it in”, it will get absorbed by the other priorities of the day.  

2. Start Small

It’s hard to find an hour in a packed day. You may not have 30 minutes to meditate or all afternoon to prepare a nutritious meal for the family—that’s okay.

Be realistic.

Start with one, five, or ten minutes. What can you do in that time?

• A breathing exercise
• A few stretches
• A light resistance activity (bodyweight squats or lunges)
• Eat an energizing nutritious snack
• Read

Anything that leaves you feeling even slightly better counts.

Make a list of things you can realistically do in short pockets of time. Try to check a couple off each day. If you don’t have an hour to get to the gym, don’t pretend like you do. Find an alternative that offers some of the same benefits.

Shift the odds in your favor from likely to fail to will probably succeed.

The Gift That Gives Back

At the beginning, I asked: What gift will you give yourself?

The answer doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It doesn’t require a perfect plan or ideal circumstances. It just requires a few minutes of your day dedicated to caring for yourself.

That’s the gift.

And unlike most presents, this one compounds daily. Every small investment you make in yourself creates returns that grow over time.

Look back on your day today. Where could you have found a few minutes to give to yourself, and what obstacles prevented you from doing it?

Start there tomorrow.

As always, thanks for reading. I’m truly happy you’re here.

All the best,

Nate