Quality Time
“The most precious memories you have, or will ever create, come from quality time.”
~Alyssa Williamson
Did you realize this? Think back to some of your more cherished memories. I bet they were from a time when you were fully present with those you were with, or fully engaged in what you were doing at the time.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush of doing, or being busy. This became really clear to me this morning while playing with my ferrets. Every morning, I let my ferrets out to play and run around the house while I get ready and make breakfast. There are some mornings where I’m running to get ready for a meeting so my mind is on 10 different things at once and having the ferrets out at the same time becomes an extra stress.
Yet on the mornings where I have focused time (because I wake up early and make time for “ferret play time” or create an intention to be present with them for a few minutes) I am calmer, but also appreciate them more. It actually calms me to know that I am giving them my quality attention, and I enjoy our interactions more.
That’s just one quick example with family pets, and a good starting place. How do you engage with your pets? They love you in their own way (depending on their personality and breed/animal type), are you giving them a fair return of your love? Even better, they love you unconditionally, no matter how little attention you give them. How does that make you feel to return their unconditional love in the way you currently are?
Take it to the next level, how do you show up for your family? For you partner, your kids, your siblings, your nieces and nephews? How do you show up for your friends?
Are you creating quality time with those you want in your life? I assume you want them in your life. If you don’t want them in your life, can you regulate the time you give them, or even remove them from your life as needed?
What is Quality Time?
One dictionary definition of quality time is “time spent in giving another person one’s undivided attention in order to strengthen a relationship”.
As quoted by Wikipedia: “Quality time is an informal reference to time spent with close family, partners or friends that is in some way important, special, productive or profitable to one or everyone involved. It is time that is set aside for paying full and undivided attention to the person or matter at hand.”
Quality Time to Create a Life of Meaning
I believe that quality time (living in the moment and appreciating life) is how you live your best, fullest, optimal life.
“Quality time, utilized in the moments you are living, will create the memories you remember for a lifetime.”
~Alyssa Williamson
This is a lesson that I have had to learn the hard way, both in my 20s and through a recent relationship. I spent much of my 20s cramming as much into life as I could…by doing multiple things at once. I’d “spend time with my family” while working on my computer. Or I would be at an event or training, but sitting thinking of all the projects and work I needed to be doing, getting stressed out, and not actually receiving the information or experiences that I could have been gaining. (Can you tell I’m a recovered workaholic? The problem was, I loved my work and loved making money so it was easy to pass it off as my favorite thing to do.)
Looking back, my strongest memories were from times when I got away from the computer and phone, and were fully present with those around me. My most cherished memories are of the many camping trips I took with family and friends through high school and after college. My all-time favorite camping trip was to Death Valley, where we had no cell reception for 5 days and I could relax and just be…
We all know that when we are on our deathbeds, the things we collect and the hours we spent working will not be on our mind, but the experiences and connections we had with others. So, how do we break the cycle? Read on for some small daily tips, or request a free 30 minute consultation to discuss this in relation to your situation.
Quality Time to Run a Business
Quality time in running a business means that you are fully present with your projects and clients while you are working, and fully turned off when you are done for the day. You should have set times for work and set times for family/personal life.
I understand that for many of us, we work flexible hours with others that work flexible hours. You need to be available for them… but you also need to remember that you work to live. Family time and personal time is sacred and you need to save space for that. There is no one right answer, except for the answer that is right for you. Maybe your weekends are work-free zones, or maybe certain weeknights. Or maybe it is the first few hours of the day or several hours midday and afternoon. Whatever works best for you and your loved ones is the best answer, but it needs to be scheduled and treated as sacred. You can’t be ON all the time and still give your best all the time.
I believe the best companies understand that family comes before work, and value their employees as people. The trick with having family time is setting boundaries and communicating those boundaries to those you work with. If you have a team or employees that are working when you are not in the same location, and you are accessible, then be aware that that is still work time. If you have a team of sales people under you, who reach out to you at any time, then you are working. If you let them know that evenings from 7pm onwards are family time and they are only to reach out in emergencies, then they will learn to follow your boundaries. (You must stick to your boundaries too).
Quality Time to Be a Badass
If you’ve read, How to Build Your Dream Business & Live Your Life of Adventure, you know that being a badass is being your authentic self and living to your fullest potential. I’m going to add on to it that it means living out of love, and not fear. Do you feel that you are sharing your best and fullest love when you are not present in the moment with loved ones or the experience?
Imagine this, you are sitting with your loved one(s) and are fully present, but also viewing the world from the space of love. How powerful would that be? Follow the steps below, and then try this next time you are together.
How to Step Into Love
- Slow down. Take 5 deep, slow breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth
- Focus on 3 things you are grateful for in this moment, that have happened today.
Close your eyes and drop your focus to your heart and heart chakra. Visualize a green orb and notice it, what is the depth of its color? How is it spinning? How does it feel? If it’s spinning too quickly, visualize spinning it counter clockwise to slow it down and diffuse some energy. If it seems sluggish, visualize spinning it clockwise to infuse it with more energy. - Notice how you feel now after activating and acknowledging your heart chakra.
- View your current situation from the perspective of your heart. (Sending love to others from this place can also create magical results!)
- My challenge to you: spread love in the world as you are out and about and running errands. (A recent suggestion from an interview on this free summit on The Universal Language of Love register to get free access)
