If you constantly feel like you’re running on a hamster wheel that never stops, that’s not good.
Everyone needs time to relax and unwind, but if you can’t seem to get even a few hours to yourself, it’s time for a change. The first step to improving the situation is identifying what’s causing it in the first place. Here are some reasons your schedule is always jam-packed — it’s time to fix the situation before you burn out (if you haven’t already).
1. You’re terrible at saying “no”.
If you’re truly honest with yourself, you’re likely a bit of a people pleaser. Every time someone asks you for a favour or invites you to an event, you say yes without thinking. Before you know it, your calendar is packed with commitments you don’t really want to keep. You’re afraid of disappointing people or missing out, so you end up overextending yourself. Learning to say “no” isn’t being selfish — it’s about respecting your own time and energy.
2. You’re addicted to your phone.
Come on, admit it — you’re glued to that little screen. We all are! Every free moment you have, you’re scrolling through social media, checking emails, or playing games. You think you’re relaxing, but you’re actually just bombarding your brain with more information and stimuli. Those quick phone checks add up, eating into time you could be using for actual relaxation. Try putting your phone away for an hour each day.
3. You’re a perfectionist.
Source: Unsplash Everything has to be just right in your world. Whether it’s a work project or folding the laundry, you can’t let it go until it’s perfect. Sadly, your perfectionism is eating up your time and energy. You spend way too long on tasks that don’t really need to be flawless. Learning to let go of perfectionism and embrace “good enough” could free up a lot of your time.
4. You’re terrible at time management.
You start the day with the best intentions, but somehow it always gets away from you. You underestimate how long things will take, get distracted easily, or spend too much time on unimportant things. Before you know it, the day’s over, and you haven’t accomplished half of what you planned. Try setting realistic goals for each day and prioritising your to-do list. You’ll feel a lot saner!
5. You’ve got FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
You’re always saying yes to every invitation, every event, every opportunity. Why? Because you’re afraid you might miss out on something amazing. But here’s the thing — by trying to do everything, you’re actually missing out on the chance to truly enjoy anything. You’re spread so thin that you can’t fully engage in any one experience. Remember, sometimes the best memories are made in quiet moments at home.
6. You’re a workaholic.
Work-life balance? What’s that? You’re always “just checking” your work emails at night, or bringing projects home on the weekend. Maybe you’re trying to climb the career ladder, or maybe you just feel guilty when you’re not being productive. Either way, you’re letting work consume your life. Taking time to relax and recharge is crucial for your work performance and your overall health and wellness.
7. You’ve got too many hobbies.
Hobbies are supposed to be fun and relaxing, but somehow, you’ve turned them into another source of stress. You’re trying to juggle photography club, Spanish lessons, yoga classes, and your new sourdough baking obsession. It’s great to have interests, but when your free time is as scheduled as your work time, something’s got to give. The others will still be there when you’re ready to come back to them.
8. You’re a chronic procrastinator.
You know you’ve got stuff to do, but you keep putting it off. “I’ll do it later,” you tell yourself. But later never seems to come, and suddenly, you’re up against a deadline, scrambling to get everything done. This last-minute rush means you’re always in crisis mode, with no time to relax. Try tackling the hardest task first thing in the morning — you’ll feel so much better for the rest of the day.
9. You can’t stand a messy house.
Your home has to be spotless at all times. The moment you see a speck of dust or an out-of-place cushion, you’re reaching for the cleaning supplies. While a clean home is nice, your constant tidying is eating into your relaxation time. Try to relax your standards a bit. A perfectly clean house isn’t worth sacrificing your peace of mind.
10. You’re overscheduling your kids.
Source: Unsplash Soccer practice, piano lessons, coding class, ballet… your kids’ schedules are as packed as yours. You want to give them every opportunity, but all this running around leaves no time for family relaxation. Plus, you’re exhausted from being a full-time chauffeur. It’s okay for kids to have some unstructured time. Maybe it’s time to let them choose their favourite one or two activities and drop the rest.
11. You’re hung up on productivity.
You feel guilty if you’re not being “productive” every waking moment. Watching a TV show? Waste of time. Having a nap? Lazy. But here’s the thing — rest and relaxation ARE productive. They recharge your batteries and make you more effective when you do need to work. Relaxation isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
12. You’re terrible at delegating.
You think if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself. So you end up taking on way more than you should, both at work and at home. But trying to do everything yourself is a recipe for burnout. Learn to trust other people and share the load. Delegating frees up your time and energy for more important things — like relaxing!
13. You’ve forgotten how to relax.
This might sound crazy, but hear me out. You’ve been go-go-go for so long that you’ve actually forgotten how to slow down. The idea of sitting still and doing nothing makes you antsy. You feel like you should be doing something, anything. Start small — try five minutes of deep breathing or a short walk without your phone. Remember, you don’t have to earn the right to relax.
