{"id":230,"date":"2025-01-12T18:46:19","date_gmt":"2025-01-12T18:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michelleshaw.co.uk\/?p=230"},"modified":"2025-01-12T18:46:19","modified_gmt":"2025-01-12T18:46:19","slug":"what-if-a-few-minutes-is-not-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/?p=230","title":{"rendered":"What If a Few Minutes Is Not Enough? | Prioritise Self-Care and Rest \ud83e\udd14"},"content":{"rendered":"

When You Need More Than a Moment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Last year, one quiet Sunday morning, I left the house to grab some milk and ended up sitting in a layby on the A57, phone switched off, crying uncontrollably as I tried to process everything I was feeling. Life felt so heavy, and what I really needed was space\u2014much more than just a few moments. It took four hours and a conversation with someone I trusted to reset and resume life as I knew it. Luckily, the supermarket was still open when I finally returned, milk in hand.<\/p>\n

The second time it happened, I found myself in a country park car park. The weight of everything hadn\u2019t lifted\u2014it was growing heavier. I realised I couldn\u2019t keep pressing \u201cpause\u201d for a few hours and pretending I\u2019d be fine. I needed something bigger.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how I found myself retreating to a Travelodge on the A1\u2014not once, but four times in 2024. Sometimes, I stayed a few days; other times, I stayed for weeks\u2014until I felt remotely ready to return home and face the world.<\/p>\n

During these stays, I had to confront some uncomfortable truths about myself, my needs, and my capacity to cope in difficult moments.<\/p>\n

\n

Recognising When You Need Space<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The first step in knowing when you need more than a moment is recognising the signals. When life feels overwhelming, your mind and body send out cues that things are too much.<\/p>\n

Ask yourself:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Am I feeling trapped or suffocated in my current environment?<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Am I exhausted despite resting or sleeping?<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Am I struggling to focus, stay present, or make decisions?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    When the answer to these questions is \u201cyes,\u201d your body might be asking you to slow down and create space.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Practical Steps to Take When You Need Space<\/strong><\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Pause and Breathe:<\/strong>
      \nStop what you\u2019re doing and take a deep breath. Breathing deeply for even 60 seconds can help calm your nervous system.Try This:<\/strong><\/p>\n
        \n
      • Breathe in slowly for a count of four.<\/li>\n
      • Hold for four seconds.<\/li>\n
      • Exhale for six seconds.
        \nRepeat until your heart rate slows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Find a Safe Space:<\/strong>
        \nIf you need to leave your current environment, where can you go that feels calm and neutral? This could be:<\/p>\n
          \n
        • A quiet park or car park<\/li>\n
        • A library or caf\u00e9<\/li>\n
        • A hotel or retreat space<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Bring Comfort Items:<\/strong>
          \nPack a few things that make you feel grounded. These might include:<\/p>\n
            \n
          • A notebook or journal<\/li>\n
          • A favourite blanket or hoodie<\/li>\n
          • Headphones and calming music or a podcast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Set a Timeframe (but Be Flexible):<\/strong>
            \nGive yourself permission to take as much time as you need. Whether it\u2019s 10 minutes, a few hours, or several days, your timeline is your own.Question to Consider:<\/strong><\/p>\n
              \n
            • How long do I realistically need to feel like I\u2019ve reset?<\/li>\n
            • Can I extend this time if I\u2019m still not ready to return?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n

              Questions to Help You Reflect and Reset<\/strong><\/h3>\n
                \n
              • What am I feeling right now, and where do I feel it in my body?<\/strong><\/li>\n
              • What do I need most in this moment\u2014space, comfort, connection, or quiet?<\/strong><\/li>\n
              • If I had permission to pause without guilt, what would I do to feel at peace?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                \n

                Building Confidence to Advocate for Yourself<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                It can be hard to ask for space\u2014especially if you fear being judged or misunderstood. But advocating for your needs isn\u2019t selfish; it\u2019s an essential form of self-care.<\/p>\n

                Practice These Phrases:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • \u201cI need some time to process everything. Can we talk later?\u201d<\/li>\n
                • \u201cI\u2019m feeling overwhelmed. I\u2019m going to step away for a bit to reset.\u201d<\/li>\n
                • \u201cI\u2019ll need a few days to recharge\u2014thanks for understanding.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                  \n

                  What You Can Do to Prepare for Future Moments<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                  Sometimes, life\u2019s storms catch us off guard. Having a plan in place can make it easier to take the space you need without panic or guilt.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. Create a “Reset Kit”:<\/strong>
                    \nFill a small bag with essentials: a water bottle, journal, headphones, snacks, and anything that makes you feel grounded.<\/li>\n
                  2. Make a List of Safe Spaces:<\/strong>
                    \nKeep a mental (or written) list of places where you can retreat when things feel too heavy.<\/li>\n
                  3. Set Boundaries with Loved Ones:<\/strong>
                    \nLet trusted people know that you may need to step away sometimes. The more open you are, the more likely they\u2019ll understand and support you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n

                    Key Reflection:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                    Taking space isn\u2019t selfish\u2014it\u2019s survival. Whether it\u2019s a quiet morning drive, an afternoon away, or a few days in a Travelodge, what matters is that you give yourself what you need.<\/p>\n

                    Ask Yourself:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • How am I caring for my mental and emotional health?<\/li>\n
                    • What can I do to make it easier to ask for time and space when I need it?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Your well-being matters. And if a few minutes isn\u2019t enough, you deserve more time\u2014without guilt or fear.<\/p>\n

                      \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      When You Need More Than a Moment Last year, one quiet Sunday morning, I left the house to grab some milk and ended up sitting in a layby on the A57, phone switched off, crying uncontrollably as I tried to process everything I was feeling. Life felt so heavy, and what I really needed was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-emotional-well-being-and-resilience","category-mental-health-self-care-and-boundaries","category-practical-mental-health-tools"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}