I have found my way back to something most of us have lost sight of in Elementary school: Timeout. However, this time is not employed as punishment, but rather it is a gift for my inner peace. When I refer to this Timeout, I implore you, faithful reader, to associate it with repeated periods of quiet calm. Usually, this allotted “quiet time” is spent at the end of my day, 6 feet in the air on my lofted dorm bed. Back to a stack of throw pillows, I take-in the “time out spread”, consisting of my journal, pencil case, and a variety of books: poetry books, fictional/nonfictional, workbooks, and any other flavor of intellectually stimulating work. I spend my Timeout on a few, but not all, of these activities (let’s be realistic here). I highlight, annotate, note, write, or simply read. Other times, I lay sprawled out with headphones and sleep-mask in place as my breathing slows to gentle murmurs. To my pleasant surprise, this nightly ritual has brought me much sound of mind and patience of heart. Continuing to achieve this outcome has lead me contrive The Perfect Timeout Formula. Reader, may I introduce you to your new favorite time of the day.
Step one in creating such an experience begins with committing to a time in each day. Find it in your crowded collegiate life to set a specific amount of time to spend with yourself. Whether it be 10 or 100 minutes, any amount of time committed to reflect and recharge is well worth any measurement of time that it consumes. Once established, act on this commitment. Create and cultivate this habit for yourself. Let your motivations for your Timeout be intrinsic, and may you reap the reward.
Secondly, ask yourself where and when you feel most solitude. Not many of us have the option of complete isolation when roommates are part of the equation, but keep in mind headspace plays a more significant role in your Timeout than the physical space. Where it counts, ambiance sets the tone for the session. So, in creating a serene spirit, create a space that enables it. An oil diffuser, fairy lights, lit candle (housing permitting), white noise, or any other calm-inducing tools you prove most beneficial in creating a safe space. In your little sanctuary, limit the number of distractions in the space. I don’t mean to sound like your parents, but “get off your phone!”. Create a custom ‘Do Not Disturb’ focus status dedicated to this time.
Let the following be suggestions for cultivating the best mindful experience for you, but they are in no way necessary.
The recipe
- A blank journal
The versatility of your timeout should match the versatility of your journal. Draw, write, color, bullet, plan: the possibilities are endless in ink & paper. Pair this journal with a devotee pencil and join them in Holy matrimony.
- A cozy setup
In a dorm, this may be a challenge but never impossible. No matter the situation, a few cozy blankets help.
- oil diffuser
Set the tone with Lavender and Eucalyptus; The best olfactory yet Dorm-friendly way to calm down.
- Warm-tone lighting
Warm-tone lighting is supposed to appear more natural and more relaxing than the spasm-inducing fluorescent dorm lights.
TL;DR
Impatient reader, aren’t ya? No worries. Let me break it down: the consistent commitment to small periods of mindful solitude has drastically improved my headspace, and hopefully, you too can make use of The New Timeout.
I wish you the best of luck in your quiet-time endeavors.