Time: 1 - 2 Hours
STEP 1: Pick a time during the week or weekend when you are able to take a break and see a movie. If you are overworked, sometimes taking a day or ½ day off of work to enjoy a movie and some downtime can do wonders for your mental health. If there is a friend you’ve been wanting to hang with, invite them to join you and grab a bite to eat afterwards to catch up and share your favorite parts of the movie.
STEP 2: Review movies to see what speaks to you. A great recommendation is to see something either funny or light hearted, nothing overly heavy, scary, or sad as it may have the opposite effect on your mind. Let this experience be as rejuvenating and relaxing as possible.
STEP 3: Turn off your phone and enjoy your movie. Leave the outside world on hold and give this time to only yourself. Select a theater where you can kick back, put your legs up, and even enjoy a snack or a glass of wine.
STEP 4: After the movie, reflect on how you felt while you watched the movie. Was it uplifting? Did you put your cares on the back burner for a while? Did you learn or realize something that you can apply to your life? It’s okay if your mind wandered to other things during the movie, as it can be challenging to forget about your responsibilities for a time. Be proud of yourself for making the effort to give yourself the time to relax and unwind.
STEP 5: Recognize the importance of taking time for yourself and giving your mind a much-needed break. Going forward, make an effort to fit this sort of thing into your normal schedule—your future self will thank you for it.
