STOP! Flamingo Time! (Definitely sung to the tune of particular hit song released in 1990.)

Flamingo time is what I have coined the time that I take for myself where nothing is planned. Yes, that’s right—the time that you put aside for yourself where you DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO!

I’m an Enneagram three and I’m an I on the DISC profile, so I’m all about achievement, productivity and getting stuff done. That’s how I get excited. That’s how I get my energy. 

So initially I really didn’t understand the concept of doing nothing. It was completely foreign to me. BUT, it’s been a game changer in terms of running my business and in my own personal development, so I want to share with you how I went from thinking “nothing time” was absolutely crazy to actually making it something that’s really important. 

First things first: it’s called “Flamingo Time” because there is a pink colour in my Google Calendar on my iPhone that is called “flamingo” and it’s the colour I would use when scheduling anything self-care related, like a massage appointment, for example. 

Here’s my “Flamingo Time” Journey: 

I started scheduling “Flamingo Time” in my calendar even when I didn’t have any appointments planned. The idea was to just “be”. Sounded “woo woo”… wasn’t sure how it would go. 

My goal was 5 MINUTES. I challenged myself to have nothing on my schedule for five minutes without losing my mind, without checking my email, without scrolling through Instagram, without putting that load of washing out, without all the things that needed to be done. 

I’ll be honest. I wasn’t great! But I tried. And I KEPT TRYING. 

I started noticing the best thing about “Flamingo Time” was that it was scheduled time in my calendar (which my brain needed) but during this scheduled time I got to actively choose what I wanted to do—it wasn’t dictated to me by a to-do list!

I could use the time to write a to-do list, if that’s what my brain needed, but the key here was that it was entirely on my terms. 

I started to embrace the fact I got to choose whether I used this time to be go-go-go or completely still and silent (or anywhere in between); it’s whatever I feel my body and brain needs on the day.

For me, having this time scheduled during the day, rather than at night, was key. Of an evening, by the time the kids had gone to bed, the kitchen had been cleaned, the lunches were made for the next day and so on, all I wanted to do was go to bed! Forcing myself to have “me time” at 9pm at night felt like a chore! Completely defeated the purpose of “Flamingo Time”. 

So day time it was! I needed it to be at a time where I would have a really clear mindset to be able to make a really good choice for myself.

Gradually, I increased the length and frequency of “Flamingo Time” and nowadays it’s a permanent feature on my Google Calendar each Friday afternoon between 2pm and 3pm (because it’s usually between my last meeting of the week and school pick-up time). 

So my challenge for you is to jump on board the FLAMINGO train. The difference between knowing and doing is the action, and I really want you to take action on this.

Step 1: Open your calendar. 

Step 2: Block out 5 MINUTES for “me time” in the next 7 days. (And set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget about it!)

Step 3: DO IT. 

Once you get better at it and once you get through that uncomfortable period, try increasing it to 10 minutes a week, and then 30 minutes, and ideally an hour. 

Who knows… you might end up with an entire FLAMINGO DAY!

I’m not there yet, but maybe one day…

Okay, give it a go, and I’d love you to tag me on Instagram @simplystaceymorgan and #flamingtotime so I can see what you all get up to!