How to Create More Me Time - Strong Beginning

Do you ever feel like you rush from one thing to another, interrupt doing this to do that, give and then give some more, and then wonder what happened to your day? Maybe you feel like life keeps running, and you’re not sure if you will ever catch up. If this sounds familiar, you need to create more me time.

Your first response might be, “That would be great! If only there were time…” You’re right; that time has been squeezed right out of your schedule because you are driven (you like to get things done), generous (you constantly give your time and talents), caring (you put others and their needs before yourself), and selfless (you don’t appear on your own priority list). You spend most of your time doing worthwhile things and truly making a difference in others’ lives. That is admirable, BUT..if your basket is empty, you have nothing to give. You need to nourish and care for your own self if you want to be able to reach inside and have something to give to others.

If you create more me time, you can charge your batteries and feel more refreshed, more focused, and more able to give. But how can you make that happen?

First, schedule time for yourself.

That’s right, make an appointment with yourself and actually write it on your calendar. If somebody asks you to do something during that time, or another activity begins to infringe on that time, say “I’m sorry. I have an appointment.” Go ahead and practice that statement, “I’m sorry. I have an appointment.” You are just as important, even more so, than all the other things on your calendar. So schedule time for yourself every day, and then honor it as you would all of your other commitments.

Practice saying no.

Because you are so giving, you are constantly asked to give a little bit more. It’s okay to say no. Let’s say you baked cookies to give out. You could only hand them out for so long before you ran out. You would need to stop what you’re doing and bake more cookies if you wanted to continue sharing them. The same is true of yourself. You can only give so much before you need to stop and fill yourself back up before you can give any more. Some people think that is selfish, or they feel guilty taking time for themselves. However, by taking that me time, you are able to refresh and reenergize, and you actually have more to give. When you think of it this way, you are actually doing others a favor by saying no. In all honesty you are saying you want to be able to share a better product, so you need to take time for yourself to create that; there is nothing selfish about that. So save a little time in your day for yourself by saying no more often. You are worth it.

Decide what makes you happy.

With this new found me time, whether it be 15 minutes, an hour ,or an afternoon, determine what will help you relax, enjoy yourself, and feel refreshed. This will be different for different people, and it might even vary for you from day to day. It could be curling up in a chair (or in bed) for 15 minutes in the morning before anyone else gets up to savor a hot cup of coffee or tea. It might be taking a hot bath with a good book. It could be taking out your art supplies, your scrapbook, your knitting, or a trying a new recipe. It might even be going for a walk after dinner. Whatever it is, whenever it is, guard that time and enjoy it. Try your best not to multi-task and get other “duties” done at the same time. This time is for YOU – to relax, to enjoy, to push aside any negative or busy thoughts, and just BE.

Evaluate how you currently spend your time.

Take a look at your planner and think about how you currently spend your time. Do you have some commitments you don’t really enjoy or don’t feel are worth your time? If so, give your notice and graciously back out. Do you find yourself checking your work email at home, taking personal calls at work, or constantly checking Facebook? Find ways to streamline your activities and keep them where they belong.

Ask for help.

Enlist the help of others with some of the things on your to-do list. If you make a detailed grocery list, can your husband do the shopping while you clean house? Can you teach your children to do a new chore instead of you? Are there any tasks at work you could delegate to a colleague? It is okay to let some things go; you don’t have to do everything yourself.

Schedule your week.

Take some time each week to look at your commitments for the week ahead. Make sure all appointments are listed in the appropriate time slots, including your me time. Determine, and write down, when you will accomplish the other necessary tasks in the empty time slots. Then when new tasks arise during the week, you can check your calendar and see when you have time to take those on or kindly say “no” if you don’t have an open time slot for it.

Honor yourself.

Even when the days look full, remember to honor yourself and MAKE time for you. You are important to this world, and in order to give generously of yourself, you need to take time each day to charge your own batteries. So make sure you have time dedicated for yourself everyday.