Do You Make Time For Me Time?
There never seems to be enough time these days.
We are always on the run. Running out of time running from place to place. Chasing our tail. Getting things done. Fitting everything in. Making appointments, completing exhausting ‘to-do’ lists.
No matter how much we plan or try to cut back, time never seems to be on our side.
As such, some things get missed. Get sacrified or put on the back burner for another, er, time.
No.1 in this is ‘me’ time. Time dedicated just and only to ourselves.
First to go
We have let life get upside down. Even though we truly have a life that’s ours we never seem to live it that way. We are so pushed for time it’s our personal relaxed moments that are given up in favour of doing things for other people. Jobs and tasks for everyone else but us. A servant to society, the family, the boss, friends etc etc.
Our time is the first to go. How crazy is that?
Yet it’s so very commonplace.
How often do you miss having some free time for a break just for you?
Who always seems to goes without doing what they want or would love to? You?
Do you ever enjoy any ‘me’ time at all?
We are too skilled at putting ourselves last and the whole world ahead of us. Free time is never free anymore as it’s all tied up doing things for others and rarely for personal breathers. Me time needs to be back in fashion.
The ‘me’ in time
Let’s be honest about this. Don’t expect life to give you a break if you don’t make space to give yourself one. It will support what you support. YOU have allowed time for a chill out, some rest with a cracking best selling novel, an activity you love and an hour simply to sit and take the weight off your feet to be taken from you. To make the ‘me’ in time to become the ‘us’ in busy.
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You have to get it back
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You need to ask yourself why it’s everyone first and you last
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You must realise that it’s love for yourself you are going without
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You can reclaim your life but only if you want to
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You deserve a break and have more than earnt the right
Reclaim some space
The time has come to reclaim some space back. To fight your own corner. To clear the diary and firmly write ’me time’ as an entry at least once a week. And to do so without guilt, feeling selfish or ever failing to enjoy it. This is your birthright. Your privilege for all you do, try and put effort into. Without having to achieve anything first like doing 10 jobs or a 60 hour week. You have a right for time for yourself just because you merit every single second. Because you are alive. Because you truly matter. Because you are you. Because it’s your life…YOUR life. Because you can’t expect to live happy and healthy otherwise. Because!
Start today
There’s no time like the present. Today. Right now. Look at your current schedule. What jobs have you chosen to complete in the next 24 hours? What could wait for another day? What’s not actually urgent? Do certain things have to be done at all? Look at what can be moved or shelved. Let some things go.
Now you’ve opened a window of time for yourself. Yes, for yourself. Make sure it’s at least an hour so that you can relax your mind. Free it from ‘what next’ thinking. Then have fun and enjoy it. It’s ‘me’ time.
Pull out that fabulous book you’ve been dying to read. Watch a favourite film. Meet a friend for a cuppa in a nice coffee shop (you can share mutual me time now and again but don’t let it become a chore). Take up a little hobby. Get outside and revel in natural surroundings. Soak in a luxurious bath. Get a manicure or special hair cut. Play with children. Or simply put your feet up with a magazine and a yummy biscuit. Whatever you want, you do it. Me time is your time. Enjoy it more of the time. To feel great. And look great. Great huh?
It’s time for ‘me’ time to make a comeback. To be the new ‘in thing’. The trend everyone is talking about. The word on the street. The lifestyle choice of modern living. Me time is a fine time, time and time again.
How do you spend your free time? Do you commit to ‘me’ time? Why is ‘me’ time so important to you? Leave me a comment when you have time and let me know.
Image courtesy of Feggy Art
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This is very important, and you’re right. “Me” time is the first to go.
But it’s essential to a healthy mind and spirit, it’s free, it’s easy to accomplish…
And there’s no reason not to find a little “me” time right now.
Gip
Gip, we tend to think of ‘me’ as being selfish so we give to others first and foremost. A little ‘me’ time resets the balance and helps us find ourselves and our identity. Me time is the time to achieve that.
One of the reasons it’s so important as you say to make time for “me” is so that we have a bit of space to listen to the voice of our own wisdom. It’s broadcasting all the time, there’s never a moment wisdom is not available to us…
But if I’m busy John, as you say, running this way and that in response to the never-ending demands of the outer world this delicate seed of wisdom in me is likely to wither and die. It doesn’t really die, it’s always present — I just don’t know it.
Just want to say I’m very thankful for your thoughtful and original posts John. Incidentally I think I’m starting to get the hang of things at the A-list club, but it’s a big beast with a lot going on isn’t it? I’m launching a free ebook in a couple of weeks and will do my very best to follow Mary’s outline on this… Every good wish.
Christopher, fine words but if you are busy does ‘me’ time become the first to be sacrificed? It should be the last in truth. The demands beyond us don’t have to be answered or allowed – we’ve just got to expert at pandering to them and convincing ourselves that this is right. It’s not. Me first is not actually a bad thing. Good luck with the e-book and the A-List is a pussycat once you dive in!!
John: Great advice. I really liked what you said about life not giving you a break if you don’t make space for yourself. That is really a great piece of advice. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, but we have to make certain we are always prioritizing our alone time and doing anything we can to reserve periods of time where we just relax. Thanks for the great advice.
Hi Sibyl, looking good! I found that when I don’t make the space for me nothing and no-one else does. So, I take the lead. The rest follows..and a rest too!