With our busy lifestyles, stresses of daily life, bringing up children and dealing with traumatic events it is easy to feel overwhelmed, tired, low, exhausted and want to occasionally just give up and hide in a corner .
Many of us think we should be able to cope after all others do. We think this because we are often bombarded with high achieving individuals on TV and social media who take everything in their stride and achieve so much without even a hair strand out of place.
However, this mode of thinking has its consequences and you may fall ill.
One of the ways you can help yourself is to regularly have ‘me’ time.
What is ‘me’ time?
‘Me’ time is the time that you take out of your daily schedule where you spend the time doing an activity for your own enjoyment or well being.
Whatever you do in your ‘me’ time should be of your choice. Having ‘me’ time is self-care
‘Me’ time helps you unwind, relax, relieves stress, and gives your brain rest (mental rest), body rest and can be a time of recovery from tiredness.
Most people find they are more productive, calm, more focused, and more patient when dealing with issues and matters if they regularly have ‘me’ time.
But how do you go from having no ‘me’ time to having more ‘me’ time?
Admit you need it – The first step you must take is to admit to yourself that you need ‘me’ time. It will be good for you and make you deal with your life in a better, more constructive way.
Don’t feel guilty within yourself – When you are active all day, want to get things done or have a lot on your plate it is very easy to feel guilty when you stop and take some time out. Whether it’s a cup of tea, a nap, or watching a program, you may start to feel anxious during your ‘me’ time and think you should get on with your day.
It is very easy to start missing out on your ‘me’ time. This is where you need to be strong and still engage in your ‘me’ time,
Don’t let anyone else make you feel guilty – When others around you see you resting or taking time out, they may ask you to do something or remind you that you have things to do or that you may have not dealt with something. Be strong enough to kindly tell them that you will be available later and that you have not forgotten. Also politely inform them that you are having your me time and they can speak to you later.
Get everyone used to you having ‘me’ time – Taking a bit of time out to rest your body and brain should be part and parcel of your life. It is important that everyone around you understands this and accepts this. They must know not to disturb you unless there is a catastrophe and they must give you space to do the things you want.
Suggestions of ‘me’ time
Some ideas of ‘me’ time are:
- Going to the gym
- Going for walks
- Pampering yourself
- Getting a massage
- Watching a programme, film, or documentary
- Going to the cinema
- Having an afternoon tea
- Meditating
- Knitting
- Shopping for personal items
Tips to ensure you get your ‘me’ time
- Plan your ‘me’ time in advance.
- Make a note (either in your diary or a mental note) of when you intend to take your ‘me’ time so you do not book anything else in at that time.
- Be adamant that no matter what you will take your ‘me’ time.
- Try not to include chores and things you have to do into your ‘me’ time.
If you would like to share your experiences with ‘me’ time please let us know on our forum and social media! Share some of your thoughts with others and start a conversation.
DISCLAIMER
Before you start any new diet, health programme, exercise routine, and ingest or topically use any oil, vitamin, mineral, product or compound, it is very important to consult your doctor, therapist or do a patch test to make sure you do not have any adverse reactions.
We do not offer any form of medical or psychological advice. The information in our wellbeing articles are offered for educational purposes only. Our wellbeing articles are not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. Thank you.
