“You need me time, not because others don’t deserve your attention, but because you do.”

We all know how important it is to take care of ourselves physically, but we often forget the importance of taking care of ourselves mentally. Me time is important because it allows us to recharge our batteries, so to speak. It gives us time to focus on ourselves and our own needs. When we take the time to do things that make us happy, it can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also improve our mood and outlook on life.

Married life, children, a career, community service…that’s just the beginning of the list of responsibilities that I have. At some point, not too long after my youngest son was born, I realized I was just floating along. I was unhappy. I was doing “things”, but nothing that truly brought me joy or purpose. It felt shameful to admit it, because I had a beautiful family, a great job, and all the things that seemingly should have made me happy and fulfilled. But I wasn’t.

One day while talking with my oldest friend, she let slip that she was struggling. We realized that as wives and mothers, we were giving so much to others and not reserving anything for ourselves. There were guilty feelings for leaving our little ones to do simple things we once enjoyed – pedicures, dinner with friends, even a trip to the library alone seemed difficult to plan out.

Let’s be real – we are all the product of our environment. For a mother, this is especially true. The outside world has a deep impact on how we see ourselves and live our lives. We are constantly bombarded with images of what a “perfect” woman should be, and it is exhausting to constantly try to measure up to them.

5 Simple Ways to Find Time for Yourself

Taking time for ourselves is important to maintain a healthy balance.

Self care is an important part of our lives that can sometimes be overlooked. We all need a break from the day-to-day grind, and taking time for ourselves can provide us with that break. Taking time for yourself can help us feel refreshed, energized, and rejuvenated.

We decided to make ourselves a priority. More importantly, we decided to take time out for ourselves at least once every three months by planning a girls weekend away. Yes – we went big quick. We reached out to three other mothers, and our circle was quickly formed. We planned our first  girls’ weekend and had a blast! Some went out to dinner, some enjoyed the beach, and some of us used the time to just enjoy the solitude. I read an entire novel – uninterrupted. I got up when I wanted and went to sleep when I was ready, not because I fell asleep rocking a teething toddler or nodded off talking to my husband.

1. Prioritize Your Self Care

Self care is a practice necessary for our physical, emotional and mental health. It can be difficult to prioritize self care in the midst of a hectic work schedule, but it is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Prioritize your self care by:

• Creating a list of things that make you happy
• Finding time for hobbies
• Getting more sleep

It’s also important to remember self-care essentials that we often take for granted: hydration, sleep, and exercise.

2. Take Time to Relax Alone or with Friends

Finding time for yourself is not always easy. However, it is important that you take the time to relax and recuperate. Here are some tips on how to find more time in your day:

• Schedule downtime into your day.
• Take a break from technology every hour or so.
• Make sure you’re not multitasking when doing tasks (or else this will decrease your productivity).
• Turn off notifications on your phone or computer, so that you don’t feel obligated to respond immediately.
• Keep a journal of what you did during the week, and then reflect on it at the end of each week.

3. Schedule a “Me Time” Activity Every Day

It can be hard to find time in the day to exercise or go for a walk. But if you schedule an activity every day, you’re more likely to stick with it.

A few examples of activities that can be scheduled every day are:

• A walk at lunch
• A morning workout
• Yoga in the evening

Related Article: 30 Self Care Routine Ideas

4. Keep Track of Your Thoughts and Ideas with a Journal

Journaling is an excellent way to get in touch with yourself and your thoughts. It helps you become more aware of your feelings, and can help you express them in a healthy manner.

Many people use journals to keep track of their thoughts and ideas. Journals are a great way to ensure that your thoughts are not lost or forgotten, and they can also remind you of the things you have accomplished throughout the day.

A journal is also a great tool for self-reflection, which can be beneficial for mental health. Journaling about past events or experiences can help you process them and move on from them.

Here are some tips that will help you start journaling:

• Write about your day, your thoughts, your feelings – anything you want to express. You can write about what you ate for lunch or how you feel about the current political climate. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s meaningful to you.
• Take time out of your day to write in your journal. You don’t need to write every day, but try not to go more than a week without writing anything down in it.
• Keep a pen and paper next to the bed, so that when an idea comes into your head

 

5. Try a New Hobby or Find Something You’ve Always Wanted To Try

We all want to be happy, but sometimes we just don’t know how to find it. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking time for yourself and doing something you love.

Sometimes we get so caught up in doing things for other people that we forget about ourselves. It’s important to take time for yourself and do something you enjoy every once in a while.

Are you making yourself a priority?

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It’s been almost 12 years, and we still regularly get together. There are times when everyone can’t make it, and that’s okay. Our circle has grown close – we’ve  confided in one another, prayed and worshiped together, celebrated, mourned, cried, laughed and just been there for each other.

We each experienced different reactions from our husbands and families. Thankfully, my mother got it. She’d been there at one point and didn’t have an outlet. She encouraged me to take time for myself, and that meant the world to me. My husband saw an immediate change in my personality and realized how important those weekends were to keeping me balanced. I am beyond thankful for that.

Sometimes I felt guilty about having “fun” without my children. The year after I had my daughter, I decided to sit out our weekends because I just couldn’t leave her that young. I have awesome friends! They understood my mommy moments and planned our get together in my hometown and the town where my parents lived, so I could still spend time with them without being away from my little one.

Having time to yourself is essential. As a wife and mother, I am constantly pulled in so many directions, and it’s normal to put Michelle at the bottom of my priority list. My time away is used for relaxation and rejuvenation. It has also helped me see how important self-care is and forced me to make time for Michelle during my day – whether it’s on my lunch break, before my family gets up, or after they have all turned in for the day. Enjoying my “me-time” helps me cherish and enjoy my family time so much more.

Let’s Talk About It:
Do you have regularly scheduled me-time?
What is your self-care routine to ensure you do not burn out?