How often have you found yourself thinking or saying the following?
“I wish I had more time for myself, “I’m so busy!, I don’t have a moment to breathe”, “I need more hours in the day” or simply, “I don’t have time for that”?
We lead crazy, busy lives, and the one thing we never seem to have time for is ourselves. This problem seems even more pervasive as we work harder to meet the challenges of this new economy or achieve our goals.
But we all instinctively know that when we take time for ourselves to pursue our passions, do the things that we enjoy, relax or even do nothing at all, we end up happier, healthier and feeling better.
“Me time” allows us to destress, unwind and rejuvenate. Taking time for yourself allows you to renew, heal, and create reserves of energy and peace.
When I ask my clients why they don’t plan more “me time” in their schedules, three common themes are: not enough time, feeling guilty, no one will do it as good as me or it feels selfish.
Remember that no matter what we do, there are only 24 hours in a day, so you can’t create more time. But you can clear some time by re-evaluating priorities, perhaps saying “no” more often and practicing smart time management.
If everyone else around you is worthy of care and attention, then so are you. You not only deserve this time, but you need it for your own well-being. Lack of time for ourselves often leads to feeling frustrated, tired, overwhelmed and out of balance.
“Me time” is not something you should feel guilty about. It’s nothing more than taking some time to put aside your everyday business and treat yourself to an activity that you enjoy. It gives you an opportunity to relax, refocus and recharge. And when you do that, you can come back to your responsibilities with greater focus, commitment and enjoyment.
