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8 Ways to Steal “Me” Time
The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.
Sydney J. Harris
Are you exhausted from continuously running at breakneck speed? Do you feel trapped in a draining cycle of working, parenting and/or incessantly checking things off an endless list of personal action items? Or, are you simply convinced that stolen moments of solitude and tranquility have forever been replaced by the ceaseless demand of your daily routine?
We’ve all been there. In a world full of the super-busy and over-scheduled, it’s often difficult to carve out quality moments meant just for us. This ever-elusive “me” time helps us to regroup, rejuvenate and reinvigorate the doldrums of our daily routines. With a little creativity and flexibility, finding a few moments of calm amidst the grind of day-to-day chaos is possible.
Set the Alarm
For the early birds among us, even setting the alarm 10 minutes early will allow for a little time to ourselves. Sip a morning beverage, listen to some soothing music, read the paper or just sit alone with your thoughts to set a more relaxing tone for the rest of your day.
Take a Lunch Break
Too often we find ourselves eating while standing up over a sink or sitting in front of our computers during the noontime meal. No matter where you happen to be when lunchtime rolls around, take the opportunity to unplug, unwind and enjoy whatever is on the menu for the day.
Put it on the Calendar
We typically put mandatory events and appointments (which we often don’t want to attend) on our day planners to ensure things get done. Schedule some “me” time on the calendar on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis to ensure that time will definitely be set aside.
Break it Up
For some of us, even finding a block of 15 consecutive minutes can prove daunting. Identify moments throughout the day when you have just a few minutes and jump on them. Get up from your desk and stretch a bit, take a 2 minute walk outside or even do a set of push ups (or sun salutations for my fellow yogis!) wherever you may be. Maximizing these “mini-breaks” can easily add up throughout the day and help recharge your batteries to keep on going.
Find a Buddy
At times, a plan to utilize “me” time can seem much like a self-imposed attempt to lose weight; hard to stick to without the help of a buddy for accountability. Enlist the assistance of friends who also need some downtime and plan weekly or monthly outings. Having others rely on your presence will help you stick to your plan to have a little fun and engage with buddies.
Jazz up the Necessities
Perhaps adding additional activities to your day just doesn’t make sense. If so, find a way (utilizing your favorite creative hat) to make the necessities of every day a little more special and relaxing. Everyone needs to eat - so if cooking is a hobby, plan a special meal, play some background music and enjoy the preparation. Bathing and hygiene are also (usually) requirements in our day. Instead of taking a daily shower, plan a few extra minutes to draw a bath with some scented oils. No time to soak? No problem. Splurge on some new scented lotions and pamper yourself during post-shower minutes.
Optimize Travel Time
Sometimes, the car is the only time we have in our day to ourselves. Rather than mentally going through the list of pending action items due in the hours ahead, seize the opportunity to enjoy some “me” time. Check out an audio book from the library, play a favorite CD or even just roll down the windows and enjoy some fresh air in to wherever your commute takes you.
Create Bed Time Boundaries
For the night owls like me, set aside a block of time every evening as designated downtime. Then, stick to it. Find a quiet spot for some meditation or journaling about the day’s events. You’ll go to bed relaxed and better able to face the onslaught of activity the next morning will bring.
Take Action!
Armed with these tips and tools, it’s time to implement a plan of action. Decide which methods for sneaking in some solitude will work best for you and select a non-negotiable “start date.” Don’t worry if, initially, you can only commit to small increments of time spread out throughout a week, month, etc.. The most important thing is to simply keep me time on your radar.
Successfully stealing these me time moments can play a significant role in your overall outlook and ability to effectively navigate the ebb and flow within each week
Do you struggle with finding time just for you? What hurdles consistently hinder you from achieving these moments of relaxation? What are some proven methods you’ve used to obtain a little me time? Share in the comments!
Related "ripples" you might enjoy:
- 30 Ways to De-Stress Now
- 34 Ways to Enjoy the Winter Days
- 50 Ways to Add Joy to Your Day
- 11 Ways to Find Serenity Amidst Chaos
- How to Turn “I Can’t” Into “I Can”
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 7:00 am and is filed under Balance & Simplicity, Tips + Techniques. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
12 Responses to “8 Ways to Steal “Me” Time”
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Thanks Carolyn.
I am fortunate enough to be taking a six month studying sabbatical in a month or so. So this will give me some wonderful quality time away from my usual routine. This is of course a rare blessing.
Really enjoy your blog!
Stephen´s last blog ..Is it Meaningful or Random Part 2 An irrational Perspective in defence of synchronicity
Twitter: carolynr
says:
What a rare blessing indeed, Stephen! I am quite jealous :)
Great post Carolyn! I am going to try adding some me time to my calendar ;)
I must say I do eat my lunch at my computer while I work so I don’t actually take a lunch break, its a hard habit to break.
Twitter: carolynr
says:
It is a hard habit to break and not one you need to break if you squeeze in some “me time” somewhere else in your schedule!
Twitter: benspoont
says:
TV time blocked out for tonight?
Twitter: carolynr
says:
always :)
Twitter: shakethegrind
says:
Carolyn,
Thanks for the list. I try to utilize my time more effectively by really focusing on my high energy times during the day. This would be in the morning to mid-afternoon. I really try to be as efficient as possible during these times, and save time in the evening for more casual activity. I also definitely optimize travel time. I’m a huge fan of audio books. Thanks!
Twitter: carolynr
says:
Audio books are great… as well as optimizing high-energy “peak” times. It’s great that you have identified what that time is within your day. It seems to change for me depending on my schedule.
Hi Carolyn! I thought I was pretty big on carvimg some “me” time but I found your list to be very creative. There are some items that I have not tried yet such as the “find a buddy” and “jazz up the necessities” tips. I’ll sure try them.
Thanks! Loving blessings
Andrea DeBell´s last blog ..Catch the Passion Fever but Don’t Call the Doctor
Twitter: carolynr
says:
Wonderful — mission accomplished then! Hope you have great success with the new tips :)
[...] Getting a few “all about me” moments can truly help to regroup and refocus when life becomes a little too tense. For some “me time” tips check out this post! [...]