Me Time

The Importance of Putting "Me Time" on Your Personal Calendars

What is at the top of your personal To Do list right now? Do you spend the majority of each weekend running errands and handling personal and family chores? When was the last time you scheduled Me Time?

We are not machines, though we often push ourselves like mechanical beasts. We all need to take breaks and relax. We all need time alone to ourselves, even when it seems like there's no spare time to do so (which, in fact, is the exact time when we most desperately need a break from the world, other people, and all the commitments and tasks facing us).

Me Time should be exactly that. Time for just you, or just you and someone you don't see very often that you want to share some special time with. Me Time is not a time for running personal errands. It is a time to be alone with yourself, catch your breath, and regain your internal harmony.

If you will block off a couple of hours once or twice a month for Me Time, you will feel rejuvenated and reinvigorated. 

Here are some wonderful activities and pursuits to consider for your periodic Me Time blocks:

·         Commune with nature. Walk on a beach. Hike in the woods or forest. Stroll through a public park, feed the birds and enjoy your own tasty snack.

·         Treat yourself to a spa treatment, massage or Reiki session.

·         Go to a game, concert, play, or movie by yourself, or with a friend or family member you haven't seen in awhile.

·         Eat outside. Tip: many hotels have snack bars and cafes at their outdoor pools. Or, if you live near the ocean, try one of the outdoor restaurants at any of the resorts overlooking the water. Breakfast overlooking the beach can be quite the personal treat!

·         Visit a museum, science center or historical building. This can be an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours, especially if you are traveling alone on business. And it certainly beats sitting in your hotel room reading email.

·         Plan your next vacation by visiting travel agencies and tourism promotion offices. Grab a few brochures, find an enjoyable spot for a relaxing cup of coffee, and draft out your own itinerary.

How can you find the time to do these things? Well, for one, eliminate as many of these time wasters and energy destroyers as you can:

·         Watching the news or ESPN Sports Center every night (with the constant repetition of major stories you won't miss much information if you skip these shows twice a week).

·         Reading the daily newspaper or watching the morning news each and every day (again you won't miss any major stories if you skip this activity twice a week).

·         Mindlessly watching television in the hopes that doing so will re-energize your tired body (it won't, but a brisk 15-20 minute walk will).

·         Likewise mindlessly surfing the Internet in the hopes of finding something interesting to occupy your already overloaded mind.

·         Worrying about possible negative consequences of something that has not occurred and may not actually happen.

·         Spending time consciously regretting the past or worrying about the future.

·         Over-analyzing data and options before making a decision.

·         Gossiping about others.

·         Spending time with negative people who drain your own energy reserves.

·         Playing electronic games on your smart phone, tablet or computer.

Just putting an end to a few of these activities will easily reward you with four to five hours of extra time a month that you think you do not currently have.

Lastly, a tip of huge importance. You must put Me Time onto your calendar and do your best not to let anything cause you to cancel this commitment to yourself. It is best to schedule these sessions 4-5 days ahead of time. The anticipation will build inside you as your appointment with yourself nears. 

Also, to help get you motivated, we have hundreds of motivational quotes in our book Project You: Words of Wisdom. It is available at Amazon in paperback ($6.45) and Kindle ($3.88) formats.

Please give Me Time a try. We would love to hear about your experiences with Me Time. Let us know in the comment box below. 

This article is partially excerpted from our top-ranked personal development book Project You: Living A Determined Life, which is also available in Kindle and paperback formats at Amazon.