Is this you? You’ve made the time and put in the effort to have some me-time only to feel just as tired or as stressed as you were before it at the end of it!
It feels like everyone needs you to do something for them and all those tasks have to be done now. By the end of the day when you sit down, you’re exhausted. You go to bed, and if you’re lucky you some rest, you get up, and it starts all over again. You find yourself thinking, will I ever get off this hamster wheel and find time to do something for myself?
Taking precious time out of your busy day to sit down and read this article is a start. Just having a few minutes to yourself can make a big difference to your mindset and in turn, your day.
When I have 15 minutes to myself I like to have a freshly brewed latte in one of my favourite mugs. These mugs are all gifts from my daughters and remind me to just stop and enjoy the moment.
Whilst you’re here reading this, why not take a few deep, calming breaths and savour the moment? Breathe in for the count of three and out for the count of three. Then twice more. Now notice how you feel. I’m sure this simple breathing technique has made a big difference in how you feel.
Now that you are feeling calmer, take a piece of paper and write down 10 things you would like to do. They can be big or small. What does me-time look like to you?
For me, at weekends, I like to go on long walks around my local waterpark and in the week when I’m busy, sometimes go for a 30-minute walk around the block or to the shops and back. What is it for you?
Making it happen
Now that you have your 10 things, choose 3 that you want to do in the next 7 days. Sounds easy but how do you make it happen? Here are some tips to help you.
- Break it down – If you need to, break down each of your three chosen activities into smaller, manageable chunks.
- Who can help you – Me-time doesn’t have to be done on your own. A regular catch-up with a friend (for a walk or via a phone call) can be the time that you dedicate to having some time to chill. And when someone else is involved you’re more likely to make it happen.
Diarise it – Give your me-time some importance and put it in your diary alongside all your other important appointments. Put it amongst your hair appointment, client meetings, networking meetings etc. It’s just as important as all your other appointments if not more so, as it’s good for your mental health and wellbeing.- Share your plans – If your me-time will affect others then let them know you’re not available as you will be doing something for yourself e.g. the bathroom is out of bounds for an hour as you are having a relaxing bath.
Diarise itHaving regular me-time, however small, can take a while to become embedded into your routine so don’t be too hard on yourself. If you need more help my book, Self-care for Busy Women is full of hints, tips, worksheets and checklists to help you create me-time on a regular basis.
About Sharon
Sharon lives with her partner, Geoff, in Warwickshire and they have two adult children. She worked for over 25 years in an office environment, gaining qualifications to degree level in finance, business and management. While there Sharon witnessed and experienced many stressful situations and suffered illnesses which were stress-related.
Sharon was advised to make some changes to her lifestyle which included trying complementary therapies. After experiencing the benefits of complementary treatments, Sharon decided to retrain and to share her knowledge and experiences to help others recognise and manage their own physical and emotional stress and anxiety levels.
If you would like to have a chat with Sharon to find out more how she can help you, get in touch here.
