The Necessity of ME Time
“Self-care is never a selfish act. Any time we can listen to our true self and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves but for the many others whose lives we touch.” – Parker Palmer
We all “know” how important “ME time” is. And we recall the wonderful feelings that having some ME time creates – peacefulness, gratefulness, calmness, etc. We all know that flight crews going through the emergency procedures before takeoff always tell us that if the oxygen masks are released, to put on your own mask first before helping small children with whom you may be traveling. Why? If you don’t, you won’t be much help to anyone else. You have to take care of your immediate needs so you can be the one helping people and not the one needing help! As a woman with one husband, two kids, one dog, and three businesses, I often fall prey to not taking time for me until I’ve reached what my husband refers to as the “BDP – Break Down Point.” But when I am careful and thoughtful about scheduling in time for myself on a daily basis, I know I am a better wife, mom, and friend, and a more creative worker.
So, why oh why is it so darn hard to take that time for ourselves? We all need to find ME time or “Self-Care” time every day. The first step is to schedule it. I know you’ve heard this before. But seriously, write it down. Yoga class Monday 12:00-1:00 pm. Run Tuesday 5:30 am. Massage Wednesday 5:00 pm. Drinks with friends Thursday 7:00 pm. Date night with hubby Friday 8:00 pm. Trip to the farmers market Saturday am. Write it down and treat yourself like an appointment.
So what kinds of things could you do daily for ME time? The most important thing is to do something that you enjoy, but also that will allow you to clear your mind and relax. Take a long bubble bath with candles. Go on a hike, read a book with a cup of tea, take a yoga class, or meditate. Do whatever helps you recharge. It is also important to do “bigger things” for yourself on a weekly or monthly basis, such as getting a massage or pedicure or going out to lunch with a friend who is positive and will help you recharge. And don’t forget those big yearly events such as a spa weekend with girlfriends, or weekend away with your partner. It is important to have these special things to look forward to that you do just for yourself.
If you have 5 minutes – put your feet up, close your eyes, and breathe.
If you have 30 minutes – write in your journal, go for a power walk, or take a bath.
If you have an hour – put in a workout DVD or take a yoga class.
If you have an afternoon – go on a two-hour hike or catch a matinee.
If you have a weekend – got on a solo road trip or take a trip to a nearby spa.
Anything that is really important to you should be on your daily schedule and not just on your someday to-do list. Put ME time and self-care on your schedule daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.
What are some of the ways you schedule in ME time? Join us in the myCSL forum to share ideas.
Jenny Newcomer is a ten-year stage 3C ovarian cancer survivor and is the founder of LobotoME.com, a line of eco-friendly organizational products that helps busy people be healthy and fit, get organized, and stay sane. LobotoME’s weekly planners feature a special section daily for “ME time.” For more information visit her blog.
10 Comments
I read Jenny’s blog daily — I am always inspired by her thoughts and ideas. : )
I wholeheartedly agree about the ME time, but am bad about scheduling it. I have an awful guilt-reflex that kicks in. Working on getting over that…
this is beautiful and some lovely ideas here :-) thanks for this, am sending it to friends now! and then going to your blog
Thank you for your work Kris and the gentle reminder that ME is essential for WE!
Love the ideas based on how much time you have!
Thanks for your comments! Hope these tips inspire you all to take a little (or a lot) of time for yourself this weekend! jenny :)
I can definitely relate to the “BDP”… and I’m sure my husband can attest to that as well. It occurs whenever I’ve not taken the ME time you mention, or when the ME time is full of things that are bringing me further from myself instead of closer – like running because I “should”, for example. Thanks for your wonderful and simple suggestions.
Thank you so much for the blog – it makes me feel good to read people write things like these. Things i’m trying to add to my life daily. Yoga, relaxation, ME time. Most people around me are so caught up in stress and running to everything and anything they just don’t get me. Most of the time people will make fun of me if i tell them i’d rather take time to relax, as if not having every single minute of my life focused on running around isn’t normal. I just wished more people would realise how unhealthy and abnormal this rythme we have going on around us is. So thank you so much again for this blog. I’m saving it ;)
I definitely don’t schedule ‘me’ time into my life, but I’m starting to understand its necessity. I’m pretty bad at winding down! Thanks for the post :)
way cool Jenny! such good information too.
I couldn’t agree more. As a single parent, I have to schedule my ME time so I can recharge. I know time on my own makes me a more ‘whole’ ME and a happier Mommy/Friend/Lover/Human on this planet. Thanks for the reminder, the timing of this piece is perfecto!
August 20, 2010