Considering today's busy world, sometimes we do not notice when we put others before ourselves. Day-to-day demands of work, education, marriage, children, in-laws, friends, and even pets can make us feel like a professional juggler of priorities. At times it feels as though there is just too much going on in our life! To top it all off, it might feel as though there is not much time left over for the caregiver… you! And even when those that care about us pull us to the side to tell us to slow down, we shake our head and keep pushing. Does this sound familiar to you? All too familiar, you might be thinking.
Every person has a list of their duties, chores, to-do lists or priorities. But how many of us have a list for personal time? How many of us take the time to schedule a day for ourselves? It may sound obvious, but there are many of us who forget taking time for ourselves. Whether it is once a week or once a month, an hour or a day, taking time for yourself is essential for a healthy life. Scheduling this time is as equally important as scheduling the annual trip to the doctor. But many of us see it as a luxury, not a necessity. Whatever the view, the fact is everyone needs to take time to rest and recharge.
Last summer I was starting to feel pressed for some of that me time. So I chose to turn toward my hobbies. It seems when the priority list gets longer, inevitably the hobby list gets shorter. And for me, the first thing to not make the cut on my hobby list was leisurely reading. So I decided I would go to the bookstore and buy an easy read. I bought a book and kept it with me in my purse. Whenever I had a little spare moment in the day, I whipped out that best-seller and flipped open where I last marked. By the time the book got interesting, I started making more "little spare moments"… and by the time the book was finished, I had formed a habit of taking a little time every day for myself. It seems like before I would have never found the time to read, but now I notice myself getting into bed 15 minutes early every night for that me time.
Maybe your me time needs to be more strategic. Spa days can become so hectic with appointments, cleaning, and retail that it is best to wait and take that bit of time every evening (or morning). A few things that people do to ease stress and take personal time is go to a yoga class, take a relaxing bath, go on a walk, have a massage, or finish a puzzle! Making a hobby list is just as important as making a to-do list.
Carving out some me time might feel hard at first – you might even feel guilty about it – but rest assured that it is exactly what your body and mind need.
Amanda Strunk Miller
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