What is ME time?

I thought I knew what “Me Time” was from reading books and asking questions. But what I’m finding out as I continue with my life is that it doesn’t have to be a ‘selfish’ activity like taking a bubble bath or getting a pedicure. It also doesn’t have to be with just yourself.

LAS009: What is ME time?

Living in Arizona, ‘me time’ involves a lot of hiking trails and visiting the great spas and resorts in the area. I know that it’s important to take time out of my day to fill my cup up and recharge by doing something I like.

Whether it’s aqua aerobics, spinning classes or walking on the treadmill, physical exercise and the chance to quiet my mind allows me to nurture my spirit. This helps me to be more present in my life and my relationships and to center my heart and channel my passions towards things that I enjoy. When I’m able to do this, I can focus on being more creative when I’m serving others.

Working at half capacity doesn’t serve anyone.
You can be a physical body in a room during a meeting but if you aren’t contributing to the conversation because you’re worn down, then who are you really serving?

Is Me Time Selfish?
Many people ask themselves this and you really have to stop and think about what you’re doing each day. It can be more beneficial in the long run to take five minutes out of your day to simply read or look at photographs. It will help fuel your spirit and recharge your brain.

It’s frustrating to feel depleted and blocked creatively. I know that when I have a project due or if I need to return client calls and I haven’t because I’m still dealing with paying bills or picking up drycleaning, it only adds to the stress of my day.

Multitasking is an art in itself.
Being able to juggle the tasks that you need to do while still maintaining balance is a strength that many of us spend a lifetime developing. Try to find time for yourself throughout your day with hobbies and activities that feed your life vs. take away from you. It will only you the ability to gain more joy in your life.

This is a big benefit to your relationships because when you’re recharged and present it makes it a lot easier for your loved ones to be able to interact with you. Sharing love and connectedness requires that we take time to know what makes us each feel connected to ourselves.

Things I Do to Feed My Spirit:

Hiking with my dog
Going to dog parks
Days at the spa
Playing golf with friends
Saying a rosary
Listening to music
Reading outdoors

If all you do is work and don’t take time to “play” , it will dull you as a person – to yourself and to others. Simple activities like the examples above give you time to reflect and relax. On busy days, me time is a simple activity that helps you take a break (like taking the time to write someone a card and mail it). It gives me just as much enjoyment as it does for them when they receive it.

Activities like writing a note can help you break away from the world of instant access and social media for a little bit. When I spend time in nature and away from technology it can help me to be more creative.

Though not always is “me time” so media free. It can also mean taking time to watch your favorite TV show. This is okay. You don’t have to feel guilty for just letting your mind relax and be entertained for a while.

If you don’t take time for yourself it can lead to health problems like anxiety, depression and stress. These things will hold you back. We feel that we have to be putting 100% into our work or we are wasting our time. We feel that taking time for ourselves is a waste and we won’t accomplish anything. To some extent this is true. Relentlessly pushing yourself won’t always bring success. However, most of the time, going for long periods of time without a break can end up hurting yourself in the long run.

Make sure that you take time to think about how you want to spend your time in order to feel more refreshed and recharged. It’s okay to give yourself me time. It will only benefit you and the relationships you’re involved in!