“Me Time” Moments Don’t Just Happen – They’re Made

It’s 8:54 p.m and I’m sipping chamomile tea, sans sugar (I’m a fake-me-out grown up these days). I just dug thru the junk drawer in the kitchen by the sink to find the lighter. The lotus flower and bamboo 3-wick soy candle hasn’t been lit in a while, but tonight is the night. It’s long overdue. Alexa is playing a Jasmine Sullivan random R&B/neo-soul-ish playlist, and the honey-gold sunlight is fading into the greyish-blue sky. I’m writing from the sofa, under a light blanket, with the floor fan oscillating on medium. I’m taking time for me. Me time. And it’s absolutely not by accident.

There’s a subtle difference between taking time, and making time. But trust and believe, both are important. For instance, tonight I am taking time away from other things I could (and maybe even should) have been doing. This living room is a mess. In two months, I am re-locating again (more on that to come) and I need to be packing. There is laundry to fold, and I still need to clean these makeup brushes. Thankfully, the dishes are done – but you get the point. But in order to take time for me – I had to not spend this time doing the other things, although they, too, are important.

On the other hand, I had to make time for me this evening. As in make space. Make room. Because even if I still chose not to do the aforementioned – I could have just as easily sat myself on this sofa, under this blanket, listening to this playlist and the soothing white noise of this oscillating fan – and not done anything. Not wrote this blot post. Not made this tea, lit this candle, and truly appreciated this moment.

“Me time” moments don’t just happen – they’re made.

But how does one make or even take time, when there are family members to feed, children to entertain, chores to knock, work to finish, etc. Like, how?!

Well, like most things, it just won’t happen if you don’t plan it out. So here’s a few tips to ensure every day or at least every week you carve out some time for a whole you.

• Respect the time. The same way you find a way to bush your teeth and shower each day, you must respect your body and mind enough to realize it also needs to time replenish. Assign it the respect it deserves.
• Adjust your mindset. If you see me time as a luxury and not a necessity, it’ll never make it to the top (or near top) of the list. I need this instead of I want this. Tell yourself it’s a need – because it actually is.
• Put it on the calendar. Literally. Like Wednesday 8:30 – date with myself. I don’t care if it’s only 15 minutes. Use that time to shut out the world and focus on you. Read, nap, watch a show, eat chocolate, soak in a tub, whatever you want. But block it out. And follow thru.
• Tell the family. Let them know that THIS time is YOUR time. You love them and are available throughout the rest of the day (or whatever boundaries work in your household). But this time is me time and it’s off-limits. Help them help you.
• Get excited about it! This is a treat to you from you. It’s like that Friday afternoon feeling when the clock is just about to touch 5 p.m. The weekend has arrived, and quitting time is nigh! You’ve been mentally checked out since 3:45 anyway LOL Look forward to me time, and you’ll be less likely to skip it.

Do you make time for yourself each day or week? How do you schedule it in? What things do you like to do? However you see fit to make it happen, just be sure you’re making it a priority. Every single day can be filled for you – easily. But make yourself a priority, and your health and even those you spend time with, will be all the better for it.