According to the English Oxford Dictionaries, the term “me time” can be defined as “time spent relaxing on one’s own as opposed to working or doing things for others, seen as an opportunity to reduce stress or restore energy.”
Although “me time” is important for your overall health and happiness, people may not have time to focus on themselves because they are busy focusing on others. Take being a mother: moms have it rough when “me time” is spent at the restroom or the hair salon. Kirsty Smith talks about how me time is not realistic as a mother.
Considering how busy people’s lives get, it is understandable to be bitter towards the term “me time.” Whether you are a mother or working or going to school or simply too busy to even think about “me time” (or all of the above), it is still important to have a moment where you focus only on yourself. Take the time to be alone with your thoughts; take time each day for yourself.
There are several stresses put on us everyday that if we do not make time for ourselves, we will end up being unhappy, which is why “me time” really is important.
How can I make “me” time?
Realize how important it is to make time for yourself.
I can give you facts and tips, but only you can really control and realize how important it is that you make “me time.” Make yourself a priority because your mental health and wellbeing and happiness are important.
Plan and schedule your me time.
It may take time to plan “me time,” but it will be worth it when you have it planned out and scheduled. Treat your time to relax as necessary as other things in life: work, family, or school, etc. Even taking a five to ten minute break can be beneficial for your overall mental health and wellbeing. Take a five minute break where you simply breathe and let your mind wander, but don’t plan on what to do next. Drink some coffee or tea in the mornings. Take a thirty minute break and read a book or go for a walk; focus only on yourself. There are several other suggestions listed on Web MD.
If having only five to even an hour of “me time” sounds like a ridiculously low amount to unwind and relax, then try to find something that works best for you. The above approach is not meant to limit you, it is only there to provide suggestions. On the other hand, if five minutes or an hour of “me time” sounds overwhelming, then work around what you can do and what times work best for you. It does not have to be all at once: it can be a few minutes in the morning, in between work, and a few minutes at night before bed. The small amount of time taken where you only focus on you will help with your happiness and overall approach to life because it allows you to unwind and get back in touch with yourself.
Why is “me” time important?
As human beings, we rely on interaction and are social creatures. However, we also need privacy and time to be alone in order to reconnect with our individual minds and bodies, which is why “me time” is so important. Spending time alone and focusing on yourself can improve your concentration and help make you more productive.
For me, I tend to read when I can as a way for my personal time. But, at times I find school and work take precedence over my self-care. I do believe that “me time” is difficult to enforce, but it is nonetheless important. At times when I feel overwhelmed and stressed, I go for a walk just to breathe, or I write in my journal for a few minutes before bed. I know that a beach resort sounds much better than a five minute break of simply walking around the neighborhood, but it can definitely help to improve focus. And maybe in the future, you may be able to plan a vacation or a longer period of time for “me time.”
For more information on the reasons why “me time” is important, visit MindBodyGreen for an infographic.
Why live unhappily? There may be others who depend on you and need you constantly, but even a couple minutes to yourself can help with your happiness. “Me time” assists in making for a more balanced life, and it may sound insignificant with everything going on in your life, but you are important and you deserve to take care of yourself.
