How to find time for yourself – a quick guide to ‘me’ time

Modern life can be stressful. All at once we’re expected to be parents, spouses, children, professionals – the list goes on. Often, the pressure of trying to fulfil all of these roles simultaneously can leave us feeling that we have no strength or time left for ourselves. Now and then, we all need the occasional break from our daily-responsibilities for the sake of our sanity – but how can we make this happen?

The two golden rules to finding that precious ‘me’ time are:

1. Make yourself a priority – Realise that you are worthy of being added to your own list of priorities. It’s easy to think catching some time for yourself isn’t important, but ultimately, this time will give you the opportunity to recharge your batteries so that you can carry out all of your other roles and tasks to a higher level and with a clear head.
2. Schedule your ‘me’ time – Treat your personal time like you would do a dentist appointment or an important meeting. Add it to your diary and make a pact with yourself not to shuffle it around to suit others.

When you do manage to find some time to power-up, remember that you don’t need huge amounts for it to make a difference. Below see our top ideas for what you can do with as little as 5-10 minutes of ‘me’ time:

• Take deep breaths – Whether you are sitting at your desk or in the car, use your 5 minutes to take slow deep breaths. Focus on the sensation of breathing in and out and follow your breath. If your mind wanders, try to bring it back.
• Listen to your favourite song – Plug into your iPod and just enjoy listening to a few of your favourite tunes. Don’t do anything else during this time, just sit back, close your eyes, relax and enjoy the music.
• Have a cuppa – Usually when we have a cuppa, we drink it whilst working, watching TV or reading etc. Today, just try sitting with a cup of tea or coffee and peacefully sip away with no distractions.
• Call a friend – Usually we ring our friends with a purpose – to arrange a lunch date or to share some news. Today, call and talk to a friend with no agenda.

 If you are finding it difficult to achieve harmony in your life and you find you have very little time to yourself, a life coach could help. For further information, visit our work/life balance page.

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