5 Tips for Fitting “Me” Time in Your Schedule

I love to scrapbook, make cards, and do other crafts. It’s how I relax and unwind. However, I rarely find the time to craft. It’s not that I don’t have the time. I tend to let other things take over my time instead.

In our hectic world it is hard to find “me” time where we can find relief from our responsibilities. Even for just a few minutes.

If you’re a mom of young kids you know what I mean. When was the last time you even got to go to the bathroom by yourself? 🙂

It’s an important aspect of our lives we shouldn’t neglect, though. If we spend all our time on the go, working, and/or taking care of others, we will burn out.

I can hear you saying right now, “Sure, I know I need to take time out for me. But how am I going to fit it in my schedule?”

Let’s look at a few ways you can make “me” time a reality:

Realize and accept that you need time for yourself.

Ideally you will want to have some “me” time every day. However, that may not be realistic at the moment.

Just realize you need the time and don’t feel guilty about it. Commit to work to find ways to fit it in your schedule.

Decide how you want to spend your “me” time.

There are many different ways to spend your “me” time. Decide what is most important to you.

Maybe you want to be able to read for pleasure, watch a favorite TV show, take a long bath, or just spend time quietly meditating or journaling.

As I mentioned above, I love to make cards. Now that I’ve got my new craft table and my supplies organized, I’m able to take a few minutes here and there to work on the cards.

Yesterday I determined I was not going to let the day end without making a couple of cards. I’m so glad I took the time to make cards. It refreshed my spirit because I made the cards specifically for friends who need some encouragement.

Decide what will refresh you and make a list of things you want to do. Use this list when scheduling time alone.

Evaluate where you may be wasting time each day.

Taking a hard look at your current schedule may be eye opening. You may find that you have some time every day that you don’t realize you have.

I find that I often spend too much time on social media or surfing the internet. While this might be down time for me, it’s not necessarily relaxing nor does it refresh me. I definitely have the time to spend crafting and doing other things that bring me joy.

Just say no.

One thing that keeps our schedules bogged down is too many commitments. You know what I mean. Saying “yes” too many times when we should have said “no” instead.

When you are tempted to say “yes” to something, think about what you are giving up. Is is worth sacrificing the personal time you need to relax so you’ll be better able to take on the things that matter?

Ask for help.

Women often have a hard time asking for help. We are employees, wives, moms, and daughters. We set high expectations for ourselves where we think we have to do it all.

The reality is that we don’t have to do it all. Especially if it compromises our sanity, health, and ability to do the things we really need to do.

So, if you have a hard time asking for help, give it a try. (I’m speaking to myself here, too!) Think of tasks you can delegate to free up the time you need to spend by yourself.

With a little thought and planning, you can fit “me” time into your schedule. Don’t give up until it becomes an automatic part of your day.