The importance of 'Me Time'

The importance of 'Me Time'

Finding time for yourself is essential to your happiness, especially in a world where we are running toward our goals each and every day.

Jane's World - Me Time
Pixabay/ Sebastian Vootman/ https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-black-leggings-while-walking-on-brown-road-663437/

For me, making creating 'Me Time' is a big thing. It doesn't matter what I do in that time, but I usually like to get one with nature and walk.

Read: #JanesWorld: Coping with being overwhelmed or stressed

As you know, I'm a wife and mother of three, so my days do get busy. In an effort to make life as comfortable for my little ones as possible, there was a time where I forgot to make time for myself. 

The other day I went on my usual morning stroll and I had my ah-ha moment (cue Oprah voice)! My thought went something like this, "make moments, stand barefoot in the sand, pack a healthy lunch as you do for others so that you don't hit a low and grab the comfort carb..."

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Falling off the 'you' being a priority wagon is so easy to do and being a wife and busy working mom of 3 smalls making 'me' time takes dedication and focus.Get back on! Make moments, stand bare foot in the sand, pack a healthy lunch as you do for others so that you don't hit a low and grab the comfort carb, have coffee with a friend, sip a glass of wine at the end of the day not gulp to dull the chaos but to savor the moment, book a date with your other (this can be a bag of popcorn in the garden, as long as you are together right?!) throw on a pair of tracksuit pants-go for a walk, pick up a book and read more then the same paragraph for the umpteenth time,sit quietly, guilt free,sssssssh. Still. You. Be gentle. Be kind. Making time for you will make you better person for them. You got this! ❤ lovejlt

A post shared by Jane Linley-Thomas (@janelinley_thomas) on

My heart was warmed by your responses:

  • venput20: "You can't pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first."
  • l_a_r_l_a_r: "Phew needed that. Big love beautiful woman."
  • nadine_sing: "So true..sometimes I look in the mirror and say to myself "hey, that's new, that wasn't there before...how long has that been there?! Did anyone else notice??? " so living in track pants is all I do, and my husband hates it lol change is terrifying, but it has to be done. Thank you JLT. 😊"

The reality is, if you do not take care of you, you can't take care of others. 

Read: Three foods that can help you fight stress

Here are some tips to make yourself a priority with 'Me Time':

  1. Treat your relationships as investments. Do a personal audit and make sure you give the most time to those you care about.
  2. Saying 'no':  If you're starting to run on empty, then don't be tempted to take on more. You are no use to anyone if you're exhausted and mentally drained. Learn to say "no" instead of cramming more into your day than you can. 
  3. Schedule 'Me Time'. Remember to turn off your phone and don't be tempted to reschedule if something comes up. You are the most important person you should be looking after during this time. 
  4. Stimulate your senses. Whether it's the taste of a good cup of coffee, the feel of grass beneath your feet or maybe just listening to music on the commute, just do it!
  5. Getting lost in the present. Basically, live in the present moment, enjoy where you are and don't think about the future. It's hard at first but with some time, you will get a handle on it.

What is the one thing you enjoy doing with your 'Me Time'? 

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