Life seems more pressured and chaotic than ever before – don’t you think? The older I’ve got the more I’ve realised how essential me-time is and the older I’ve got, the less me-time I have!
I’m part of what’s called the Sandwich Generation. In my mid-40’s with young kids and ageing parents (my in-laws). Life can be overwhelming. Yet, I often feel guilty if I take time out. Crazy, really.
A friend commented that she spends so much of her time running around for others that she often forgets about herself. And that’s something I’m sure many of us can relate to.
Me-time is important. Time out to pause, reflect, re-balance and re-boot.
7 Me-Time Things I Like To Do
7 Me-Time Things I Like To DoExercise and Friend-Therapy (Number 1)
When I exercise, I feel good and when I feel good, I’m more positive and confident. Life seems to flow better.
For me, exercise isn’t about trying to be thinner or to look a different way, it’s about being healthy and strong.
Every Saturday, I do boot camp in the local park with a bunch of friends. We exercise, gossip a little (ok, a lot!), put the world to rights, let off steam. So, I exercise but get a little bit of friend-therapy as well. Like it.
Friend-Therapy (Number 2)
I’ve made more friends in my 40’s than in any other decade. My friends make me feel great. No judging which is important. We chat about anything and everything.
Great friends are hugely supportive. And again, as I’ve got older and had kids, I’ve found that women tend to rally around each other more. We are all pretty much in the same boat – juggling life, feeling chaotic, feeling overwhelmed.
Friend therapy is a great kind of therapy.
A Weekend Away With My Husband
My husband and I tend to get 1 weekend a year away without the kids. We go to Palma for 3 days, 2 nights.
We veg, we sleep, we swim, we talk, we laze in the sun. This year, I slept in until 9.45 one morning. Heaven.
Pure indulgence. I have no-one asking me to take them to the toilet 20 times a day or asking me to dive-bomb into the pool 😊.
Sleep
Not sure if that is classed as me-time, but I’m adding it in.
I told my son the other day that the best place on Earth was my bed. I love sleep. After having 2 kids, I relish it and need it. Sometimes it’s difficult to get especially when my kids think a sleep in is until 7am.
However, when I’ve had good sleep, I’m more positive – I’m a better version of myself.
Visualisation and Positive Thoughts
This is a recent discovery for me. Over the last 6 months, I’ve started to read a few books about the mind and how to use positive thoughts and visualisations.
Many of the women I have talked to are hugely critical of themselves and this is one of the reasons why I started Woman Ready.
Every day I’m trying to set aside 10 mins to clear my mind of all the chaos, to focus on some of my goals and to become more aware of my thoughts (whether they are positive or negative).
And you know what, it’s working – I feel a much calmer person for it.
When I’m more aware of my thoughts, I’m able to steer them in a more positive direction – which helps all round.
Pamper Time
Got to love a bit of pamper time – a back massage, getting my nails done or having a facial. I don’t often have time for them but when I do, I can feel rejuvenated afterwards.
Quality Time with Family
Quality time with family is important to me – emphasis on quality. It might be going for a walk or cooking dinner, with everyone sat around helping and chatting. I like that I am part of a unit. I like that I have a support network in place. And family means my kids, my husband, my sister and brothers, my nieces and nephews, my husband’s family.
I think I might sound old! Let me know how you get me-time with your busy schedule. Email me at lou@womanready.com.
Agree with everything..! and I always think too about other people less fortunate than ourselves.. am I able to give them a little time (only if it’s 5 mins), perhaps some listening time or time for a cup of coffee? Or inviting them into my circle of friends so they have company.
By helping others, its not only rewarding but gives me a feel good factor.. and creates more of a sense of community.
Loving the blog x
Thanks for your comment. How true – we’re often so busy that we forget those less fortunate than ourselves. So caught up in our own lives.