“Me time” – sound like a mythical oasis in the desert to you? Well, it doesn’t have to be.

This week a snappy little me time infographic popped into my inbox from Happify, and it couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. It neatly outlines how many of us don’t take enough time to nurture our hobbies or give ourselves quality down-time.

Me time can be by yourself or  it can be with others. Relaxing with your family or going on a walk with a friend can give you a sense of calm and focus much like a yoga class can.

Me time helps us unwind, improves our concentration, makes us more productive, contributes to a good work-life balance and give us the head space to solve problems. It can also give us a chance for self-discovery and enhance our relationships.

photo (3)Since my daughter’s second birthday in April (and with her finally starting to sleep better) I feel like I can start to create a bit more time for me. I am now able to see past the immediate demands of a toddler, my business to do list plus jobs at home and on our allotment, and I’ve started taking some time back for myself.

I made a commitment to doing yoga every day – even if it’s just 15 minutes while Peppa Pig is on – and taking 20 minutes in the bath to read a book.

And on 22 May I was lucky enough to get tickets to take my Dad to the Chelsea Flower Show in London. It was a whole day out without the little one. The show was really inspiring in terms of garden and planting inspiration, but also meeting the growers who are so passionate about their businesses and produce the highest quality blooms and plants.

As parents, its easy to put our own needs at the back of the queue and find ourselves running on empty, so here are a few ideas to get you going on creating pockets of time for you:

  • get up 15 minutes earlier to do something for you
  • close your office door when you need to concentrate
  • unplug yourself from gadgets and being online for at least an hour a day
  • take your lunch break in the park
  • make a date with yourself one night a week
  • turn the TV off and read that book you’ve been meaning to for ages
  • remind yourself that most of the time ‘good’ is good enough
  • join that exercise class that you’ve been taking about
  • go for a run
  • book a day out to enjoy a hobby.

And remember, it’s about the quality of the time, not quantity.

If you have ways that you create ‘me time’ for yourself, please share them below in the comments.

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If you have tried all this before and need a helping hand to get clear and focused to make some of these changes, then why not give me a call and book a free discovery session to find out how my coaching programmes can help you get back on track.

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