Be yourself for yourself. Sounds great! Yet it may appear to be next to impossible to arrange a time for ourselves in a world that is constantly bustling with activity. There is a never-ending supply of excuses to put off “me” time until the next day, and the narrative does not change when the next day becomes the present. When it comes to practicing self-care and being the best version of yourself, understanding why, how, and when to plan time for yourself is the spark that lights the fire and gets the ball rolling. 

The Miracles of ‘Me’ Time

When developing one’s self-confidence, a lot of stress is placed on the significance of having a positive internal dialogue, but what about the adage that “actions speak louder than words”? The conscious decision to carve out time “only for me” conveys a constructive message to our inner selves through the medium of action. This action sends the statements, “I matter,” “I’m worth it,” and “I am a priority,” all at the same time. When we allow ourselves permission to have time for “me,” we offer ourselves the room to explore new interests, discover what truly brings us to life, and fall in love with a pastime.

Not only does taking care of ourselves improve our relationship with ourselves, but it also improves our relationship with others. It is simple to feel powerless in the face of life when our minds and bodies are constantly engaged in some activity. As a result, this contributes to the rapid shifts in mood that we experience. As a result, we are more prone to being frustrated while having less control over our responses. Time for ourselves consistently and uninterruptedly helps our overworked minds disengage and relax. When we do this, we release tension, which improves our quality of sleep, gives us greater control over our moods, boosts our patience level, and makes it easier for us to be present in the here and now. All these benefits help fill us up on the inside, and when we are at our most whole, we can better pour ourselves into the things most important to us, including the relationships in our lives. Time spent on “myself” is a magical reset button for us.

How to Plan ‘Me’ Time?

It is not only an additional commitment that we can cross off our list. Taking time for “me” is something that might help you feel recharged and restored. Simply deciding to utilise the time we already have in a somewhat more thoughtful manner is all that is required. There is no right way to spend one’s “me time” or schedule it, but some tricks can help any schedule feel more balanced.

First things first, get comfortable with the word “no.” It is in our nature to be social and to respond positively to almost every opportunity that presents itself; however, this often results in an overbooked schedule. When we have too many obligations, we cannot provide our full attention to the people or the activities we are currently participating in. Therefore, we are better able to reclaim the equilibrium in our lives that we need when we learn to say no.

To get a feel for the big picture, look at our calendar. A comprehensive view of our plan will assist us in determining when it is appropriate to decline an invitation. First, include every commitment you have for the month in each week’s section – work, extracurricular activities for the children, grocery shopping days, etc. Next, select and add in “blocks,” sometimes known as a minimum of two evenings during the week in which there are no plans after 6:00 p.m., in addition to one weekend day or night block. Then, you should make every effort to fit the “opportunities” that arise outside of these into your calendar while also being sure to politely decline anything that might interfere with the blocks of time you have selected. Last but not least, schedule some time for yourself within the predetermined intervals; whether it’s twenty minutes or three hours, you’ll be grateful for it afterward. If our schedule is always organized in this manner, there is a good chance that we will have a balanced plan throughout the entirety of the month.

Things to Keep in Mind

We should never make ourselves feel bad for prioritising “me” time and arranging it. On the contrary, taking good care of oneself helps us prepare for the later stages of life. Time spent on “myself” is not a frivolous way to kill time; instead, it is essential to our mental and physical well-being.

Taking time for oneself can be accomplished in various ways and take multiple periods. For instance, either we get up an extra twenty minutes before the rest of our household, or we decide to go out and have some fun. Either way, today is going to be an exciting day. So make sure you are selecting yourself regardless of what you decide to do!

Here is a short list of recommendations to help discover more time to self.

1. Read a few pages—or the entire book—at a nearby coffee shop, or get a coffee to go and read in a park under a shady tree.
2. Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure. 
3. Put away your phone and other technology for a day.
4. Try out a brand-new painting or training, or workout class. 
5. Binge-watch anything on an OTT platform and unwind on your own
6. Restore a unique piece of furniture.
7. Relax. Just simple.
8. Take a stroll.

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