How to Make Time for Me Time

I’m part of an online coaching group. One of the members, a high-level executive working mom, was struggling with finding time for herself. She said

"Over the last month, I've been swamped. I can't find time to read, exercise, or even meditate. If it's not the kids, it's something at work. I just can't find time for myself to practise self-care."

An overwhelming response followed. Several other executives commented to also struggle with creating ME time. Some offered advice on the best ways to create ME time.

Here are the six that stood out most to me.

How’s your morning like?

Does your morning start with emails and social media? Do you start by reacting to other people? Your kids, your employees, or your spouse?

If yes, then you need to change this.

Wake up one or two hours earlier than you usually do. Doing so allows you to create time for yourself.

Let’s say you wake up at 7 a.m. You check your email and social media until 7:15 a.m. You then start rushing around the house as you try to make breakfast and prepare the kids for school. After the kids leave for school, you’re off to work.

No time for yourself.

Now let’s say you wake up at 6 a.m.. Don’t touch your phone until 7 a.m.

Spend the extra one hour doing some light exercises, meditating, and planning your day.

Renowned author, Robin Sharma, calls this extra hour the HOLY HOUR.

He explains that you should spend the first twenty minutes of the day exercising. Then spend the next twenty minutes reviewing your goals and planning your day. Your final twenty minutes should be spent reading or listening to an audiobook to make sure your better than you were yesterday.

At 7 a.m., you can get back to your routine. Having had one hour to yourself. 

How often do you appreciate yourself?

Another creative way of finding time for YOURSELF is by scheduling a monthly treat where you appreciate your efforts for the month.

Schedule one weekend to spend on yourself. Use this time to reflect.

A monthly treat can be as simple as driving to a spot out of town, or booking a massage, and then treating yourself to a sumptuous meal.

You can also attend a seminar, or spiritual getaway one weekend a month to ensure you're always developing. I attend a group meditation once a month, and every once in a while, I take a trip out of town. 

What do you do during your commute?

Studies show that the average American spends 19 full workdays a year stuck in traffic. 

Why not use this time to improve yourself? 19 days’ all by yourself. What more could you ask for?

If you listen to music during your commute, change and start listening to audiobooks or educational shows. This way, you learn something new during your commute.

19 workdays equal to 134 hours. A college course is about 40 hours of lecture time. By switching how you spend your drive time, you get an equivalent of three college courses.

Do you need time to think and brainstorm before getting to work?

Why not walk to work?

By walking to work, you get to enjoy some silence away from the traffic hustle.

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey walks 5-miles to work three days a week. Dorsey uses this time to think and brainstorm about complex problems.

Walking to work also allows you to get in some exercise.

You kill two birds with one stone. You get time to brainstorm, and also exercise.

How much time do you spend on social media?

According to a 2019 study, internet users spend an average of 2 hours 22 minutes on social media every day.

Maybe you spend less time than this.

However, if you can’t find time for yourself, try quitting social media for 30 days.

Let’s say you spend an hour on social media. This means that you’ll have an extra 30 hours that month.

Whatever you choose to do with this time is up to you, but I'd recommend using 30 minutes for reading and the other 30 minutes with your family.

Sounds out of place, right?

You want to make time for yourself, and someone's telling you to spend time helping other people.

However, volunteering at a soup kitchen, a children’s charity, or a pet shelter can help you escape personal worries and work for several hours. Volunteering also enables you to become a better person, and you also learn new skills and meet new people as you volunteer.

Don’t complain that you don’t have time for YOURSELF.

Now you have six strategies to help you find time for ME time.

Which one will you implement in your life?