When was the last time you had time to yourself? Like complete solitude where you could just focus on yourself for a little while? Now, before you get into the excuses…let me ask one more question. When was the last time YOU allowed yourself to have that time?
If you’ve had some “me time” recently, that is awesome! I am proud of you and I hope you can continue to carry that on. If you haven’t had some “me time” recently, why haven’t you allowed yourself to? I’m sure many of you will exclaim how overwhelming work is or how you can’t get any time to yourself because you’re a parent. Friends, you haven’t had any “me time” for one main reason – you haven’t made it a priority.
Having time for yourself should be a priority for everyone, just as self-care should be a priority for everyone. We need alone time to refresh ourselves and to stay in tune with ourselves. I used to never give myself rejuvenating alone time simply because I thought that I needed a ton of time to dedicate to it. That’s not the case at all. Any time that you can get to yourself can be “me time” if you intentionally choose to make it that.
Related reading: All About Making Self-Care A Priority
4 MAIN REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE “ME TIME” A PRIORITY:
1. People Are Draining // People are draining. Point blank. It’s simply a fact. If you spend all of your time with people, even really good friends, you’ll find yourself exhausted and in dire need of alone time. This is true even for extroverts. Both extroverts and introverts need time alone with themselves. When you spend time alone before investing time into others, you’ll find that the time you spend with others will be more appreciated and intentional.
2. To Clear Your Mind // Clutter is no good, especially when it comes to your mind. By spending time alone, you can more easily filter out any clutter that could be causing you stress. When you try to filter out the bad from the good when you’re in the presence of others, there’s more chaos and pressure, so you most likely won’t be able to give yourself the best clarity. Get alone with yourself and discover clarity.
3. To Exercise Thinking Deeply // When you’re surrounded by the thoughts and opinions of others, it can get tiring and can clog up your view of what your thoughts and opinions are. Thinking deeply is something that I think everyone should exercise because it helps you understand things more and it helps you to solve problems better when you need to.
4. To Find & Remember Your Own Voice // When you’re constantly taking in everything around you, your voice can get lost in the hustle and bustle. If you don’t prioritize “me time” in your life, it’ll be easier for you to forget about your voice, and you can grow unhappy. Without alone time, you may lose sight of what matters to you, both the big and small things. When “me time” is a priority in your life, you can find your voice and remember it. “Me time” is meant to recharge your true self, so that you can be the best version of yourself when you’re out in the world.
SOME REFRESHING ACTIVITIES TO DO BY YOURSELF:
- Take a nap.
- Go for a walk outside.
- Write down what you’re grateful for.
- Listen to your favorite band.
- Go for a long drive.
- Sit in silence for 10 minutes.
- Take a hot bath.
- Paint something, even if you don’t think you’re good at it.
- Read a book.
- Go to a coffee stop and people-watch.
- Set a spending limit and go shopping for a new outfit.
- Try a new workout.
- Go to bed early.
- Go to a matinee movie.
- Tour a museum.
- Go on a hike.
- Watch your favorite movie.
- Bake your favorite dessert.
- Create a list of fun life goals.
- Take on a home improvement project.
- Unplug from social media.
- Complete a random act of kindness.
- Order your favorite takeout food.
- Get a massage.
- Go thrifting.
You’d be surprised at how many things there are to do out there by yourself. Some are more typical than others, but they all can be refreshing in their way. “Me time” doesn’t have to be boring – you should never make it out to be a chore. Instead, “me time” should be something you look forward to, as you’re able to invest in yourself without any distractions. If having alone time isn’t a priority in your life right now, are you wanting and willing to make it one now?
What’s your favorite thing about “me time”? Is it the fact that you get some true alone time or is it the fact you can spend it on an activity you enjoy? If you’re just now making alone time a priority in your life, what’s your main reason for doing so? What are some of your favorite activities to do alone?
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