The Importance of "Me Time"

Is it just me or do you sometimes get so busy that you forget to schedule some "me time"? You have a million and one things to get done, and so the time you have for yourself is kind of non-existent?

While being busy can be a good (and sometimes inevitable) thing, it is so important to make sure that you take some time for yourself. You need to balance the craziness of life with some relaxation and enjoyment in order to continue to function as a happy human being. 

As quite the busy bee myself, I know that finding some time for "me" is not always easy. But I have come to learn that even if I just get one hour to myself before bed to relax, or read, or watch my favorite show, it makes all the difference. And it doesn't have to be a big production. If I ever find myself with a little bit of free time, I like to try and make the most of it by doing something that I love to do; something that I know will make me happy.

Reserving some time for yourself is so necessary. If all you do is go, go, go all the time, you start to get overworked and kind of miserable. "Me time" allows you to reflect on your life, be alone with your thoughts, do things that you enjoy doing, relax after a crazy week, etc. 

And you should not feel selfish about having some time for yourself. You work hard. You are so busy all the time. You deserve a little time to sit on the couch and read, or grab a cup of coffee and just enjoy it. You are not being selfish, and you are not "wasting time" on yourself. You are allowed and encouraged to save some time for you.

What do you like to do with your "me time"?

It's Much More Than That - Giving

Is it just me or is giving someone a gift one of the best things ever? There is just nothing like that feeling you get when you give someone a gift that you know they are going to love.

But what many people fail to realize is that giving is about so much more than gifts. According to the dictionary, to 'give' means to "freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone); hand over to." 

This dictionary definition does not specify exactly what is being transferred when you give something to someone. Sure, it can certainly be applied to gifts and other material items, and to give those things is not a bad thing. But giving is so much more than that. 

Thinking about this word, 'giving', got me to come up with a little list of things that a person could give to someone else. Included in this list are things that I think many people forget about all too often. However, I truly believe that all of the things mentioned below are things that should be given freely and generously.

Time - this is one of the best things that you could offer someone. Giving up your time to spend with someone else speaks way louder than any gift ever could.

Words of Encouragement - it could be as simple as "I just wanted to let you know that I am proud of you." Or even, "You will get through this." Giving little words of encouragement can completely turn someone's day around.

Words of Appreciation - similar to words of encouragement, words of appreciation can let someone know that you really care about them and are thankful for them. Example: "Thank you so much for always being there for me. I really value you as a friend."

The Benefit of the Doubt - this sounds a bit strange, but giving someone the benefit of the doubt means believing them when no one else does. It means offering forgiveness when they don't deserve it. And it is one of the best gifts that you could possibly give.

What does 'giving' mean to you?

You Will Never HAVE the Time!

Is it just me or do you ever feel like you don't have time for anything? Life keeps getting busier and busier and then one day you realize that you simply have no time to do anything that you want to do?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...You will never HAVE the time. 

Life is not going to magically stop being busy. Responsibilities will always be there. There will never be enough hours in the day, and you will always have an unfinished 'To Do' list waiting to be tended to. But does that mean that you should just give up all of the things that you love because you "have no time" for them? Absolutely not.

As hard as it may sometimes be, there comes a point when you have to MAKE time for the people, things, activities, that you love. If that means waking up extra early to squeeze in your favorite gym class, then so be it. If it means setting a reminder on your phone to text a loved one every single day, then make it happen. If it means occasionally rearranging your schedule, or scheduling things back to back with little to no breathing room, or even sacrificing something you really love for something or someone else that you also really love, then do that. 

I can guarantee you that it will be hard, but I can also guarantee you that it will be worth it. So stop waiting until you "have the time," because odds are you never will. If something means a lot to you, you will make the time for it. And you will be so glad that you did.  

What are some things you love that are worth making time for?