How to Practice Self-Care and Get More Me Time

Life seems to be flying by these days. We fill our daily lives with so many activities that we don’t have enough time to just relax and enjoy. We become expandable, giving to our jobs, to our families, to our pets, to the community, or any other number of activities we get involved with.

While some of these activities are not a choice, such as our families, there are other areas that we over-obligate ourselves to, leaving us feeling tired, both physically and emotionally. Even our families can exhaust us with their daily demands. Without good boundaries, we will continue to over-commit, but start to feel resentful of these demands. We will lose sight of ourselves or how to practice self-care. We will forget how to get “me time.”

Self-care is one of the most important, and basic, activities that one can do. It is vital to our self-esteem, our confidence, and it gives us the ability to focus on areas that are important to us.

Self-care is critical to our physical and emotional well-being. When we give more of ourself to others, it says that we are not as important; over time, it can lead to resentment and frustration. If not addressed, emotional problems can develop, such as anger, anxiety or depression. Health-related problems can also occur. If self-care is so critical, why is so difficult to do? Why are some people unable to say “no” and set good personal boundaries for themselves.

A lot depends on our emotional type and the coping skills that have been imprinted on us. “Emoters” are those who feel every emotion and have empathy for others; they are the helpers but often forget to help themselves. “Guiltriddens” want to make up for a wrong they believe has occurred, regardless if they caused the wrong or not, and will overcompensate. “Saviors” feel they need to save others from adverse situations; they want to prevent others from “walking through the trenches” and feel it is their obligation to do so. “Good Ones” have been put on that perch by others who feel they are the stars of the family which causes them to feel they must do more, be more which is exhausting. “Insecures” don’t highly value themselves, so it feels easier for them to focus on others to avoid facing, or placing importance, inside.

All of these emotional types have one thing in common: they expend and focus externally but cannot internally.

But, there is good news!

It is possible to work with your emotional type to be more effective in your life and to set boundaries that can release you from your guilt and set you free.

The following steps can help you get more “me time.”

1. Be aware of your feelings

Your frustrations, stresses, anger, sadness, etc.; self-awareness is the key to changing behaviors. Take up journaling to capture these emotions.

2. Challenge the thoughts you identify

Thoughts are not real but the perceptions we make them, either big or small and you can let them go.

3. Vow to resolve your past

If you feel guilt, review the incidents of an event to see if you really were responsible and if there was any other outcome possible.

4. Practice forgiveness

Which is not forgive and forget or saying it is “okay” with what another did; it is about releasing the negative feelings of what happened.

Now that you have started to resolve your past, it is now time to focus on your present, which will set the path for your future:

5. Make a list of the areas in your life on separate pieces of paper

Husband, kids, home, work, friends, church, etc. You can’t fix what you don’t know!

6. Prioritize them to levels of importance

See what is crucial and what can be let go; this is time to learn the art of delegation.

7. Make a list of all activities that you like

Which ones give you a sense of relaxation, peace or that energize you. Examples include: exercise, yoga, meditation, reading, prayer, singing, dancing, or gardening; perhaps you’ve wanted to learn photography or cooking.

8. Use the power of visualization

To help you develop the life you want; picture those five minutes to yourself, with the kids or husband entertaining themselves and enjoying it!

9. Learn to say “NO”

If this is difficult, think of the disservice you are doing to the other person by making it easy for them.

10. Practice, practice, practice

Changing behavior takes awareness, clarity, and consistency so keep at it. Hold on to the benefits you are receiving.

Conclusion

It may seem hard at first but the more you practice these steps, the easier it will be to living an emotionally free life – more aware, more secure, and more confident. Me time will become a habit, not a luxury!