9 Ways to Find and Prioritize Time For Yourself
Written by Leslie K. Hughes
Medically-reviewed by Dr. Monique White-Dominguez
Now that we’ve had a chance to establish a “new sense of norm” in our lives, now it’s time that we start making the best of it. You’ve likely returned to a busy work life where you may be working long hours at home, in the office, or maybe a hybrid of the two. You’re able to leave your house more often to explore the world that was shut down for nearly two years. Life feels normal, in a new way.
But what about you? How is your mental health? Sure, you’re busy again with things other than panic about the global pandemic, but are you prioritizing yourself? Are you making time to do things for yourself that make you feel good?
Unfortunately, many of us are guilty of not making “me” time a priority. Mental health is not always something we make time for until it’s too late. Another great way to keep your mental health and wellness in check is by regularly meeting with a therapist.
By not taking the time to connect with yourself, you are missing out on, arguably, the best thing you can do for yourself.
It can be tough to find that time when life is back to busy schedules and burnout, but carving out that time is not just doing good for you, it’s doing good for those around you. As you start to make more time for yourself, you’ll notice your work life is better, your relationships are better. That’s because you’re finding restorative time to help keep anxiety and stress levels low.
“Me” time looks different from one person to another. For one person it may be journaling. For another, it may be watching TV. There is no right or wrong way to spend time for yourself – just make sure you do it.
It can be difficult to prioritize this time when you have a busy life or when you haven’t made time for yourself a priority before. Here are some tips to help you.
Tips to Help You Prioritize “Me” Time
1. Establish boundaries with yourself
Figure out where in your life you can create more time for yourself. What are you spending time on that could be better spent for you? Once you figure that out, set those boundaries. If it means starting work 30 minutes earlier a day so you can leave 30 minutes earlier and enjoy that post-work time, then set that boundary.
2. Establish boundaries with others
If “me” time hasn’t been a regular part of your life, then your friends, family, roommates, etc. may not understand the sudden shift. Be sure to set boundaries with them when it’s “me” time. Let them know that if your door is closed, then please don’t bother you. Let them know that you won’t be available on your phone because you’re focusing on yourself.
3. Learn to say “no”
In order to say “yes” to yourself more, you will need to say “no” to others more than you’re likely used to. And that’s okay. If you opt out of a dinner with friends to have a night to yourself, simply explain that you need some solo time, and your friends should understand.
4. Stop thinking “me” time is selfish
A great way to think about your life is that you always want to ensure that your cup is full first. Once you’ve filled your cup up, then whatever pours over is what you can give to others. If you keep giving and giving from your cup, eventually it will become empty and you won’t have anything left to give yourself or others.
So, “me” time is far from selfish. It is taking time to care for yourself so that you have more to give to others.
5. Put it on your calendar
This one is for those of you who think that you don’t have time to take time for yourself. You can always make time for the things that are important to you.
It seems that many people think about “me” time as an afterthought or something they do when they have a few free moments. Instead, you need to schedule it on your calendar to make it a priority and something you prepare for rather than something that you use to fill in a blank in your calendar.
Start small with just a few minutes each day for yourself. Make it part of your morning or evening routine. From there, you can increase the time.
6. Turn off distractions
With modern technology and all the different ways people can contact you (phone, text message, email, Slack, Instagram, Facebook, etc.), it can be difficult to stay focused on “me” time. You may be reading something on your phone as part of your “me” time, and see an email or a text come through and get sidetracked.
That’s why we suggest turning your phone on Do Not Disturb mode and focusing all of your attention on you.
7. Find what makes you feel good
As we mentioned above, one person’s “me” time may look very different from the next person’s. That’s why it’s important to take some time to think about what will give you the recharge that you’re looking for. Don’t just spend your “me” time in a way that someone else tells you to. Ensure that the time for yourself is something that will leave you feeling refreshed.
This may take some trial and error at first and that’s great – you’re getting to know yourself deeper. Look at it almost like you’re dating yourself and seeing what you like and don’t like.
8. Sometimes, do nothing
One of the hardest things to do in modern-day times with all that we have right at our fingertips is to do nothing. And we mean literally nothing. No TV, no phone, no book – just sitting there and thinking about how you feel. You may get bored, but that’s the point. Sometimes it’s good to take a break from all the stimulation the world provides us. Slow down, and just connect with yourself.
9. Think about how you feel after
Once you’ve spent some “me” time, think about how it makes you feel. You may find that you feel calmer, more relaxed, more motivated, a number of different things.
Taking the time to note the benefits you reap from this time will ensure you keep making “me” time a priority.
