“me Time” What’s That?

You have your “me” time in the car.

• On average Americans work 40-60 hours a week
• Most families have both parents working full time jobs
• Single parents tend to have to work at least 2 jobs just to make ends meet.
• People will usually not do something new due to not having enough time
• People will tend to wait until “there is more time or more money in their pocket” before they change their circumstances
• Trying harder is often too hard for people
• Dreams tend to become “what if’s” when the person doesn’t have the support of friends and family
• 8 hrs of sleep is ideal to be healthy but on average people get 6-7hrs a night
• It is more expensive to eat out than it is to make your meals at home (or bring a homemade lunch)
• Even getting up 30 minutes earlier to work out or read your Bible is too hard for some people
• The TV and other devices tend to be babysitters to children when parents are overwhelmed

One the hardest things for people to do is take care of themselves. Don’t get me wrong, we do try. We sign up for the gym and when grocery shop we buy healthy foods. We make goals to get up earlier to have quiet time and go to bed earlier to get the right amount of sleep. We stick to our new ways of living for about a month or so and then convince ourselves that at this stage in our lives life is just too busy.

When it comes to doing self care it does take time and energy and yes even some work. The Bible says “…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1Cor. 6:19 and in Exodus 33:14 it says “…My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest”. Our bodies were made to work but they were also made to be a temple and to rest. When we burn our candles at both ends there is not much time to take care of ourselves and get the rest we need. So how do we find time to start taking care of ourselves? How do we make a plan and stick to it? For some it may mean calling up a friend and asking them to start this journey with you. For others it may mean actually scheduling out time slots in the calendar and then sticking to the schedule. In order to not set yourself up for failure do one thing at a time, and get good at that one thing before adding in something else. Don’t give up, do whatever it takes because you are worth it.

For me my day usually goes like this:

The alarm went off extremely early (at least in my mind) this morning. I had to get up a half hour earlier so that I could walk Jorj before I met up with my sister for a Zoom chat/Bible study. My day was going to be busy and the last few weeks I have been pulling 6 day work weeks (I am blessed with two jobs). I am not going to lie I was a bit tired and my brain was quickly coming up with at least 2-3 excuses as to why it would be better to just stay in bed and sleep for another 45mins. Routine won out though and I got up and got ready or my walk. Jorj was all to happy to get up stretch and make as much noise as possible as I quickly grabbed his harness and got us both out the door. My morning walks are always a blessing for me. It is quiet and is the coolest part of the day, Jorj turns on his nose and joyfully sniffs every bush and tree we pass by. Lately we have been going past fawns popping up their heads as we pass by, cats that do their best to hide in the grass and dogs that make sure to say hi. This particular day I had a Bible study with my sister for an hour in which we work through what we have read and then catch up with each other’s lives. This is an important part of keeping myself healthy and happy because after we finish up I feel like I can take on anything, and usually I have to. By this time the kids are up, the hubby has had his first cup of coffee and I am gearing up for my day with a 30 minute workout. Ok so I am gonna say this right now, I do get my “get up and go” from my morning cup of Spark and vitamins. My day “starts” after this with appointments throughtout the day and then coming home to my family and the activities around the house. My nightly routine usually stays the same with dinner at the same times an then reading or doing something with the family. I work at eating healthy but love to have sweets every once in a while. I work at being with my family more than with anyone else because they matter the most. I work on talking with God more because by peace and rest are found in him. I also work on having a routine but know that messing up the routine at times is needed.

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For me scheduling “me times” into my schedule is the only way I can make sure that those times happen. My day begins and ends with what my calendar says I should do, so I make sure to schedule it well. I have a good friend who seems to thrive on chaos in it’s simplest form. No real schedule for the day, she gets stuff done when it needs to get done but if someone starts talking with her she takes the time to talk and visit. Another friend likes schedules but says she doesn’t need them to be strict. In order for her to do “me time” she recruits a friend or family member to do stuff with her because that is how she found works for her. This is where some of the work of “self care” comes into play. Actually finding out what works for you. The next thing would be to figure out what “self care” means for you. Here are some ideas:

• Take a walk
• Read a book
• Start a reading plan that takes you through the Bible
• Join a Bible study
• Make it a priority to get 8 hrs of sleep
• Start eating more salads
• Start an exercise routine
• Call your mom
• Call your dad
• Write a letter to someone you haven’t talk to in a while
• Restart a hobby
• Start a new hobby
• Take a long bath
• Sit out on the deck
• Get in the hammock under the tree
• Bake something with your kids
• Volunteer somewhere
• Eat a Popsicle
• Take a nap
• Snuggle with your pet
• Snuggle with your hubby

The list can go on and on. The time is now to start taking care of yourself. There is no one else that will and you know yourself best. Waiting for a better time, means that time will never come. Life is meant for living not just going to work, eating, pooping, and sleeping. Take care of yourself, and find your joy. Until next time:

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

John Lubbock