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By Corey Whelan,
The Healthy
You don't need to hit a spa, library, or gym to recharge, you can practice self-care right in your own home. Here's how to sneak in me time.
How to create me time
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Creating space for some dedicated “me time” is important—especially given
the coronavirus pandemic. Although it’s not possible to go to the spa,
library, or gym right now, that doesn’t mean you should ditch time for
yourself. In fact, “me time” could be hiding in plain sight. Here’s how to
sneak in few brief but meaningful moments.
Start your day with gratitude
“My whole day is about hitting the ground running, so when my alarm goes off in the a.m., I do just the opposite,” says Marni Aspen, a public relations intern. “While I’m still in bed, I get into child’s pose. I then do a series of cat-cow poses, and end with child’s pose again. While I’m going through these good-for-my-body yoga moves, I’m giving thanks for what I have and asking for strength to get through my day. The whole production takes less than two minutes, but centers me like nothing else.” Aspen’s mere minutes of me time are probably doing more to sustain her mind, body, and soul, than she realizes. The benefits of gratitude include elevated energy levels, increased feelings of self-esteem, heightened intelligence, and a fortified immune system.Sneak in some me-centric shopping
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Give yourself a grown-up time out
“Your brain clutters up with ideas, thoughts, and emotions, much like your catch-all, messy kitchen junk drawer does. Me time helps clean it all out,” says psychologist and author, Leah Klungness, PhD. Klungness, a parenting expert, recommends prioritizing me time, even if you have kids underfoot who need, need, need. “Kids can learn to respect me-time rules. Setting a timer often helps,” she suggests. You might say, “I’m going to drink coffee and read the newspaper for five minutes, and then I will be available to play with you.” Setting a time limit on me time establishes a concrete beginning and end that will keep children from becoming anxious, and also teaches them about healthy boundaries in a way that they understand and respect.Turn workout time into me time
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Make every breath count
We all have to wait in line or on hold sometimes. Instead of getting antsy, impatient, or relentlessly checking your phone over and over, use that time as me time. “Wherever you are, consciously inhale, and exhale, correctly, through your diaphragm,” advises life coach Avalaura Gaither Beharry. “You may not have time for a 20-minute meditation, but you can take a deep breath sitting in your chair at work, or waiting for the bus, you name it. Deep breathing calms you down, gives you energy, and helps you shift into a peaceful state of mind.”Hit the bathroom
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Is there a mom alive who has ever been allowed to use the bathroom without her
kids talking to her from the other side of the door? Probably not, at least
according to Di Palma. Even so, bathroom time can become me time, if you
establish a few rules. “The bathroom can be your sanctuary,” suggests Gaither
Beharry. “It’s a natural boundary that says you are off limits to the rest of
the world. Just make sure to occupy your kids with an activity while you’re
out of pocket. Lock the door, read a book or magazine, take a bath, and get a
quick, me-time respite.”
Take a brain-boosting “vacation”
“Whenever you find yourself having to wait for something and getting irritated, like standing on a long grocery line or sitting in a traffic jam, use that time for stealthy self-care,” suggests Tara Cousineau, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of the forthcoming book, The Kindness Cure. “A great way to do that is by listening to an inspirational podcast or captivating audiobook that takes your mind away from the daily annoyances you have little control over. Not only will this well-spent me-time help you to relax,” Dr. Cousinea adds, “but you may also learn something new.”Go climb a tree
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“We built my son’s treehouse so that I could see into it from my upstairs
windows. Now that he’s older, he doesn’t use it anymore, but unbeknown to him,
I do!” explains mom Letti McPherson. “It’s become my secret hideaway when I
need a few minutes of me time. Being able to peek through the curtains at
what’s going on just a few feet away makes me feel connected to my son, but
there’s enough distance to afford me some real privacy and a sense of
solitude. If he climbed up that tree now, he’d be astonished to see a yoga
mat, fashion magazines, and half-finished needlepoint pillow!” adds McPherson,
who clues her husband into her subterfuge plans as an emergency backup. No
treehouse to occupy? Try the porch, the attic, or if you can leave the house,
a secluded park bench.
Enlist a positivity pal
Sneaking in me time may take a collaborative-minded pal. “Enlist a friend, family member, or coworker as a self-care buddy, or positivity pal,” suggests Dr. Cousineau. “We tend to follow through on things more often when we’re accountable to someone else.” Try establishing a me-time plan each week or each day, and cluing in your positivity pal on your intentions. Just make sure you choose someone who not only has your best interests at heart, but who is willing to nag you a little!See more at The Healthy
