Carving out time for yourself in your schedule each week is one of the most essential parts of taking care of yourself and the ones you love. You can’t be good for your people if you’re stretching yourself too thin. Are you tired of living your life feeling frazzled, anxious, and exhausted? Decide what lifestyle your after, and then make time to nourish yourself. Don’t be afraid to say no to things that will take you away from your priorities. Write down your to-do’s in your Simplified Planner, and take time each Sunday to make sure your days aren’t overbooked for the week. If they are, make some changes and carve out some “me time” to keep from wearing yourself too thin. This looks different for everyone, so this week, we asked the ladies in our Simplicity Series their best tip for carving out “me time” in their schedule. Here’s what they said:
“I’m not technically ‘in the office’ on Mondays. Mondays, for me, are reserved for household chores, meal planning and self-care. It usually ends up being more chores, less self-care, but I think that you have to set aside the time or plan it aha of time or else it simply won’t happen.” – Lacoya Heggie, wife, mama, and founder of Hello Love Events
“I ask my husband for help. He fixes the kids breakfast and packs their lunches so that I can have an hour of time in the mornings to read my Bible. We also tend to trade off personal time so that we both get the chance to connect with friends – he might go see a movie with a friend one evening and I might grab dinner or coffee with a friend the next week.” – Shay Cochrane, wife, mama to two sweet girls, and photographer extraordinaire
“I would say that the biggest ‘me time’ I include in my weekly schedule is the time I spend working out. Getting in good hard exercise is key for my sanity. So, I try to fit in 3 workouts per week, and I schedule them according to what time availability I have throughout the week.” – Beth Gebhard, wife, mama to 2, and co-founder of Choice Media and Communications
“This year, I committed to focusing on my health and wellness. So me time right now is at the gym. I go at the same time each day – the routine helps me stay on track.” – Kerry Gardner, wife, dog mama, and publicist extraordinaire
“I’ve learned so much from Emily, but one of the most important things I’ve learned is that you have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others well. Set aside time in your day to exercise, read or just watch your favorite show. Don’t get in the habit of ‘oh I’ll get to it eventually,’ make sure you are making time for you. And, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or worn out, be sure to take time as soon as possible to recharge your battery.” – Maggie Rheney, Samford grad, avid book reader, and associate publicist at Choice Media and Communications
“I know what days I am home during Amelia’s (my 2-year-old daughter) nap time, and that is the perfect time for me to have me time.” – Rachel Cruze, wife, mama, author, and finance guru
“I schedule it. I don’t schedule it if I am done with my work, if the kids are all perfect and the house is clean because the work is never done and the kids are never perfect and with two babies at home, the house is never clean. If I waited until everything else was done until I took care of myself, I would never take care of myself! So instead, I set a time and stick to it. For example, last week, I went to spin at 5:00 p.m. When I left work, my inbox was full and there were still 5,000 things to do, but I went anyway. I got my workout in and all of those things were still waiting on me the next day when I went in – but I was energized, fulfilled and ready to tackle them again.” – Christy Wright, wife, boy mama, speaker, and author of Business Boutique
“Self care is a priority for me. I run a business. I volunteer in our community. I have two young boys. I have a strong, loving marriage that I want to keep that way. I also like to have a social life with friends and family. It’s a lot. So taking out time for me is important to keep me going. And, I have a phenomenal partner in my husband who supports me so that it can happen regularly – not sporadically. One day a week I try to make sure I have down time to fill up my tank – read a book, go shopping, have a manicure, meet some friends for a glass of wine, whatever. I also read a devotional almost every morning (She Reads Truth and IF: Equip are two favorites). It helps start my day off on the right foot. Sometimes it’s in my car right before I walk into the office. Other days it’s at home with a cup of hot tea. Regardless, I try to make sure it’s quiet and peaceful so I can be in the right head space.” – Heather Adams, wife, mama, and co-founder of Choice Media and Communications
