The Top 5 Things That Get in the Way of “Me Time”
July 11, 2009 by Emily Hill · 5 Comments
…And How to Deal With Them
When it comes to taking time for ourselves, we women often find we’re fighting an uphill battle. We may be fabulous multitaskers, but all those “multitasks” tend to dash any hopes we have of getting away…figuratively or literally. Instead we plug along, accomplishing much yet losing ourselves along the way.
Just what is it that keeps us from the all-important “me time?” (If you haven’t yet realized how important this time is you definitely need to read my previous post, “Making ‘You’ Your Number One Priority.”) I’ve come up with what I believe are the top five things that keep YOU from being your number one priority. And because I’m all about helping my fellow women, I’ve included suggestions for how to deal with each item on the list. Keep in mind they’re only suggestions. You need to do what works best for you; just promise me you’ll do it!
The Top 5 Things That Get in the Way of “Me Time”
(in no particular order)
1. Sleep: If we didn’t have to sleep we’d have so much more time for manis and pedis. Instead of sleeping, guzzle a fully loaded energy drink, down an entire package of Oreos, and run five miles to get those endorphins going!
2. Significant others: I swear they demand more attention than kids! I often hear, “Feels so great to be at the bottom of your to-do list.” Whatever! Buy a Costco-size bag of chips and jar of salsa, turn on ESPN (or Food Network or Spike TV, whatever floats his boat) and throw him the latest Netflix release.
3. Children: Why is it the minute you sit down, pick up the phone, or disappear to the bathroom your toddler needs a diaper change, glass of juice and their favorite movie–all at once? Buy one of those hats that dispense beer but instead fill it with cans of apple juice. Sit her on the toilet (it’s never to early to potty train), place the hat on her head and roll the TV and DVD player into the bathroom. Talk about multitasking!
4. House cleaning & laundry: It never fails–as soon as the floor is mopped someone dumps the entire box of Cream of Wheat all over it (true story). As soon as the laundry is done the basket is full. Think how many books we could read if we did these things and they stayed done! Send the kids outside to play the minute they wake up and don’t let them in until it’s bedtime; they will quickly learn to live off the land. And allow them only one outfit per week. That ought to cut down on those loads of laundry!
5. Work: Whether you work part time, full time, out of the home or in, work is a big thing that can get in the way of “me time.” You can try and schedule your time and prioritize, but how fun is that? I say quit your job, move somewhere tropical and take up basket weaving. Nothing rejuvenates like a white sand beach and the sound of the ocean waves.
Sometimes the biggest thing that keeps you from enjoying “me time” is YOU. The solution for that? Realizing you deserve to put yourself first once in a while. Stop multitasking for one minute–okay, more like 30 minutes–and focus on YOU before you get lost amidst all those tasks. When all else fails, lock yourself in the bathroom with your iPod, a magazine and a box of chocolates. Works every time.
Gal to Gal Foundation: Design & Donate
July 10, 2009 by Emily Hill · 1 Comment
I honestly believe the companies that give back to the community, whether through monetary donations, product, or time, are the ones that are most successful–and I’m not just talking about the bottom line. I find it much easier to spend money when I know some of that money is supporting a worthy cause. Take that worthy cause, add a really fun site, and throw in a fab line of personalized products and you now have the recipe for a perfectly “sweet” company Design-her Gals.
Design-her Gals is a site where you can create a “gal” who looks just like you (or in some cases just like you’d like to look!). Choose her eye and hair color, hair style, outfit, and accessories (wish I owned those shoes in real life!). You can then put your gal on a variety of products including business cards, notepads, to-do lists, luggage tags, and water bottles. But as fun as the designing is, the donating is even better because a percentage of all sales goes to the Gal to Gal Foundation.
The Gal to Gal Foundation was started by Jeanne Fitzmaurice, Design-her Gals’ Go-to Gal (i.e. owner). The foundation’s purpose is to help grant wishes and provide other important benefits for Stage IV breast cancer patients. The inspiration for G2G came when Jeanne learned through a friend’s experience with Stage IV breast cancer just how scarce funds are for those in this critical stage, a stage when health insurance benefits may be reduced or canceled and hospice care hard to find. “We want all Stage 4 patients to make the journey to their next destination with as much style and grace as they’ve shown traveling through this one.”
In October of last year Design-her Gals and FranklinCovey launched a collection of new products dedicated to help raise funds for the Gal to Gal Foundation. You can now carry your super cool Design-her Gals memo paper, calling cards, and perpetual calendar in a one-of-a-kind, super chic tote! Who knew you were choosing to make a difference to women with breast cancer while choosing which avatar to put on your coffee mug? Design-her Gals gives you a way to creatively express yourself and in turn you’ll be giving to the Gal to Gal Foundation. Design and donate, baby. Design and donate.
Making “You” Your Number One Priority!
July 8, 2009 by Emily Hill · 1 Comment
If I asked how many of you believe taking time for yourself is important, I’m pretty sure every woman reading this post would raise her hand. But if I asked how many of you actually find the time—and then take it—I’m sure many of your hands would remain sadly, dejectedly in your lap.
Why is it so many women know they desperately need “me time” yet so few actually make the time for it? For one, many of us have way too much going on in our busy lives. From children to businesses to laundry to volunteer work, who has time to shower and sleep let alone read a book or spend an hour at the salon? And that’s where I think the problem lies. Are you too busy adding things to your to-do list that you overlook the one person your family, co-workers, friends rely on to make sure those to-dos get done—YOU?
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying it isn’t important to forget yourself and serve others, but you can’t serve others very well if you have nothing left to give because you’re tired, stressed, and on the verge of going postal if one more person asks you to do one more thing. Remember the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” It totally applies to the subject of taking time for yourself. A 15-minute walk, a 30-minute Starbuck’s run with a girlfriend, or a 60-minute massage will prevent you from going insane in a world that is constantly demanding more of your time, energy, and talents.
I find—and my husband is now a firm believer—that I am a much better wife, mother, and friend when I can sweat out my stress at the gym for an hour or participate in some “retail therapy” with a couple girlfriends. I return rejuvenated and recharged and HAPPY. That last part is the most important because when I’m happy, EVERYONE is happy. Trite but oh, so true!
Whether you have to schedule a pedi on the family calendar with permanent marker or find it easier to leave the house last minute for a walk around the neighborhood with your BFF, make sure that to-do list has “me time” on it, preferably near the top. Hot stone massage at the local spa? $65. Avoiding a straightjacket and padded room? Priceless.
Image by Dennis Wong, shared via Flickr.
