Question: Are you a people pleaser? Do you feel like you’re always going and doing with very little time for yourself? That pretty much sums me up for the last 27 years. And it took this move to South Carolina and becoming completely unsettled for me to realize I needed to make some changes. I realized that even though I was working from home, and doing pretty much what I wanted, I wasn’t doing much for myself. Does that make sense? So today’s post is all about the importance of self care and daily (yep, that’s right, DAILY) “me time.”
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Why is “Me Time” So Important?
There are honestly so many reasons that daily “me time” is important. But the number one reason, in my opinion, is because you can’t give back if you are running on empty. This realization has slapped me in the face recently, and it was a much needed wake up call. I found myself feeling burnt out on blogging, cooking, cleaning, and pretty much everything else, but I couldn’t figure out why. Then I realized it was because when I was doing those things, I was always thinking about doing something else “more fun.” I found myself wishing I was literally anywhere else.
Why? Because all I was letting myself focus on was work and the fact that I’m confined to this little apartment for the next 4 months. I wasn’t giving myself any actual free time or time to do something I wanted to do because I felt guilty if I did. A lot of times, working from home you feel some amount of guilt and/or pressure to work harder and do more because you have to make money or you have to prove that you deserve to be working from home. It’s a weird thing. So all of that to say, if you want to be productive and be your best and give back, you have to invest in yourself first.
What Does Daily “Me Time” Look Like?
I think it’s definitely different for everyone, but for me, it just means doing one thing everyday that makes me happy, or one thing that I really want to do. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy. Take 30 minutes – an hour out of your day whenever fits your schedule best and treat yourself. You can:
- Read a book
- Watch your favorite tv show
- Leave the house/office and go grab lunch or coffee
- Take a bath
- Give yourself a facial
- Do your nails/get them done with a friend
- Online (window) shop
- Wake up 30 minutes early and read a devotional
- Go for a walk
- Work out (if you enjoy it)
If you’re in the middle of working and you can’t focus or you feel overwhelmed, just stop and take a minute. When you’re at home, stop what you’re doing and take 30 minutes to treat yourself. If you’re at an office, get up and walk around for a few minutes. I promise if you let yourself step away from whatever you’re struggling to focus on, you’ll be more productive and relaxed when you return to it. Another way to mix things up if you work from home, is to go work at a coffee shop a couple of days a week. There’s nothing better than a change of scenery sometimes.
About the Outfit
One of my favorite outfits for spring and summer is a comfy romper. Or “playsuit” as this one is called! It’s perfect for lounging around the house or wearing out and about. This cute little linen-like playsuit from Princess Polly has an elastic waist and two functional buttons that make it extra comfy and easy to get in and out of. I’m wearing size 4 and it fits perfectly. I’ve paired it with my new favorite Dr. Scholls sneakers and I love the casual vibe it gives off.
I hope you guys start taking time for yourselves and realizing how important it is. I think self care is something that hasn’t really been talked about until recently, and I’m so glad that it is finally being discussed. You should never feel guilty for taking time for YOU!
As always, thank you for stopping by and I hope you all have a great week!
xo
Hayley
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