Dating Yourself

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While working with someone in a productivity course, one student told me she was very stressed out and anxious. I asked her how much time she’s spending with herself, all alone, recharging. She said — very little. She said she felt sort of guilty about taking time for herself because that meant taking time away from her child and from her husband.

I said to her without feeding your soul — you can’t feed them, you can’t be fully present, you can’t be the best version of yourself if you neglect yourself. This is something that I learned on Oprah’s “Live Your Best Life” weekend and something that my mother always taught me. You need to be OK with yourself before you can help anybody else.

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Get Some “Me Time”

I spend a lot of time alone. I really do enjoy my own company.

Some of the things that I do include:

• Drinking tea (Green tea is my favorite but I love all kinds)
• Catching up on shows like Super Soul Sunday or Jane the Virgin (stuff my husband won’t watch with me)
• Reading magazines (my true guilty pleasure!)

I don’t get time to do those things during the week, so the weekends are when I really take my special time to do it. I feel so happy when I’m doing something just for me. So I encouraged my client to make an appointment with herself and do the same.

I told her the best thing to do is to treat your ‘me time’ appointment in the same way she would a doctor’s appointment, or lunch with a friend. Because you are just as important as anybody else!

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Seeing is Believing

So she tried it out. She made an appointment for one hour of ‘me time’ with herself on a Thursday after work. She had a lovely time reading a book that has been on her list for way too long and hanging out in the backyard.

Afterwards she told me she felt really refreshed and rejuvenated just from that experience. A little bit of ‘me time’ can go a long way!

Here’s some ideas of ways you can spend your ‘me time’:

• Read a book.
• Drive the scenic route home.
• Listen to music.
• Write in a journal.
• Go for a walk.
• Learn a new recipe.
• Make a scrapbook.
• Take a long bath.
• Ride the local bus all the way around town.
• Do some gardening.
• Paint a room in your house.
• Treat yourself to a cuisine your partner would never eat.
• See a movie.
• Get your nails done.
• Do yoga.

How do you spend your ‘me time’?

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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