🎨 Healthy Selfishness: Me, Myself, and I

At a glance:

• Find the balance with "Healthy Selfishness: Me, Myself, and I."
• Learn to prioritize 'me' time amidst life's busyness with practical strategies.
• Ready for a happier, more focused life?
• Discover how scheduling and simple changes can transform your daily routine.

We live in an incredibly busy world today. With so much to do and explore, we often overcommit, piling too much onto our plates: work, family, exercise, dates, friends, school, house chores, shopping—the list seems endless. Amidst this whirlwind, it's all too easy to forget about ourselves.

When was the last time you truly had quality 'me' time? Do you schedule it, and if so, do you actually stick to your plans? Or does something 'more important' always seem to come up?

If any of the above resonates with you, keep reading to discover my strategies for ensuring I get quality 'me' time on a regular basis.

Understanding the Importance of 'Me' Time

The first step is simple—schedule it. What isn't in your calendar likely won't happen, applying the principle that if it's important, it should be planned.

Here are 5 ideas that you can put in place today to start enjoying your quality time:

#1 Morning Journaling and Self-Gratitude

Start small with a simple daily routine: spend 10 minutes each morning, while having coffee or tea, to write in your journal. Mention what you are grateful for and compliment yourself.

Practical tip: Don't feel like writing? Use a priming exercise and visualize your perfect life, your goals, your success. Here is Dickie Bush's approach to Tony Robbins' priming exercise that I found very interesting:

Start by visualizing 3 things you are grateful for with the following lens:

• Something you have now that you would have begged to have had years ago.
• Think of something you possess today you would beg to have back in 50 years.
• Something you have now that you would beg to have back if you were sick or injured.

#2 Weekly Self-Reflection and Planning

Each Sunday, sit down and reflect on your week. Personal, private, successes, failures. Make sure you give yourself feedback and implement it.

Change things that didn’t work, maximize positivity, and plan the following week.

Do it regularly, and you will see the benefits of this exercise. Your life will be healthier, happier, and focused on things that matter the most.

#3 Monthly ME Day

Mark one day each month in the calendar as a ME day - plan this in advance. This should be a day for you. When you do things you love and enjoy. Get a massage, go for a long walk, stay at home and read books, have a home spa… anything that will make you relax and give you time by yourself. Use this day to reflect on the month and your annual progress. Think about your needs and make changes to the plan if needed. A ME day should help you to recharge your batteries, reflect, or come back on track if, for some reason, you feel lost.

#4 Annual Solo Trip

I must admit I was inspired by this great idea from Amanda Goetz (make sure you follow Amanda and join her Life’s a Game newsletter).

I planned my solo trip for April 2024. A weekend for myself. I’m going to use it to reflect on my annual goals after the first quarter and make sure I stay on track.

#5 Personal Development Plan

This is a big one but extremely important. All those small, regular habits should focus on progressing your personal development. Explore your strengths, think about who you want to become, and plan appropriately.

Quality ME time needs to be supported by a plan for yourself that adds up to the vision of your perfect life.

Don’t waste another day; start crafting your plan and make sure you schedule time for yourself to do so.

"I don’t have time for ME time" = Nonsense

I can imagine most of us thinking… How am I supposed to find so much time for myself? Simple - schedule it and make it non-negotiable.

Here are 5 life hacks that will save you time:

#1 Plan Things and Schedule in Your Calendar!

Remember - what’s not in your calendar does not happen. Block time and make it non-negotiable. Prioritize time for yourself, and this will benefit other areas of your life.

#2 Organize Your Space to Save Time

Wardrobe, kitchen, bathroom - these rooms just steal our time when we look for things that constantly get lost. Why waste time searching? Why not declutter and reorganize your space to streamline your life? Make it simple to find things. Don’t overcomplicate; just place key things in a reachable space.

#3 It’s OK to Say ‘No’ to People

Don’t accept all offers, don’t accept all invitations, don’t try to help everyone at your own expense. Prioritize yourself. If you have space, invest it in things you believe will make you happier.

#4 Audit Your Environment

Make sure you spend time with people who empower you. Distance yourself from energy vampires and don’t waste your time on people that don’t bring anything positive into your life. It’s your life and your choice. Make the right one.

#5 Don’t Have 10 Minutes in the Morning?

Get up 10 minutes earlier. Not easy, but simple, and it always works. You gain 10 minutes in the morning for yourself.

Check my LinkedIn post for 10 work hacks that saved me 2 hours a day >>> LINK.

Still having issues with scheduling quality ME time? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and let’s crack it together!

Your part:

Plan your ME time and make sure you stick to your decisions for at least a month. Then reflect on the results. Step by step.

• Tomorrow Morning: Grab a notebook and pen. Before the day’s rush, write down three things you’re grateful for—a small step that can lead to big changes.
• Next Sunday, take 30 minutes to reflect on your week and set goals for the next. Identify one thing that you would like to change and implement it.
• This month, choose a day for your ME day. Mark it in your calendar as non-negotiable. Whether it's a spa day at home or a quiet day with a book, make it a day that will refresh you.
• Take a calendar, plan your solo trip - pick a dream destination and mark the dates on your calendar today.
• Identify one skill or area for personal growth and select a resource to help you improve it. Start this week and share your journey or progress to motivate others.

You don’t have time?

• Plan tomorrow today, including a non-negotiable 30-minute block for yourself.
• Declutter one area this week and observe the impact on your productivity.
• Say no to one request this week to prioritize your needs, and notice how it feels.
• Assess the five people you spend the most time with and decide if changes are needed.
• Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier for a week and use that time for something just for you.

Closing Remarks

In embracing healthy selfishness, you’re not neglecting others but ensuring you're at your best for them and, more importantly, for yourself. It's about recognizing that caring for yourself enables you to live more fully, love more deeply, and share your best self with the world. Start with one small step today, and watch how it transforms not just moments of your day, but the very quality of your life. Remember, it's not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It's necessary.

We all need to be selfish sometimes. As Mandy Hale said, “It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.”