I think this is something many of us struggle with. ‘Me’ time.

Being a working mum, a stay at home mum, keeping a home, working……we are all so busy fitting everyone and everything else in, there’s no time left for you at the end of the day. I hear this so often in messages and emails from people.

I think however it is so important to make that ‘me’ time happen. For me personally I think it makes me a better mum and a better wife. I feel it makes me feel happier in myself and more content. I work really long hours and mostly 7 days a week, but I try and make sure that I make time for me.

I have a few tips here that work for me that I would like to share with you today.

The first is:

Plan your ‘me’ time.

It sounds silly as many of us love our planners, but firstly, the time sat with my planner feels like ‘me’ time. Sat there with my pretty planner and my stationery. I love this time, but also as you are planning out your day, write down a slot when you get to do something that you want to do.

I recently gave myself the hour when my son goes to footy training once a week. My hubby takes him. I make sure that dinner is cleared away and the minute they leave, I’m pouring myself a glass of wine and that hour is mine. One of the things I love doing is writing our holiday reports. I keep a diary when we go away which is every couple of years and it takes me as much time almost in between to properly document the trip. I love doing it and I look reading back on them. That hour to me on a Monday is precious to me.

I also add things in to my daily schedule.

A walk is something else I try to do most days. I often go with hubby and little Poppy dog for a walk after dinner. Sometimes if I’m really busy it’s just a quick road walk, other times it’s maybe 3 miles and we go a little further. It feels so good to escape.

Out in the fresh air. Everything always feels much clearer when we are out walking. It’s good to chat together and just get out of the house. I love our walks.

I do tend to find that if I add something like a walk to my daily schedule, I’m more inclined  to do it too.

Try adding a bubble bath to your list or reading or anything else allowing you a little time out, even if it’s just 15 minutes.

Baking is something else that I love to do. I always feel like I’m doing something really positive when I bake. It’s something that we all enjoy in our home, freshly baked cake and cookies. Plus I feel good putting something homemade in the kids packed lunches, but it’s something I really enjoy doing too. I also find that when I bake, we tend to then spend time as a family with our freshly bakes treats and watch something on tv together like a comedy that we all enjoy.

Scrapbooking. Another love that many of us have.

I often get told, ”I don’t know where you find the time’. I make the time. I love to scrapbook. It’s something that’s really important to me. I want my family to be able to look back on all our stories. When I scrap, I get on with it. I’m not one to take hours to make one page. I can generally create one within 45mins-1 hour. I also usually have a page on the go, so I scrap a little and then come back to it later. I also allow myself 20 mins here and there.

I find by being quite organised in the home that this really helps.

For example I write a weekly menu.

As I write this, tomorrow is chilli. So I take the meat out of the freezer before bed and prep the chilli whilst the kids are having breakfast in the morning (meaning I’m spending time chatting with my teens in the morning and I’m utilsing the time well too) and the chilli then sits in the crock pot all day. This means come the afternoon, there’s no time wasting wondering what to do for dinner, no last minute rushing out to the grocery store and no time spent cooking as everything is more or less done. This also then gives my 30 mins or so to spend scrapbooking if I wish. It’s vital to me that meal times are well planned.

And if anything else……you can always stick the kettle on and make a brew. Grab a book or a mag or put on the tv for 15 mins and put your feet up.

Whatever your thing is, it’s important that you also make time for you.

I hope this helps and remember to add your time in to your planner this week. Even if it’s just the off 15 mins here and there.

You are worth it!!