Does it surprise you when someone says that me-time is good for your relationship? Studies at University of Michigan have found that the lack of privacy has been a significant cause of unhappy marriages.
There is a difference between spending time alone and quality me-time. The former could involve you checking Facebook mindlessly while waiting for your partner in a cafe. The latter could, however, mean you’d be unwinding, doing some deep thinking and rediscovering yourself. It sounds good, doesn’t it? But what if you find it difficult to find the space for yourself? Here are some tips to give you more time to recharge and thrive.
1. Wake up earlier than the rest of your family
It is not easy to do, but will be well worth a try.
2. Watch a TV show alone
Just you and the remote control, no-one else commenting on the plot or asking you to rewind a joke three times.
3. Unplug your gadget
Turn your phone off and put your tablet on do-not-disturb mode to get away from the temptation to check Twitter every ten minutes.
4. Cancel out distractions at work
Close your office door now and then. If you don’t have one, sound-cancelling headphones can also do the trick.
5. Go for a short walk during breaks
Pack your lunch box and find a bench in a nearby park to enjoy it, or simply walk around the block on your 10-minute break. You can stretch your legs and reboot your brain at the same time.
6. Ignore incoming messages for an hour
This might be ill-adviced if you are a doctor or a firefighter. Otherwise, most messages can wait for an hour. Close Gmail and Slack so you can focus on the current task, and you’ll find yourself more productive.
Featured photo credit: Woman Gracefully Falling & Jumping Of Tree In Field/Ed Gregory via stokpic.com
