“Me time” for more healthy living

September 19th, 2006

Like many others, I have many commitments which often seem to collide and conflict. I guess this is part and of parcel of being a parent. We are conditioned to put our children first and to look after their needs before ours.

This must be the right approach, mustn’t it?

Well actually it seems that so called “Me time” is an important part of our lives that is easy to ignore as we rush of to our next commitment. “Me time” is time in which we can focus on what we want to do, temporarily stepping off the treadmill of our busy lives and chilling out for a while.

A leading American cardiologist believes that life without sufficient “me time” can cause all sorts of stress related conditions such as elevated blood pressure, heart disease and even diabetes. These sound like stress related disorders initiated by continually living a pressurized life style.

It seems that “me time” can be anything that we find enjoyable and relaxing, anything that takes our minds out of gear for a while and lets us gather our thoughts and de-stress. Personally I find going to the gym on most weekdays is a perfect “me time” activity. Doing something physical is very different from my time working at my computer and its pleasing how more focussed and clear thinking I can be after a session working out.

Other people can spend their valuable “me time” in different ways. My wife, for example, relaxes watching soaps on TV for about an hour after the traumas of putting our two tired children to bed. Personally I find these programmes mind numbing, but maybe they allow her to gather her thoughts and just chill out for a while.

This is the point though. “Me time” is personal and is what gives you, the individual, an enjoyable and beneficial break. We could all lead more healthy and fulfiling lives if we created a bit of space and time to be ourselves and put ourselves at the centre of our universes - just for a short while.

Entry Filed under: Healthy Lifestyles