A few years ago, we began hearing about the necessity for moms to take their own version of a time-out now and then. For the past several decades, mothers have worked hard to maintain a balance between their home lives and their work lives. Recently, this balance got shaken up for many of us. The balance that had been so artfully created had to be redesigned to include 24/7 family time, homeschooling the kids, working from home, and navigating swiftly-changing societal norms. Did the recent changes obliterate the value of Me Time? Not in the least. In fact, this concept of self-care is more critical than ever and not only for moms but for dads, too.

Why Me Time is a Necessity

As much as we crave time away from our never-ending duties, most of us deny ourselves. Common excuses include lack of time. Common underlying fears include the idea that self-care and Me Time is selfish. Let’s put all of that aside to see the benefits that come from a little time away doing something only for oneself.

• Self-care is an act of self-love, and self-love is integral to our mental health. We cannot continually put ourselves on the back-burner and maintain a good mood. The more we give to others, the more we need to show ourselves some love.
• Taking Me Time teaches our children well. We are always trying to be good role models for our children, so we must consider what we are teaching them by refusing to take care of our own needs. When a child sees a parent act in ways that demonstrate the value of self-care, they are better equipped to become adults who do the same.
• Without Me Time, stress can pile up. We often behave as though we are wind-up dolls who can just keep going, except we never do the work of winding ourselves up well. That extra cup of coffee in the morning doesn’t count. Me Time includes things that renew the senses, revitalize energy, and reboot the brain.

Me Time Ideas

If you’ve held yourself back from Me Time, regardless of your reasons, you may feel stuck at the starting gate. Here are some simple ideas to get you started.

• Go to bed early. If you have a partner, you can take turns so you each get an hour or so of Me Time at least one day a week. Going to bed early doesn’t mean going to sleep unless that is what your mind and body say you need. The time you devote to this break could include a hot shower, a book, or your favorite show.
• Get into nature. Working out is one way to make the most of some Me Time, but that is accentuated by doing your workout in the great outdoors. Whether this includes a hike in the hills, walk on the beach or at a park or just around your neighborhood, or a swim doesn’t matter. Mother Nature always seeks to serve the body and mind.
• Get a beauty treatment! We have several simple treatments that give you time to relax and also give you a refreshed look to enjoy for weeks or months on end.

Being a parent or caregiver is hard work no matter how we look at it. We can both love this aspect of life and need a break from time to time. To learn more about our nonsurgical beauty treatments, call (408) 559-4700.