I am a chronic planner. My notes app is filled with old daily schedules, where every minute from the moment I frantically stop my alarm till my head hits the pillow once again is structured and planned. For me, these schedules provide me with comfort and make me confident that I can accomplish everything I hope to do that day. But there is something wrong with each and every one of them. They lack one essential component: “me time.”
My schedules are all missing unstructured time, and it’s time for me to start incorporating “me time” in my daily agendas. As I make my schedule every night before I finally get to recharge my battery for the day ahead, I think of everything I need to do and consider what else I can squeeze in. I find this process to be extremely therapeutic, as it stops my mind from spinning. It serves as my own version of journaling. This process doesn’t, however, take into account my mental well-being. I write these schedules without even acknowledging the thought of “me time.” However, recently, I have started to change. I have started scheduling time for myself in my daily routines. At first, I hesitated to incorporate this into my routine. I felt guilty. There was so much to do, how could I justify wasting even a minute? “Me time” is not a waste, though; rather, it is fuel for the rest of the day ahead. This is the time where I force myself to do whatever feels right in that moment, whether that be watching an episode of a TV show, listening to a podcast, or taking a walk if the weather feels nice. Incorporating this time into my day has surprisingly led me to experience more gratitude. I find myself in a better mood after taking even just a half an hour to recharge. My outlook on life is better, I feel refreshed, and I am prepared to take on any challenges the day may throw at me. Taking some downtime in the middle of the day not only has increased my mood but my productivity as well. I feel more compassionate towards others, more grounded, and have felt less burnt out. I dread uneventful meetings, schoolwork or classes far less than when I have rushed myself from one place to the next.
I encourage you to implement “me time” in your schedule this week. You can pencil it into your daily agenda if you lean towards being more Type A such as myself, or you can just remind yourself that it is okay to take time for yourself in the middle of the day when you are feeling run-down or overwhelmed. During this time, do something that brings you joy in that moment. Don’t schedule anything in advance. Writing “watch the newest episode of the series” or “finish a chapter from my book” defeats the purpose. Do whatever sounds appealing in that exact moment. Taking this leisurely time for yourself is not selfish. We all deserve to be more relaxed, refreshed and productive. So give yourself permission. Not just to rest but to exist without productivity clouding your thoughts. You are allowed to just be.