10 easy ways to add a little “me” time to your day

I was sitting across from my friend Amy yesterday afternoon, enjoying a particularly tasty chocolate brownie and tea when she asked me: when do you switch off? When do you take time for you?

I (defensively) replied I was doing that right now.

Wasn’t I? Taking an hour or so away from work and my family.

I must admit, she had me.

Despite the best of intentions I have not been as successful as I’d hoped in engineering more of a balance in my life. Work was still winning, family next and me a pitiful last place.

And it seems, according to a recent study by Galaxy Research for Proctor & Gamble, this me-time gig is something that most mums struggle to find for themselves.

Mothers average 4.6 hours a week to themselves, equivalent to 39 minutes a day.

Women aged 30-34 had least time to themselves – about 33 minutes a day.

Mothers spend two hours and 20 minutes a day solely on child care, outside of work and other household commitments.

87% felt isolated.

More than half felt guilty trying to balance work and family.

Pheww. It’s not just me. Maybe it’s you too?

Maybe you’d like a list of suggestions on how to steal yourself some me time. EVERY day. Would you like that?

Here’s a start … with 10 ideas from me …

1. Relish your time in the shower. Take that five minutes and breathe in the peace.

2. Make a daily tea appointment with yourself. Make it a ritual with a gorgeous pot and cup … and sit away from your desk.

3. Book in for a regular class or meet-up with a friend. And stick to it.

5. Take five minutes every night before bed to read something funny, inspiring or uplifting.

6. Light a vapouriser at any time of the day with an essential oil that peps you up … or calms your down. Whatever you need in that moment.

7. Go for a walk – even if it’s just around the block.

8. Create a playlist of tunes that make you smile. Lie down on your bed and listen (with noise reduction headphones on!).

9. Create a playlist of tunes that make you get your boogie on. Put them on the stereo real loud and start dancing. If you weren’t alone in the room at the start, guaranteed you will be in 5 minutes (or is that just me with teenagers?).

10. Text a girlfriend or several and organise to meet up for a drink, dinner or coffee. Girlfriend power = Me time on steroids. Yes, it does.

How do you nab yourself some me time? Help a sister or two out and leave your ideas below.