InTouch – Make Time for Yourself
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Can you believe it’s November? And if it seems like the year flew by, you know the pace won’t let up as we get into the crush of holidays.
The scramble for some precious time never ends. You work at the County, so I know your job is demanding. A lot of you have families: kids with their own packed schedules, aging parents that need your help. Some of you have both! You volunteer in the community, have endless projects around the house or a million other daily tasks.
Many of you have also taken part in any number of County-sponsored events, from the annual homeless count to various walks. Sometimes I’ve used this column to ask you to join in. My heartfelt thanks to all who have devoted yet more hours to these causes.
Now I’m asking for something different regarding your time. And I know it may be more easily said than done.
I’m hoping you can find a little time for yourself. Some “me time.”
That term rubs some people the wrong way. It sounds so selfish.
Well, if you get carried away it might be. But the “me time” I’m thinking of is essential to your overall well-being. Carving out some time for yourself helps you refresh and grow in a way that makes you more complete as a person.
When we can offer the people in our lives an energized, fulfilled version of ourselves, we’re giving them so much more. Your partner, your child, your co-worker, your customer – they all benefit when you can come to them renewed by time you give yourself.
So how do you do that? For some, it might mean being alone for a bit. For others, it will be some uninterrupted time with a friend or date night with your significant other. For me, it’s watching a sporting event or spending time walking along the beach.
Experts say the quality of your “me time” is more important than quantity. Those who felt they had a high quality of “me time,” not just more of it, had better work-life balance and well-being, and they experienced more engagement at work.
With that in mind, here are a few suggestions from several sources.
- Schedule your “me time.” Like so many things, if we don’t schedule it, we don’t get around to it. What sort of frequency or length is whatever works for you, but get it on the calendar!
- Unplug. We all get addicted to our devices. The stream of posts, mails, messages, whatever – it just never ends, and the perpetual nature can keep you on edge.
- “Satisfice.” That’s a mash-up of satisfy and sacrifice, and it means accepting that things may not always be perfect – especially when they’ll eat up all your free time.
- Take advantage of small windows of time. Give the news a rest and spend five minutes with your coffee just watching clouds or the world go by. It’s a chance to be alone with your own thoughts.
A very popular activity in our Employee Wellness Program has been the meditation sessions. If you’re at one of the locations we’re able to offer them, give it a try. Employees have told me the sessions are an ideal quiet center to a busy workday.
Those are just a few ideas. I’m hoping you’ll find a way to choose what’s right for you and have some time when “it’s all about you.”
Live Well is our vision for the region, but that vision only means something when we apply it at the individual level, too. Having “me time,” creating balance in your life, is fundamental to being healthy, safe and thriving.
The holidays are often filled with get-togethers, travel and preparations, so the next couple months it may be even harder to stake out time you need for yourself. But sneak it in where you can and maybe consider self-care as a resolution for next year – and beyond.
I’ll close with words that are often a casual substitute for “good-bye,” but in this case I really mean them: take care!
Last month's InTouch column: Our Election By the Numbers