Importance of ME time

Hi @Infinity 

What a good post!! Self-care is such an important part of our wellbeing and there are so many ways to do it. Like you said, going on walks is a great way to get some fresh air. It's getting sunnier where I live so definitely nice to go for a long walk in the sunshine.

I also like to engage in a lot of arts and crafts which can be completed in a couple hours. These are small fun activities which give a sense of completion because they don't take too long. they also allow me to be creative and play around with different materials and combinations.  I personally find them quite relaxing and can also open up my eyes to different skills I might enjoy. I got into pottery this way!!

I've also been doing some cooking lately which has been really fun! I have never seen myself as a great cook but recently I've been leaning new dishes that I've been dying to try and its been quite rewarding. I've found it quite relaxing to do, especially with some music or a podcast playing in the background.

I hope these help you in finding some good activities for some well deserved me time!!!

Hi @Infinity 

I love this topic! I also tend to forget about taking time out of my days to be with myself, especially when life gets super busy. Walks outside feel super good, and I love that you use that time to talk to yourself! I'll definitely try that on my next walk 😊

I recently started journalling. I feel like it has really helped me start to confront some uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that I often try to ignore, and I’ve noticed a big change in my mental health! I started acknowledging those moments in myself more and more, and found that journalling has become a comforting safe space for me to try figure out what I’m thinking/feeling and why. If there are too many thoughts going on in my head and I don’t know where to start, I love looking up some journal prompts (E.g. “What things brought you comfort today?”) and going from there.

I’ve also started to do some yoga recently! At first I was pretty skeptical about it, I didn’t think I’d have the patience, flexibility, etc. to do it well, but I’ve found that it really does help to calm my mind down, regulate my breathing, and soothe all the jitteriness happening in my body. You could try a quick yoga video on YouTube just on your bed to try it out and see how you feel!

If you have a little bit more time, some other ways to enjoy Me time could be trying out some new hobbies (E.g., baking, colouring), pampering yourself (E.g., skincare, doing a facemask, booking a massage), or just taking yourself out on a nice solo date (E.g., to the movies, a nice restaurant).

Me time is so so important, thanks for reminding us to take some me time in our lives!

Hey @Infinity 

Hope you are well. I 100% understand where you are coming from. From working late nights at nightclubs during my undergraduate, then moving away from my hometown to pursue postgraduate studies, I know what you are feeling all too well.

To be honest, I decided one day I would teach myself guitar and it has done wonders for me. Guitar forces you to be there in the moment, to be patient with yourself, and it requires a connection with the 'here and now'. I would really recommend it!

Regardless of what you do to spend time with yourself, any activity that you enjoy is a good activity! Best of luck 🙂

Hey @Infinity 

Welcome to our community! I love that you brought this topic up as I feel like it is not talked about enough and self care is so important to avoid burn out and allow self exploration. 

I love going on walks as well, but during my walks I also like to practice mindfulness by doing a walking meditation via the Smiling Mind app which is free and is great to learn more about mindfulness and incorporating it to everyday life. I also really enjoy art and being creative, if that is something you are interested in or like then I would suggest colouring in activities or paint by number which you can find at Kmart. 

If you enjoy writing you can journal or do some creative writing. If you are into reading that can be another really great way for some ‘me time’. 

I hope that gave you some ideas, and remember that different things work for different people so try a few of them and see which ones bring you the most joy and which ones you have a genuine interest for. 

I found this quiz on the Reach Out self care section about finding your ‘chill style’ and I think you might find it useful and fun and hopefully give you a bit more inspiration. 
https://au.reachout.com/mental-wellbeing/selfcare/whats-your-chill-style

I will also attach some links that you might find useful below ⬇️ 

🧠 Smiling Mind App: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app

🤸🏻‍♀️ Ways to chill for cheap RO article: https://au.reachout.com/mental-wellbeing/selfcare/ways-to-chill-for-cheap

I would love to know if you tried any of the ideas above or if you found the links useful. 🥰

Have fun and enjoy the process of self discovery. We are always here if you need any support with anything else 🤗

Take care of yourself and be safe 💜

Hi @Infinity and welcome to the RO community! 
It is so great that you see the importance of taking care of yourself even by taking time alone. Walking can be a great way to look after ourselves. You could also try writing down your thoughts, practicing mindfulness and meditation, participating in hobbies etc. Finding activities that you enjoy can be a positive form of me time and also benefit our mental health! 😊