Nourish Your Mood - The “Me’ Time Routine
We have talked about the ‘Me’ time to help enhance our overall emotional well-being in our blog titled “Ways to Manage Our Emotions”. What is “Me’ time really? It is doing what you enjoy or like on your own. It could be engaging in your hobby (gardening, photography, playing a musical instrument), drinking your favourite tea/coffee, eating the food you enjoy, watching a show, reading a book, or exercising. It can be anything so long as it is something you enjoy doing.
‘Me’ time helps to enhance our mood because our minds and/or physical selves are temporary removed from the things that trouble us or keep us constantly busy and tired. We feel more relaxed and calm when we are away to do the activities that bring us enjoyment. With a relaxed and recharged body and mind, we are better able to manage the matters that trouble or hassle us when we return to them. We are also more likely to feel and perceive that we can handle difficult matters.
For ‘Me’ time to make a positive difference, it has to occur regularly rather than once a in a while. In other words, it has to be made into a routine. It is just like we have to sleep everyday to rest and recharge rather than sleep once every few days, or rest on most of our non-working days rather than work almost everyday.
‘Me’ time routine can be a daily affair, or twice or thrice a week. Depending on your daily schedule and personal preference, it can be in the morning, evening or night. It can be on weekends or weekdays.
My ‘Me’ time routine is at the beginning of each day. I start with listening to calming music, followed by reading and drinking a cup of tea and then doing stretching or going for a short walk around the neighbourhood.
What about yours? If you do not have a ‘Me’ time routine yet, have a go at planning yours and start it as soon as you can in this new year to see the benefits!
“Mood is important for our overall well-being”
Photo Credit:Tinyrabbithole