It's all about me...

I am guessing that for a lot of of you who are self employed then 'Me' time is something you consider to be a luxury or an interruption that you don't have time for.

Do you get run down? Are you always tired? Do you wish there were more hours in each day? Do your friends compare you to a super hero?

Take a moment here to consider what utilising that 'Me' time could do for your business.

I put in a ridiculous amount of hours last year, firstly to get my business off the ground and then to move it from 5 to 9 to full time. Do I regret the hours or effort? Not at all, but I do wish I had taken better care of me.

As a busy working mum it's all too easy to come up with reasons why you can't afford to have precious 'Me' time. Kids swimming, dance, sports, play dates and parties not to mention cooking and cleaning and demands on your time from other family members.

But give, give, give is a recipe for disaster. You become run down, jaded, in my case it increased my weight even more, and also led to me sometimes not making the right decision for my fledgling business. It will be different for each of you, but I am sure you understand what I mean.

I took a long hard look at things recently and decided it had to stop. I now have a team of associates to help shoulder the work load, to cover while I take a well earned holiday and to look after my clients should I get ill again. I also reviewed my existing clients and services and made some changes there as well, now I can move forward in a much more positive, efficient and productive manner.

Then I realised that reviewing the business wasn't enough, I had to review me as well. I finally listened to my coach and realised that spending time with the family is important but so is having time for me, it's something quite different to family time and equally as important.

I took a day off, I know, heresy to some of you!, and I spent it with a friend, had my nails done, went for lunch and shopped. Really simple pleasures that had been missing for so long. And did I regret that missed day in the office? Not at all, granted the work was still there to be done but that day off re-charged my batteries. I felt so much better for it that I came back into the business refreshed and eager to get on.

Can I say the same for the weeks where I worked morning to night, fitted work around family stuff and housework in what little time was left? No.

So just take a moment and try and remember the last time you had some 'Me' time. Not family time, not doing a favour time, not housework time, not doing your duty time but time for you. Can you even remember?

Do me a favour, this coming week do something for YOU then come back and share it with us by commenting below, it doesn't have to be all day, can be anything you like as long as it's for you!

Don't feel you are being selfish, I am sure if you try it you will find it actually changes the way you feel for the better.

So come on, what have you done for YOU this week?



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

7 comments:

  1. Great blog Helen. Can't remember the last time I had me time :)

    It's nice to see you getting some balance. x

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  2. I'm so glad that you've started to look after yourself, you know I worry about you. It is so easy to neglect yourself in favour of your family and clients.
    Have you downloaded the free e book "More Me Time" by Heather Bestel, it really struck a chord with me.
    I hope you continue to find even more time for yourself x

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  3. at last helen, you know my views on this one family friends first business/ work second, no point earning lots if no time to spend it. Glad your coach pushed along with this one, balance is key, sometimes working less can provide faster and longer lasting results good stuff keep it going, you'll be doing ironman next year as well

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  4. Guilty as charged! But I love me work, so it's hard to see sense :o)
    I often consider evening Twitter activity as me time, because my Twitterbuddies are supportive, interesting and make me smile. Smiling is one of the easiest ways to treat yourself to the happy endorphines!

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  5. I couldn't agree more, my Twitter time is me time definitely, but sometimes you just have to step away from the pc/phone/laptop etc. Yep, that really is me saying that!! Thanks for all your great comments, keep them coming!

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  6. Great Blog Helen. Pleased to see that you are taking better care of yourself now. I have to admit personally, I haven't had any health issues since being self employed - just over 5 years now. I ran myself into the ground building a successful career in the Bank, then later in recruitment. I made the decision this madness had to stop.

    I remember going to Mexico for 2 weeks, coming back then needing another 2 weeks off because taking my foot of the gas finally caught up with me, I was exhausted.

    That's why I love your advice here! I think it's counter productive risking your health to make money. I am now a firm believer in the proverb - An ounce of trade is worth more than a kilo of labour.

    Stay healthy you ! and thanks for a brilliant and sensible blog

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  7. Well said Helen. I am the same. There is no "ME" time in my life at all. My work/life balance is far worse than when I was employed. I am taking steps to make adjustments and cannot wait until I can take a whole day off and not worry about work!

    Well done for taking the steps needed for a better, balanced YOU.

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