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Take time out and find some inspiration
Top tips to guilt free “ME” Time
It’s every Mum’s dream isn’t it? To get on a plane, alone, and head off for peace and serenity?
It certainly has been mine. I turned 40 five years ago. When anyone asked what I would REALLY like to do to celebrate all I could think of was to have some selfish “Me Time” in the sun. Of course, as a mother of two with a business to run, I didn’t feel entitled and consequently it didn’t happen.
But in June 2010….it did. It was perfect. Everything I had imagined. And most importantly I managed to do it totally GUILT FREE.
Here are my top tips on how you can do it too:
It’s all in the timing
I have two football mad sons who have an equally football mad father…..so World Cup 2010 was the perfect opportunity. I don’t know if they even noticed that I wasn’t there. More importantly, I decided that I would only go if the boy’s Father took time off work to look after them. I couldn’t relax knowing that friends and family had been put upon in any way. Their Dad works very hard and had just finished a huge project which took him away for two full weeks without a break. My plans ensured that he took some much needed time off.
Sort your stuff
It is no good using ME time to escape. Whatever it is that you are avoiding will be there to greet you when you board the plane to come home. It is, however, a great opportunity to get a fresh perspective and clarity on any issues that may be concerning you. For me, I knew that I was ready to take my business in a new direction. I just needed to figure out what that was. It is quite amazing what thoughts, realizations and ideas come to the surface when you allow them to. I got the entire outline for that novel I’ve been trying to write for some years now whilst relaxing on the beach. The key is stillness. No books, no email, no distractions.
Go it alone
This one takes some courage I admit but it is the best way. It isn’t quality Me time if you have to consider someone else’s agenda. I did question my need for solitude at first. As the week progressed I encountered many amazing and interesting people. For example, the ex Athens society beauty, who now has a “Vintage” clothing store in the tiny Greek village where I stayed. How perfect is that for a stylista who loves vintage? It has to be said that it was more like junk than vintage but I didn’t have the heart to tell her. I did find some 60’s style tortoishell sunglasses for five euro – “tell me they are from somewhere cool” and asked her “oh, I think they are from Italy” she replied. Somehow I doubt it!
Justify it to yourself and others
I have to admit that the reason my Me time happened at all was because I was offered some work at a newly opened Retreat in Greece. When that didn’t materialize I found it impossible to scrub it out of my diary. Of course justification is not strictly necessary…except that it is for us mothers isn’t it? I took with me marketing plans and workshop outlines and kept a journal every day. One day I will get a return on this investment financially but, most importantly, I more than got a return on my well being. I’ve not come back a “new woman”. I’ve reconnected with the woman I always was who had got a little lost over the years.
Taking that first step has meant that I will make this a yearly occurrence. And I would urge you to do the same.
Katherine x
If you’d like to get away then this is where I stayed – www.serenityretreat.co.uk
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About the author
Name: Katherine Blyth
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Website: http://www.katherineb.com
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