THE IMPORTANCE OF ME TIME

(And why you should be scheduling it into your daily routine!)

Happy Wednesday everyone! This blog post is complete out of the norm here at LMP because instead of it being filled with beautiful images of my clients its going to be all about ME! (and anyone else who has been feeling overwhelmed with work, family, LIFE! Ha) This post is calling all brides who are planning their weddings and are down to the final months, busy mama’s who are juggling it all, small business owners who work 7 days a week and don’t take a break- Listen up! This post WILL change your life because I know it has changed mine!

Over the past few years as my business has grown I have found it increasingly more difficult to find the time to do the things I enjoy most- Spending time at home with my fiancé & fur babies, traveling or even finding time to make it to the gym! I am an all in or nothing kind of gal so thats how I am when it comes to running LMP, and that was fine for the first couple of years but I was getting exhausted and sad… and ultimately I was resenting the one thing I knew I was called to do. Then I realized it was because I wasn’t taking time out of my day to enjoy MYSELF. So this year, I started scheduling myself times during the day when I had the freedom to go and do whatever I felt like doing that day! Every day I have a scheduled time to go to my workout classes and its the perfect break in editing/ emailing where I can go let off some steam and come back feeling refreshed!

Now don’t get me wrong – you do not have to use this “me” time to work out! That is just what I enjoy doing. Schedule your free time to be painting, or meditating, or sun bathing! Whatever YOU love to do, schedule the time in your day for it! Trust me, you have enough time for it and you can only benefit from taking some time for yourself!

Here are a few benefits of scheduling ME TIME:

1. Reduces Stress & Anxiety: If you are anything like me then you constantly find yourself worrying and stressed out about everything. Taking a portion out of your busy schedule each day allows you to clear your mind, and head back to work feeling ready to take on your final tasks for the day!
2. Your Workflow/ Life Becomes More Efficient: I know what you’re thinking, how in the world can I speed up my workflow by taking time to be OUT of the office? I thought the exact same thing! By allowing myself a hour or two each day to spend doing whatever I wanted to do I realized how much more eager I was to get my work finished so I could go enjoy my “me time”. Before, I always felt myself becoming burnt out easily and eventually resenting the work that I love creating. Now that I take time for myself I have noticed I turn my weddings around in HALF the amount of time it took before!! (And it is because I am not killing myself working, instead I am enjoying it! Work smarter, not harder!)
3. You Slow Down: Take time to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life! Remember, you only have one life to live so why not take some time for yourself and enjoy it!
4. Boost Your Mood: Ever notice yourself feeling in a funk or feeling down? The daily grind can leave you feeling empty and when you take time for yourself, you will notice an increase in your mood dramatically! Its engraved into our minds that we need to constantly go, go, go or you won’t be happy or successful- I’m here to tell you, although that may be true for some people, you are allowed to make your own path and decide what makes you happiest!
5. Set New Goals: During this time away from your daily stressors, you will find yourself thinking about your dreams and setting new goals for yourself that you never thought would be possible! Allowing myself the freedom to dream big while I am enjoying my “me time” lead me to co-leading the Myrtle Beach chapter of the Rising Tide Society. (Something I NEVER thought I would be doing!) And so far, it has brought me the greatest joy! You never know where your heart will take you while spending some time with yourself!