Fitness Tips: You Time!

By Kira O’Donnell

Do you make time for YOU each week?

You have probably heard this before and thought, “That would be nice, but how do I do it?” I am just currently finding out how important “ME TIME” really is.

I have a problem….I hate to be alone! I always have. I never liked doing anything by myself, shopping, going to a coffee shop or to the movies, going for a walk… More recently I would find myself filling up my schedule with lunch/coffee/walk dates to the point that some days it felt like work, rushing from one appointment to the next.Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my friends and spending time with them but I should leave them feeling fulfilled not exhausted.

Am I right? On top of that I have added another job a few weeks ago to my already long list of “hats” that I wear. Long story short, I am exhausted by the end of the week (who am I kidding, middle of the week haha.)

So what have I been doing about this?

I have stepped outside my comfort zone with by spending quality time with me and by finding new activities that I enjoy:

I spent the entire day at the beach by myself a few Saturdays ago. Just me, the sand, and the waves. The beach is the one and only place that I can go and be absolutely still. I can sit there for hours and just stare at the horizon. I left that day feeling so relaxed and rejuvenated….and not sun burnt either 😉

photo 1I decided to pursue golf lessons. Once a week I meet with a friend who is an amazing golfer and she teaches me everything she knows. She has helped me with my swing so much and I love that I can go to the driving range any time I want to by myself and practice. Practice makes progress!

photo 3

I have recently been introduced to Yin Yoga… Which is a great way to put everything aside, even if only for an hour, and become centered. It is so relaxing and I have released so much tension in my muscles that has helped me function better in my workouts. I never knew I held so much tension in my hips!

photo 2

What I’m getting at here is that it is important to find time to do something that YOU enjoy.

I know it can get tricky when you have a family to take care of but you can’t forget to take care of yourself.   You need time to relax, unwind, and find peace in a hectic life. It will help to keep your stress levels down, which is great for fat loss.

Challenge: Try to schedule at least 1 hour a week where you can get away and do something for you.

It can be a pedicure, a walk or bike ride by yourself, a trip to the library to read quietly, a painting class, shopping, anything! If childcare is a problem then maybe you can get a group of friends together where you can take turns giving each other “YOU” time.

What do you like to do when you get time alone?  

Comment below & share your tips!