Do you take time for yourself?
By Brooke
@o2bnocn (2992)
United States
July 21, 2008 9:22am CST
Do you take time for yourself? Alone time that you can just relax and be by yourself? Do you have a lot of alone time or are you like me and barely ever get it? Do you take extra measures so that you can get alone time?
This morning I woke up a little earlier so that I could get a little alone time. My house wasn't empty, they were just sleeping. My sister went to her dad's for the week and my other sister and mom were sleeping. I usually don't get a lot of alone time so I try to enjoy the time I do get. I usually like the mornings because most people in my household like to sleep in. When I woke up this morning I took a bath and then got on the computer. Mornings are about the only time I get alone time and then on some mornings I don't even get that. One of my sisters started to wake up around the time I did. My mom is about to start a new job and my sisters go back to school in September so I am a little excited about that. I am hoping that I get at least a little alone time, possibly the house to myself a little more. I will be happy even if it is occasionally. It will be better than now. I hardly ever get the house to myself. We live in a small house and there are usually people talking or screaming, most of the time at least 2 televisions on and they like to turn there t.v.s on really loud. So I really enjoy when I get the house to myself or they are sleeping and it is really quiet and no one is bothering me.
So how about you?
4 people like this
22 responses
@mflower2053 (3223)
• United States
21 Jul 08
My husband sure does. Being a stay at home mom is hard. My kids are with me 24/7. Taking a bath, using the potty, they are everywhere lol. So at times I really do need some time to myself to relax and just have some quiet time. I do love my kids very much but when you spend that much time with them you can go crazy sometimes. My oldest just turned 3 so she now can go to the library and sit during storytime which will be very helpful to me just to give me a little break from her and get out of the house. We are also looking into gymnastics so they can use up some of their entergy once a week. I had to take sometime this past Sunday b/c I was really going crazy and hated my husband b/c he just takes off when he pleases and I always have to wait for him to go and do something for my alone time. Hes been working 12 hours a day which we need the money so no big deal. Thursday's he plays cabbage ball, Friday's he plays volleyball, Saturday he plays cabbage ball and then Sunday he plays Tennis. So when and where is it my turn to have time to myself? Sorry for the vent lol.
1 person likes this
@cote83 (12)
• China
22 Jul 08
I did really have some alone time during shcool time, especial scenior middle school. And I do really miss that time. It's really good. Most of the alone time is at deep night. It's quiet around and I enjoyed it by thinking someting till fell asleep. That the very time belong to myself and I could get something from thinking and get myself improved mentally. Now I am working, earning for my life and do not have much time for myself. Furtunately, you do remind me somthing something that have been ignored. I am sure I will find some way to get that wonderful time back.
1 person likes this
@xueyao (164)
• China
22 Jul 08
At first,You are luck that so money people around you.I am work far away from my hometown,and I have too much alone time when back to home after the whole day work,I only watching TV,reading, learning English, and so on.
I believe that you must be very young.and could you tell me more information about you?Maybe we can make friends.I have graduated from univisity for two years, And I am an accounting,and I am a chinese.
1 person likes this
@marlena18042 (636)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I habe a husband,4 kids( one of which is only 15 months) and a rowdy cat!I wasnt sure of the definition of alone time until recently .My plan includes waking up early sopmetimes even 4:30am to just get my alone time to drink my coffee(in peace)then staying up after they all go to sleep!(to internet).I was going crazy without it.Everyone needs it.Morning time is the best b/c it helps me to start my day off with a little serenity,time to think about the day ahead and do some planning!
1 person likes this
@inia_54 (175)
• Malaysia
22 Jul 08
I can imagine how you feel staying with a alrge family in a small house. My house is small to. It is three room apartment. But I am alone now. My husband comes back occasionally. And my son has gone out. May be he will come late at night. It is kind of lonely sometimes. But I make use of the time to the fullest. With plenty of time I am learning online investment business. I treat it like some kind of distant learning. At times I switch to MyLot and join the discussions. Maybe when you are working and you can afford to stay on you own you can rent a room/house for yourself. But I am sure it is difficult to adjust in the beginning because despite of disturbances, you are going to miss your family a lot!
1 person likes this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
21 Jul 08
HI o2bnocn,
I am always alone 8 hours during weekend..Only my Husband and I love in our house so, opposite to what you felt, LOL! I love to have my Sister and Parents with me.LOL!
Unfortunately, they are living from from us!
ANyway, at least you will find time for yourself during early morning! or how about late at night also? LOL! I know we need also time to be alone and to do what we want to do! It makes us feel more relaxed and peaceful!
@kaysue4 (951)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Well, for me I get up earlier than everyone else because the dogs wake me to go out and be fed and then brushed. After that I start trying to get caught up with my emails.
Now, if I really need down time then I will drive down to the local park and take a book with me and I turn off the car and as I am reading I can hear the birds singing and the squirrels chattering as they run around the trees. It is SO nice to hear only nature.
Then there is a problem, the cell phone! It will ring and just upset the mood. I have then started turning the ringer down and I screen my calls.
But that is how I get my down time when I need it badly.
Congrads to your mom on her new job and I also can't wait until a couple of my boys go back to school also.
@Remembering1996 (2219)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Yes I believe haveing alone time is very important to one's self. It's good that you try and get in that little bit to your self when you can. I am fortunate for I live by myself with just my cat so I have alot of alone time. I like it for I alot of the times interact with people outside the home and after all is said and done I'm happy to just get home and have no one around but me. I hope you get to do this more often for your self and be able to relax. Enjoy it while you can have a good day take care.
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
22 Jul 08
actually most of my days hehehe.. i really spend a lot of time being alone in a day. this is how i release the stress or being tired from day's work. i used to spend much time in my room because it's where i can think much about what to do in the next few days. well i sometimes go out, i sometimes like to watch some people walking in the mall or chatting in a coffeeshop. i also do that.
it's really nice to spend at least sometime in a week for yourself in order to refresh your brain or enjoying yourself with your interest so that you won't be burned much from your work. well basically, just to have some sanity check hahaha..
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
22 Jul 08
I take time alone for myself because I need it especially that in my hobby which is magic a lot of time for yourself should be dedicated. Also time for yourself is necessary because everyone needs to unwind every now and then so that they could find themselves.
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I would love to take more time for myself. It is not always easy. I have a husband and a son that I love dearly. I really like to relax once in a while. And when I get the chance I do. There is usually something I need to do for my 4 year old son. It just comes with the territory. I think we all need time to ourselves once in a while just to get our thoughts together so we can think clearly for the next process in the day.
@o2bnocn (2992)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I agree. I feel more relaxed, thinking clearly and my anxiety usually not that bad or I am not as irritated as I am on days that I get time to myself rather than days that I don't get any time to myself.
Doesn't it sometimes feel like you only had a few minutes of time to yourself when you had around 2 hours?
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Yes, I would have to agree. Time can go too fast sometimes!
@mayannlucelle (16)
• Philippines
21 Jul 08
Yes, I do. When you take time for yourself, some aspects of your mind will be changed. It helps you relax, think clearly and do things effeciently. It helps you work out with stress and be happy. :)
@rmuxagirl (7548)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I try to take time for myself but many times it just doesn't work out the way that I would like. My parents interrupt me, even when I am on the phone. The only time i get to myself is when I am out with my boyfriend and sometimes them my mom will send me messages. I was a cabin director at my church camp and mom was the nurse and she still got upset because I couldn't talk to her all the time.
My time a lone is basically during the day when my mom is at work and dad is asleep. Then i can swim in the pool, read a good book, write in my book, or do things like this online and try to find a teaching job.
@eveofsummer (94)
• Philippines
21 Jul 08
Do you take time for yourself? You're question got me thinking. Lately, I am all by myself most of the time. At least, physically. When I get home from work, I'm all alone in the house, sleep & eat by myself, and so on. However, my mind is always preoccupied with thoughts other than myself. It gets so exhausting sometimes, worrying about too many things.
I believe that I should take some time for myself. I know it will clear my mind from a lot of tensions. Thereby, I'll be able to think clearly and plan my life in the proper perspective.
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I DO take time for myself. I call them ME days.....My ME days are days I do whatever I want to do. If I want to stay in bed all day, I can. If I want to soak in a bubble bath, I do. If I want to spend all day at the park, alone, I do.
I don't have to take any extra measures to have my time, since I'm retired. I get up early every morning, sit in the kitchen alone, before the world begins to wake, and sip on my coffee before my husband gets out of bed.
My husband stil works so I'm home alone a lot. That doesn't mean I don't work....I work my tail off. Keeping house, working in the yard, doing laundry and all that jazz......but there are days, I plan,,,sometimes, just to have ME days and do what I like.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I usually dont get a chance to go away and have some alone time .
I will go by my pool for a few hours and relax by laying and reading a good book . Then I will let the sun hit me and go for a swim . Now that is my peace . Once in a blue moon I will get to spend the whole day with my friends and that is nice . I think i find small things through out the day that bring peace and help me relax. what i like to do is swim at night and i am all alone or go for a walk 
@currykai (427)
• Malaysia
21 Jul 08
Yes. I love to take time for myself. The only time i could be by myself and do a lot of reflections is when i drive alone in car at highway or listening soothing music in my room. I know is weird but I really enjoy driving at night alone on the highway or smooth rood while looking at the neon lights and beautifully lighted skyscrapers.
@lijiahui (187)
• China
21 Jul 08
i am now still a college student in university. I really enjoy the time when i am alone in the dormitory.It is not easy to have such kind of free time during years of living with friends,hehe~~~each time when i conquer the whole dorm,i would shut the doors,turn up the volumn of the computer and enjoy such things like music,movies~~life is so quite and easy in a personal place~~~
i like very much the time when i am alone doing things i enjoy^_^
