Is today a good day to have a “me” day?

February 23, 2019
By Jan Gutowski, Creativity Coach

“Carve out and claim the time to care for yourself and kindle your own fire.”  -Amy Ippoliti

Determining when we need to step back and take a break… Maybe it is in those moments we realize we are always racing against time, or when we become lost in the fog of losing the small details of the day (like driving home from work? Yep, been there!), or when some of the nonsense and shenanigans of daily work life gets harder to shake off at the end of the day. Sometimes a mental health day is exactly what we need. This is not to suggest being irresponsible, or to blow off our commitments; but it is important to remember that taking an occasional “me day” is not only healthy, but also provides a necessary recharge for our creative energy. When we feel energized, we process information and situations more effectively, we are more productive and just generally more fun to be around!

Imagine it:  your calendar for the day has just been cleared. All bases are covered. The day is completely YOURS to shape into whatever you want!  What will you do?

This might be hard to even place into the imagination space if you are someone who is always running at full throttle, and not used to getting a break; so it might be best to start with a meditation restart (or at least some quiet coffee time) before you can really dive in and think big on what you will do with this great gift of time.

Journal it:  Start your plan for your next Me Day, approaching it as somewhat of a travel itinerary, but which still gives you the flexibility to change your mind. Then, when the opportunity is there, seize the day!  It is important to include something social and creative into the mix, so when you are booking your massage appointment, but sure to call a friend who you haven’t seen in a while for a long overdue catch-up lunch. Browse the local craft store for some project ideas, or visit that museum you’ve been planning to check out.

Keep your Me Day plan ready for when you decide to take that day off. You so deserve it!

-jg