As I type this***, my daughter is whinecrying my name, my son is yelling what sort of sounds like YABBA DABBA DOOO over and over again, even though I know that's not actually what he's saying, there's a robot vacuum that we've named Eva making whooshing noises while roaming around the kitchen.  My dog is being told not to circle the table for the 27th time this evening, I'm being asked to watch a video online that I'll smile at and then forget about tomorrow and I'm just about ready to check myself into a hotel - alone - just to get some silence.

But then I think, what if I check in and there's a couple next door who can't keep it down, or an elderly person who needs to have the television volume up to a point where not only I, but the neighbouring three units must bear to hear in order for themselves to hear.  Sigh.  I have good headphones - I have great headphones actually, and they tend to do the trick, when they're turned on.  I've since ignored “Mumma” a solid 7-10 times… 11, 12, as I continue the typing.  It doesn't seem to stop until that door is shut and a final ‘GOODNIGHT!’ is muttered in a way that's both pleasant but also comes across as “STAY THERE UNTIL MORNING AND BE QUIET!”

First name Frankly, I'm tired.  The to do list is long and I'm trying to figure out where the balance is between family time, business time that pays the bills, business time that's meant for growth and learning and then genuine ME TIME.

How do you decide which things come first?
How can the day not feel so exhausting?

I find things fall into place on their own by starting the morning off right - with yourself, by yourself and for yourself.

In the morning, I decided that I come first.

I rise and give myself, at the very least, 20 minutes.  20 minutes that doesn't feel like work or I have to's or talking to another human.  20 minutes all for me and the rest of the day feels a little bit easier than if I had given myself no time at all.

20 minutes to… eat a slow breakfast.

20 minutes to… meditate.

20 minutes to… sing in the shower.

20 minutes to… journal all the thoughts.

20 minutes to… stare out the window.

20 minutes to… watch half of that show i never get around to.

20 minutes to… pet the pet.

20 minutes to… stretch.  the kind that really makes you let out a loud sigh.

20 minutes to… listen to a podcast.

20 minutes to… read a book.
20 minutes to… talk to your plants.

20 minutes to… dance about.

20 minutes to… sit and do absolutely nothing.

… your own list will start to grow the more you take those 20 minutes for yourself, starting tomorrow morning.
 

Give yourself 20 minutes every morning.

Why?  Because if it's the only “me time” you'll end up getting in the day, doing it first thing not only gets it out of the way, it means it gets done.  You get that time because you've dedicated that time for yourself.

i know, i know, rocket science, but “easier said than done folks” is what i'd say to that.
 

Don't get me wrong, I always strive for a lot more - an hour, sometimes two!  But at the very least, 20 minutes.  and I don't EVER mean spend those precious minutes scrolling social media outlets.

SO
Did I give myself 20 minutes this morning?  No.  Do I regret it now with all the noise around me?  Yes.  Do I believe I would have been better equipped to get through the evening if I had given myself 20 minutes this morning?
You bet!

***Funny how when I sat down, writing this initially, I didn't think I'd ever get any length of alone time, anytime soon.  Well!  Ask and you shall receive because I'm now finishing this newsletter off in the comfort of an empty home listening to a Count Basie Beatles album and I don't have to put anyone to sleep tonight except myself.

Happy Saturday Night - wherever you are.