Most, if not all, of us live very stressful lives with jobs and families and health issues, not to mention the stresses that come with changing our eating patterns and working on our own “issues.” Whenever I see someone post that they taken some time aside for ME TIME, I always think how wonderful that would be and how refreshing, reinvigorating, and rejuvenating that can be to all us. This will be a good opportunity for us to explore and enjoy those benefits. So…

The challenge for this two-week period (2/27-3/12/05) is to take at least 20 minutes once a week to do something nice for ourselves (or break it down to five minutes four days out the week, or any other variation that suits you). Obviously, there are extra benefits for longer periods and more days of the week and doing it on a regular basis (for much longer than this two-week period). Here are some suggestions:

1. Quiet reflective time spent reading, listening to music, taking a nap, deep breathing, praying, meditating, or doing absolutely nothing.
2. Massaging our feet, taking a long shower, taking a bubble bath, lighting some fragrant candles.
3. Playing with the cat, walking the dog, going outside to take in the scenery, doing something fun with the kids, exercising.
4. Self-talk, positive thoughts, hugging others/getting hugs.
5. Trying out a new hairstyle, getting dressed up and made up, painting our nails, calling a friend, meeting new people, developing a friendship, improving a relationship, buying something for yourself (flowers, clothes, etc.)
6. Anything else that is just right for YOU.

It doesn’t matter what you do, it just matters that you do something--something you enjoy, something that will bring you peace, something that will give YOU that little extra special time you DESERVE. Not used to doing something just for you? Now’s the time to get used to it—you’ll enjoy it and it will be good for you and something you’ll want to keep up for the rest of your life.

Our weight loss journey covers more than just pounds lost and inches gone. It also means loving ourselves, taking care of all parts of ourselves. They say stress is in inhibitor to weight loss. It strikes me if we can take positive, concrete actions that we can speed our weight loss journey and have lots of other benefits as well, like physical and mental health improvements too.

Come here to tell us your plans, tell us what you’ve done, tell us how it made a difference in how you feel.

Enjoy this to the fullest! Sue

Well, I had a heads up on this challenge, lol, so I decided to jump right in and do something nice for myself even before the challenge officially started.

I decided to take a bubble bath (dumped half a bottle of bubble bath in, I think there's still suds in the tub!), light some candles, and turn up some relaxing music. I sat in there for a long time, just relaxing and thinking and enjoying. This is like my third bubble bath in my life and I really like it, it's so relaxing and makes me feel special. I'd like to do this at least a couple times a month as a special treat when I have extra time. Makes me feel good. I am going to consciously try to do something relaxing hopefully every day, even if just for a few minutes. Sue

I-) Sue....I probably have more ME time than anyone I know...(and do less with it!) but still some things make me feel "special".
This morning I'll go down for a nap before Church.....I love my naps!
Tuesday I'll be getting my nails done. They look good for two weeks and no extra effort from me! Hooray!
I intend to soak my poor footsies ...maybe tonight? and massage 'em after the abuse I heaped upon 'em yesterday!
I'll take some tips from your list as well in the time ahead. Thanks for the suggestions!
have a grand day!
Bren

I have so many chores to do today, my only day off from work this week - but I was thinking about going to the book store for a bit, whichI love to do- but wasn't sure Ihad time. Thanks to this challenge, I will go anyway and relax a bit!

This looks like a good challenge. Most of the time I do make time for it, but strangely enough, when I am stressed, I don't take care of myself. Don't know if this is why I am stressed, or the effect of being stressed ... kind of a chicken/egg type problem ... which comes first. But I do need to make it more of a habit, than a causual thing. Will think today about how I will work it in, and post it later.

Great idea Sue!!!!!! This is already one of my goals for Phase 4 so I am striving to meet it more than once a week. It works. I can tell a difference in the way I feel already.


Blessings:spring:

Vickie:pass:

Not sure what specific "me" time things I will do but I will meet my quota :D

tonight cucumber bubble bath for about 15 minutes - then candy cane candle lite while I am here at DT - ahhhhhhh it smells so fresh :)

Beth :peace:

I'm not sure what I'll do. Probably read a book as I love reading, but haven't had much time for that lately. Or I might call a friend. I don't talk on the phone much but when I do, it's always fun!

Yesterday, husband was gone and it was Sunday afternoon, I watched an episode of X Files on DVD (I still have not watched the final season and am still watching new-to-me episodes from season 8) and then I took a nap in my recliner. :) I hardly ever just sit down and watch TV without something constructive to do while I watch. I also watched the Oscars last night, the advertisements were better than the Super Bowl's ads this year; shared many laughs with husband. :laugh: We rarely watch something like that together so it was really fun. :D

I'm so glad this is working for everyone. I personally still feel on a high since my bubble bath and the other things I've done since. The changes are exciting! Sue

Lat night I did something for me. I was not feeling great ... not sick so much as just plain tired out. I am a sea cadet leader, and 2 of my 3 kids are in the corps. I did not feel like going, and one kid had too much homework to go, so for a while I considered not going. But other kid said he really wanted to go. For a few minutes I actually considered giving in, and going, even tho I was not up to it. But I thought of the challenge, and told him I needed some "me" time, (He was puzzled by that! Not my usual reaction). I went to bed for a nap after supper, then had a really long hot shower, before going back to bed. But I feel much better today for having the early night.

Heather, that's great! I'm proud of you!

I have consciously been trying to find ways for me time too, each and every day. Today as I was driving to the Y, I noticed the most incredibly beautiful sunset. I never take the time to do this, but I decided to stop my car and just look at it. It could be seen through the bare trees of winter. The trees kind of reminded me of where I was/am--naked, being tossed about by the wind, but reaching up toward a beautiful sunset. I thought about those trees and knew in just another month or two they'd have buds on them and shortly after that, they'd be lush and green and full in all their glory, just like me, just like us. That was enough to get me driving again. But as I drove along the sunset turned from orange to a lovely pink-purple and again it reminded me that once we get on the road we were meant to travel, our lives would just get more beautiful because we were going where we were meant to be. Those five minutes of watching that sunset was time well spent, they meant so much to me, and four hours later I'm still feeling the joy.

As another way of taking good care of myself, I had a pap smear today and printed out a communication workbook that I will work on. To me, this journey is so much more than weight and inches lost, it's about the whole person.

Take good care, everyone. Love, Sue

Yesterday, I took a little more than 20 minutes for "me time" and did something fun I've not done in a long time. I played some golf on the computer! SO addicting!!!! I played it so much, that I didn't get my 15 min. of exercise in until bedtime! So I made that fun too. While I exercised my legs, I read some Sherlock Holmes. It took the concentration away from the pain of stretching and exercising my legs! Pretty cool!

Hello fellow bootcampers ...

Well this is a delightful "challenge" ... thought provoking too. How often do we stop and take time for ourselves? Thanks, Sue, for coming up with this one!

Years ago I became interested in yoga and became a knowledgable and consistent student. Then over the last 5 to 6 years I fell away from it. About a year ago I decided to start doing it again ... it's practically the only "exercise" I have ever done and enjoyed. It was quite a shock to me to learn that my body no longer went into the poses easily if at all ... a big belly of fat interfered with the forward bends and stiff joints etc resisted other moves. I practiced for about 6 months and improved slightly. Then I stopped ... again.

Well this morning before my day got started I did more than 30 minutes of yoga ... my body was resistent and stiff but it was still a pleasure to stretch into the poses. I need to work this back into my everyday life ... it is too good to miss. It is wonderful for increasing flexibility and there is a saying that you are as young as your spine is flexible.

Hi my fellow campers. I hope you've all taken some time to be good to yourself during these last two weeks. Make today special in some small way and you'll be glad you did. This challenge officially ends in just two short days but in reality, the idea should never end, not for the rest of our lives. This thread will also stay open indefinitely so you can come to share how taking some time just for yourself has helped to relieve stress and keep you going when life gets tough. For me, it has made a real difference and something I intend to keep doing. Sue

Yeah, I forgot to post, but the other day I did talk with my oldest brother on the phone--for more than 20 min. lol! I hadn't talked with him since the first week of Dec., so it was nice. I felt good after that for several days!!! :D

before this challenge officially ends, I guess I better post again so I stay "legal." The convertible ride with my husband Sunday counted, I went to lunch with a friend on Monday, and Tuesday I spent some time creating rubber stamped cards for a group I belong to. When I am being creative it is very relaxing and I feel such a sense of accomplishment.

Finding time for me is easier than for some, I think, because I have no children at home any more -- so I do things for myself fairly often.

I'm with Nebraka on that one Me time has been an important thing in my life for a long long time. Don't get me wrong it's not always me first. But I do take a lot of puter time. I go and play a lot of cards with my aunt. At least 3 times a week. I love my bubblies. My jacuzzi when it works. And now I take 1/2 hour every morning for curves. And yes I enjoy beautiful sunsets especially in my swing out at the lake. And not only sunsets but sun rises also. So see I do have me time. Lots of it.