Me Time: How Executive MomsCarve Out Essential Alone Time

Susie Almaneih

Any mom with a high power job will tell you: if they don’tget their rest, their exercise, and quality time alone, it’sno more Mrs. Nice Gal. But how do we make that time withall the deadlines, meetings, and pressures of the workday,

plus the daily demands of families?

Here are someeffective strategies:

You Need Alone Time1. Identify When

The symptoms are obvious: sore neck, diminished patience, and a lack of focus, just toname a few. Take a breath when you get here. Tell yourself you cannot do it all at this

very moment and it will all be there when you get back. Then take a look at yourcalendar and block some time out for something calming, fun, or energizing.

2. Don't MistakeExcercise For Alone Time

Staying healthy and energized iscrucial, but it’s not the same as

alone time. Alone time is forenjoyment, unwinding,learning, and relaxing.

The objectives are very differentand even if alone time only

happens for an hour a week, it’sabout feeding your soul.

3. SHIFT YOUR SCHEDULE ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN

PRODUCTIVE CLOCK

Short bursts of concentratedattention are the quickestway from A to B. Give up on

multi-tasking, and practiceimmersive focus during your

peak windows ofproductivity. That way, yourhighest priorities in termsof work are met first, and

you can allocate other lessertasks among your team.

4.FLEX DAY

This is a key piece of creative scheduling, a day every week,usually Thursday or Friday, where you have no set tasks,

where you can pick up the work-related loose ends, but youmight also schedule yourself a massage or take a long walkand listen to your favorite music in the middle of the day.

5. 10-minuteMindfulness

If you don’t have the luxury of the 30-minute walk, shut the door, sit in acomfortable chair, close your eyes,and focus on your breathing. Even

after just three minutes, you will feelyour body relax, and your mind willfollow. There are some great apps that

can walk you through it in thebeginning. This counts as alone time.

6. OUTSOURCE

For example, get pre-prepared meals delivered to your door, so you are stillinvolved in the food but not julienning the carrots for 30 minutes. If youdon’t have a personal assistant, employ Task Rabbit for pesky things likedry-cleaning, art hanging, furniture moving, or other one-off chores.

7. Band Together

There are certainly moms in your area in the same boat, and having a group where you can bounceideas, trade off with school pick ups and sleepovers, and call if there is an urgent need– this kindof networking is sanity itself. It may take a little time, and your children will often determine

who your friends are by proxy, but there are plenty of online networks and communities too.

8. Trade Alone Time BlocksWith Your Partner

Utilize that healthy give and take with your significant other, even if youhave to schedule out alone time a few weeks in advance. It’s a basic

generosity that when reciprocated, you will appreciate it that much more. Getinto a rhythm of knowing who is in more need of that break and be flexible.