DJC#024 – Reviving the Inner You: Navigating “Me Time” in Dad Life

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Depending on where you are in your Dad journey, this may vary…BUT I know this is a topic that is important and tricky to navigate.

I’m referring to the art of finding your “me time” amidst the beautiful chaos of fatherhood. Let’s explore how carving out a little “you time” can be the ultimate act of self-care and family love.

The Hunt for “Me Time” O’clock

The elusive me time. We’ve all either heard about it, vaguely remember it, or dreamt about it, but sometimes it feels it’s as mythical as driving around in a landspeeder on Tatooine.

This has been one of the biggest things I have struggled with being a Dad. If you can relate, then you’re also probably thinking just like me – I don’t want to not be present for our son, my wife and our family time, but I also desperately need to have my own space to not lose who I am.

The journey starts with finding the right time that syncs with your family’s rhythm. There is never going to be the right time, but there will be the best time…or the least worst time. Me time can vary from daily to weekly to a weekend or two away a year. I’ll leave this up to you to decide what you want and what is feasible.

Communicating with Your Partner

Picture this: You, a well-deserved oasis of relaxation, a golf outing with the guys, or an adult basketball league. But here’s the plot twist – your partner is your ally in this quest.

By communicating your me time intentions and most importantly encouraging your partner to do the same, you’re creating a calendar of shared sanity breaks. This is also a great way for each of you to have individual time with your child(ren) wile your partner is engaging in their me time.

Dethroning the Calendar King

Let’s be real – calendars are our modern-day kings of keeping track of our lives, wielding the power of organization, but they can also be overwhelming.

Let’s do an exercise. Grab your journal and calendar, we’re going to do an audit to see what your normal week looks like to spot the pockets of opportunity. Now do the same for your weekend (yes, these will likely vary more).

Look for where you can create your me time. Maybe it’s those early morning hours you’ve never seen before, or that cozy corner during nap time. Maybe the stars align on Tuesday evenings. Schedule it in, because you deserve this as much as your little ones deserve your superhero antics. And a great superhero always takes some time to themselves, even if the rest of the world doesn’t see it.

Commit & Conquer

Commitment is your secret sauce. Once you’ve spotted the golden moment, declare it as sacred, block it off, circle it, put it on the ticker, or whatever else you must do. It’s your space to recharge, exercise, create, read, reflect, sleep or simply do absolutely nothing. Remember, by nurturing yourself, you’re nurturing your ability to be the best version of yourself, which will allow you to be the best Dad you can be.

Streaking to Victory

Let’s gamify this, shall we? Track your me time streak – how many days, weeks, months, or years can you consecutively embark on this sacred journey? You got it in yesterday, but missed it today? No problem, don’t miss tomorrow. This day or time isn’t working out? Move it to another day or time. This will take some work and experimenting on your part, but you will figure it out.

I’ve been experimenting with this since January, and I’m still working at it. I’ve gone from a regular night zombie to a morning person just so that I can get that regular me time before my wife and our son wake up. But now I love it! It’s allowed me to go on my morning walks and meditate at a set time every day. Along with that, communicating with my wife about how important the Dad Journal Club is for me, she encourages me to take me time to write. Just as I encourage her to have her me time.

It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. And guess what? Your family’s well-being benefits from your happiness.

The Schedule of Your Success

Dads, amidst the laughs, the chaos, and the superhero rescues, remember this – you’re a treasure trove of energy and love. By carving out that me time, you’re not just nurturing yourself; you’re nurturing your family with a happier, more rejuvenated version of you.

So let’s embark on this journey of carving out our me time o’clock and making it a cornerstone of our fatherly legacy. Your me time isn’t selfish; it’s a gift that keeps on giving – to you and those you hold dear.

Until next Sunday…stay awesome and stay balanced.