Life in the city is busy.
Busy busy busy till sometimes we don’t know how and when to stop for ourselves.
A holiday in a remote place always reminds me that it has to be a conscious CHOICE we have to make
to keep some sanity and remember what’s real in Life.
People always say “Stop and smell the flowers”
But do we really know what that means?
Ever since a few years ago,
i’ve learnt how to slow down at certain points in my day so i don’t lose the plot and go work-crazy.
I don’t want to be one of those people who have nothing to talk about but work.
(How booooring!)
So here’s my personal list of Me Time Things To Do.
(Some of them i’ve mentioned previously on this blog,
but i’m compiling it properly for once!)
1. Having lunch alone.
I think some people have problems eating alone.
They look at me funny when i chirpily announce i had the most amazing lunch alone.
I love eating by myself especially if it’s breakfast or lunch.
It gives me the chance to slowly go through my work list,
plan out what to do when,
not have to talk (except to myself in my head and try not to move my mouth accidentally. Sometimes i do that),
and really concentrate and taste my food as i’m spooning it into my mouth.
You’d be surprised how good food tastes when you take the time to appreciate it,
notice its colour and texture,
and put 100% concentration into what you’re tasting.
2. Staring out at the grass.
I know this is weird… but i do take this sort of Me Time activity very seriously.
I usually do it when i’ve been stuck to the computer for hours on end,
and walk away to chill out for a bit.
Deadlines are deadlines, and a couple of minutes isn’t going to kill the client.
It only takes 1-2 minutes to just sit down and stare out in the garden for awhile, and just think about what i’m looking at.
Like oh! look at how green the grass is!
Look at the beautiful sunshine today!
What wonderful weather we have!
What an awesome puddle that is to jump in!
How lucky i am to just have this MOMENT and be IN IT.
It’s a bit crazy… but it helps me to look at nature and think of all that i have,
instead of all my impending deadlines and whatnot bla bla bla bla bla.
[Note: Staring out of the office window into the blue sky doesn’t help as much, it’s a bit depressing cos you feel you want to be outta there!]
3. Rewatching SATC, The Universe docs. or girlie movies.
These are mostly shows that i watch alone because i just want to indulge and drown in the show,
so sarcastic remarks from the partner never contribute to my happiness factor.
I cannot count how many times i’ve watched the SATC series (but i think i’m finally done after 6 seasons x 4 times)
Clem doesn’t enjoy it.
Sometimes he’s next to me on his laptop and tries to talk to me,
so i’d pause the show patiently and hear what he has to say.
But if it’s something really really stupid, i’d be all: 
And after awhile he’d learn not to interrupt me when i’m in my girlie zone,
cos the moment he turns to me, my eyes would go wide ‘WHAT IS IT’ and he’d rethink the importance of the question.
Best done while sipping on shiraz and snacking on Dove chocs
4. Surfing through shopping sites.
Besides editing photos and blogging,
there’s nothing i love doing more online, than surf shopping sites.
I think mostly women will understand me on this…
I’ve discovered that if i’m kinda moody or stressed,
just surfing gorgeous-looking shoes makes me all ecstatic and crazy happy.
(Clem has seen this mood change in me and thinks i’m crazy but i’m sure he’d rather there’s a solution than none at all!)
I love going thru what’s new and available online,
and i even check whether it ships to KL so i make my Pretend Online Shopping more realistic even though i won’t buy them (cos i’d rather spend my money on traveling!)
Still… there’s no harm in make believe and being inspired to be more successful so that one day,
I CAN HAVE ANY PAIR I WANT WAHAHAHA
*cough*sits up straight*
Moving on….
5. Cooking!
Cooking is very much Me Time.
I like doing everything alone and my way (except the washing up, i’m glad to have Clem do that!)
Being a lover of food, i’ve recently discovered WHY people love cooking so much.
I used to think it was boring, and why cook when it’s easier to BUY food in KL!?
Then eating all these different dishes made me yearn to learn (it rhymes! haha!) how to cook for myself,
so that at any time i feel like it, i can get up and make it instead of pine for the continent i was in when i had it.
This sort of Me Time activity takes more effort and time than the others,
but it’s so so rewarding!
All that mixing and stirring is so therapeutic,
as is pummeling meat to make it more tender 
6. Reading while munching on chocolate.
I recently blogged about my relationship with chocolate.
Ever since i’ve switched my body clock to sleep the same time as Clem (oh the things we do for love -_-)
I spend some time reading in bed before going to sleep.
And… the little thing that makes me feel like a child again
is to hold on to a piece of chocolate to nibble at as i turn the pages.
I think it’s the most relaxing time to eat chocolate
cos i get to let the pieces slowly melt in my mouth at no hurry,
in between each word and sentence.
Mmmm…
7. Listening to new music while driving.
When else to take advantage of being alone during the day except when stuck in the car?
Admittedly, i sometimes feel like killing myself when i’m late for an event/meeting and the jam is horrendous.
But most times, i just chill.
I catch up on all these new albums that i never have time to listen to at home (i can’t listen to music when i write…) and try to immerse myself in them.
Right now i’m rotating between albums by Newton Faulkner, Angus & Julia Stone, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, I’m From Barcelona, and Dirty Vegas (it’s been so long since i’ve heard Dirty Vegas…).
+ + +
And that, pretty much sums up what i do for some Me Time 
I also shop and watch movies in the cinema alone,
but i haven’t had time to indulge in that lately!
What do you do for *your* Me Time?
