THE IMPORTANCE OF 'ME' TIME.

I think when we're younger and we still live with our parents, we don't quite realise just how lucky we are. When I look back 12 months ago to when Marc and I still lived with my Mum & Dad, and I think of how much they both did for us (especially my Mum - she's like wonder-woman!), I'm always amazed at how she carried on without being completely and utterly exhausted. She'd do all our laundry (both washing and ironing), she'd vac right through the house once every couple of days, she did almost all the cooking (I tried to help as much as possible with this) and on top of all that, she was also there to offer great advice whenever we needed her to, as well. I'll be honest, in a lot of ways, I do miss it - and so does Marc!

We were pretty much treated like a king and queen at my parents house, but buying our own place was a huge part of growing up for us. My parents weren't just a great support generally and emotionally with this change, but they also helped us out enormously financially, too, which we'll both always be very grateful for. We've been very, very lucky to have all of this help and support, but now, we're learning to stand on our own two feet and work out a healthy work/home/life balance that works for us, and sometimes, it isn't always so easy.

I think the biggest shock to the system for me when we moved out was how many chores there were to do, and how much time this would actually take up. I think in my naive little head, I'd be doing one or two wash loads a week, and a couple of other bits and bobs, and that would be about it. Oh, how wrong I was!

I don't think I've ever been so exhausted in my life! I've never done so much cooking, cleaning and general house maintenance before ever. And yeah, I suppose I could make things easier for myself if I really wanted to, but I like our house looking super clean and tidy, and I also like to eat healthily and cook everything we eat from scratch. It's a lot to take on as well as working full time, and whilst it does tire me out, I still feel incredibly lucky to be in the position we are in.

I think the biggest, most important thing for me is that I still take some 'me' time every now and again. For those of you sat there wondering what I mean by that, it's pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. When I talk about needing some 'me' time, I literally mean just taking some time out to concentrate solely on myself and making me happy. From little things like going for a coffee with my Mum or to get our eyebrows done, to bigger treats like luxury spa weekends, I like to have something to look forward to and to properly enjoy. And I think this makes such a huge difference to how I feel.

Right now, Marc and I both work full time, and as soon as we get home in an evening, we start again straight away with cooking the tea - and you know what? I think that's totally normal! But personally, I like to take a breather every now and again and break away from these everyday chores and stresses.

As someone who has, and still does suffer with anxiety, I really value my mental well-being, and I don't ever want to get into a position where I feel uncomfortably overwhelmed or burnt out as I have done in the past. I'm now learning the importance of taking this 'me time' and giving myself a few hours, or even a couple of days off from everything.

Allowing some time to look after yourself and focus on you is just so important. It can be all too easy to get bogged down in life's everyday tasks and routines, but if you schedule in a little bit of me time, even if it's just once a week, I promise you, you'll feel so much better.

To give you a little inspiration, I've pulled together a list of my favourite things to do when I want to give myself a break and to really enjoy myself and kick back. I hope you enjoy!

My Top 10 'Me Time' Ideas

Have a bath - I don't know about you, but having a long, hot soak in the bath with a glass of something fizzy (it doesn't have to be alcoholic, in fact, most of the time, I just have a nice Elderflower fizz or something!) just makes me feel so much better. I'll give myself a proper pamper - face mask, hair mask, body scrub, you know, the full works - and just enjoy 30-45 minutes of nothing but pure relaxation. Sometimes, I'll stick a bit of music on or something in the background, but most of the time, I just light a candle, close the door and unwind.
Spend time with pets - One of the hardest things for me when Marc and I moved out was leaving my little Max at my parent's house. Max is a family dog, so I couldn't exactly run off with him, but also, my parents both work part time now, so he gets to spend a lot of time with them, whereas he'd be on his own a lot more with us. Anyway, when I'm feeling a little down or burnt out, I always find that spending time with Max makes me feel so much better. Whether it's a nice walk in the woods or just sitting with him on the sofa, I'm a true believer in the fact that dogs (and other pets) have a calming affect on their owners. Max cheers me up every time I see him!

Little Max chilling out on our bed - he always makes me feel so much happier and more relaxed!
Watch TV and have some treats - For me, Friday nights mean nothing but chilling out. I'll still cook from scratch, because I actually enjoy cooking and I really do value both mine and Marc's health, but as soon as we've eaten and everything's washed up, it's time to stick our pyjamas on and watch a something good on TV. Sometimes, it'll be a good film, other times, a series that we're watching. At the moment, we're hooked on Pretty Little Liars (all seasons are available on Netflix, for those that are interested), and I love nothing more than just snuggling up on the sofa with some treats (usually chocolate buttons) as we watch.
Go for a walk - I love getting outside and enjoying the green spaces around us - it makes me feel relaxed and it's really good for mindfulness. When Marc and I mind Max (our family dog) if my parents go away, we tend to get out and walk a lot more than we usually do, but if I'm ever feeling a little groggy or tired, I always make the effort to get outside and have a nice walk. The fresh country air just makes me feel so happy inside.

Tatton Park, Knutsford is just so beautiful
Have a break from social media - This is a weird one for me, as social media is a huge part of blogging and although I don't like to be glued to my phone, apps like Instagram and Pinterest are useful to me. However, if I'm feeling stressed, I like to switch my phone off and have a breather. Just an hour or two with no notifications or scrolling through feeds is great for chilling out.
Book a spa weekend - Spa weekends are, without a doubt, one of my favourite things to do ever. Marc and I went to our favourite spa, The Mere Golf Resort and Spa on Monday for a one night break, and it was just so lovely. We go to The Mere two or three times a year (usually with my parents but they couldn't make it on this occasion) and we make time to just focus on ourselves, have a little pamper and watch the world go by. The Mere, which is in Knutsford, is surrounded by the most incredible, beautiful scenery, is, for me, the perfect place to relax and zone out. One of our favourite things to do is just eat out overlooking the lake and the golf course - it's just beautiful!

Our beautiful lake view at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa
Go for a nice coffee - I'm very lucky to live in a nice, green area that's just a five minute drive from one of the best coffee shops ever - Caffe Grande Abaco in Uppermill. This place does the most amazing iced latte's, and me and my Mum go there almost every week without fail, have a catch up and put the world to rights. I love it!

A delicious Vanilla Soya Latte I enjoyed at The Mere on Monday
Make time for a date night - Spending quality time with Marc is really important to me, which is why I like to have a proper date night every now and again to focus just on the two of us. We like to do things like bowling during the day, and going for meals in the evening. Marc isn't just my fiance, he's my best friend, too, and I love spending time with him.

Marc and I enjoying a date night at Piccolino, Knutsford
Treat yourself to a pamper - Whether it's going to your local salon to get your gel manicure, or simply having a face pack whilst watching a girly film at home, a good old pamper or luxury treatment is one thing I just can't resist! I tend to do my own gel manicures, but I get my HD eyebrows done once every 4-5 weeks with my mum as a treat at The Nail Lounge Uppermill. Rather than just going to the salon and going straight back home, we have our brows done, and then have a little wander around the local stores and boutiques at clothes and homey stuff. You can't beat proper girly time!
Read a good book or magazine - Books and magazines are are great for switching off. I'd recommend steering clear of gossip magazines (a lot of the time, these magazines can be really negative and cruel), instead, opt for something a little more inspiring and captivating. I love Glamour and Cosmopolitan as the content is just so well-written and the articles are actually really useful. I love that the content is so varied in these publications and that there's such a positive feel to the articles. Books are great, too. I love witty chick lit novels with great one-liners the best.