How often have you said to yourself; ‘I wish I had more time for me’, ‘I'm always so busy, I never have a minute to relax’ or ‘I don't have time for that’?

We all lead busy lives… but the one thing we seem never to be able to carve out time for is ourselves. Creating more ‘me’ time is a common desire the majority of people can empathize with. So now, with just over a week remaining in 2016; it’s time to put these aspirations into action. Just wait and see what as little as 15-30 minutes a day of uninterrupted, relaxing "me" time will make to your life.

When we deliberately carve out time to do the things we enjoy or relax, we end up happier, healthier and feeling better. It enables us to de-stress, unwind and rejuvenate in order to renew, heal, and create reserves of energy and peace.

It’s said that the more giving we generally are as a person, the more inclined we are to believe that making time for ourselves is ‘selfish’. It’s important to remember that no matter what we do, there are only 24 hours in a day, so you can't create more time. But you can clear some time by reevaluating priorities, perhaps saying "no" more often and practicing smart time management.

If everyone else around you is worthy of care and attention, then so are you. You not only deserve this time, but you need it for your own well-being. Lack of time for ourselves often leads to feeling frustrated, tired, overwhelmed and out of balance. Without this time for ourselves, we lose sight of what's important to us.

Let’s look at ways that you can make focusing on you a reality:

Learn to say "no" to requests to do things that you don't really want to, don't value or don't bring you satisfaction and joy.

Ask for help with chores that don't necessarily have to be completed by you alone.

At the beginning of each week, take a few minutes to designate specific time slots for all that must be accomplished—including "me" time. Treat your personal time like you would any other appointment and make it non-negotiable.

Commit to a minimum of 15-20 minutes of "me" time every day. Do something (or nothing) that completely lets go of responsibilities and releases your mind, allowing you to be alone with your thoughts.

Create a daily ritual. This can be a bath, listening to music, taking a walk or meditating. Make it something you can look forward to. Try setting your alarm for 20 minutes earlier in the morning and enjoy your tea or smoothie before the rest of the house wakes. Skip the bus where possible and walk instead. Notice the sounds, smells and objects around you: this in itself is a form of meditation and will help hold your attention on you in that very present moment.