I hit ‘bottom’ and knew something had to change.

I was sitting on the floor of our lounge room when he found me. I’d been caring for our three children for months. Sometimes I looked after my nephew as well. But I was struggling, big time. And I didn’t realise how bad it had gotten until that day.

I felt completely wiped out. I had run out of whatever it took for the human body to function. My husband rushed over to me and asked me what was wrong. “Nothing,” I answered. “I’m really happy, I just can’t seem to move at the moment. I’ll get up in a sec.”

After peeling me off the floor he took me to the doctor. I felt ill, but I wasn’t. I felt like I was lacking in some crucial vitamin, but blood tests showed I wasn’t. I wasn’t depressed, I wasn’t any more sleep deprived than any other new mum. What on earth was going on?

Then the doctor asked me a question.

Do you get any time for you?

I almost laughed in his face. I had three children, two of whom were only 16 months apart. Our finances were in tatters after my husband’s business collapsed. We’d just moved to a new home and new suburb. Our dog was ill. Our fridge was on the blink.

Driving home my husband said the same thing. “You have to have some time for you.” I knew they were right. But when would I find the time? What would I replace? Who would look after the kids? What would happen once I entered my quest to discover ‘me’ time?

I thought of nothing else for the next few days as I dragged myself through my crazy, busy day. I started trying to focus on little moments I’d been missing. I’d missed out on the joy of holding my toddler’s hand while I fed his new baby sister. I’d missed out on watching my baby sleep, observing her little chest rising and falling, taking in her relaxed features, enjoying how peaceful she could sometimes be.

I’d missed out on how happy my eldest boy was to get home each day. I’d missed out on how excited he was to see me, how much he relied on that hug from me shortly after he walked through the door.

I decided to do something different with my day.

For as long as I could remember, I’d always had three cups of coffee each day, just like my dad. I had one with my breakfast, one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. I structured my day around them. But the busier I became, the more this habit fell by the wayside. I’d gotten into the habit of making my coffee, taking a sip and then forgetting all about it, distracted by the next feed, the next nappy change and the next load of laundry that needed to be hung up to dry.

I’d find it later with that film of thickened coffee floating on the top. Sometimes I hadn’t even taken a sip.

This needed to change.

‘Me’ time didn’t have to be hours away from the kids or a weekend at a spa retreat. ‘Me’ time could be just stopping for a few minutes a day, three times a day and finishing the cup of coffee I loved.

I set up a special chair inside the house, next to the coffee table. I put magazines and books on it. I made sure it was clean and tidy at all times. I set up a chair outside as well. I put it in a sunny spot, next to a portable table and made sure it was kept clean and tidy too.

These became my ‘me time’ chairs. No matter how busy I was each day, three times a day I’d just stop. It became as important to me as the rest of my day.

Now that my kids are older and I’m back at work I still keep this up. I get up a bit early each day so I can eat my breakfast and drink my coffee in silence before they wake. Once they’ve been dropped off at school I head to the office. When I arrive I walk straight to the kitchen and turn the kettle on before settle at my desk.

My third cup is at home after I’ve picked the kids up from school and before we leave for their various afternoon activities. I sit on my chair and sip it while flicking through a magazine (after getting the kids a snack in an attempt to buy myself some time). If my kids need something I tell them I’ll be there as soon as I finish my coffee. My four-year-old daughter walks up to me and peers into my coffee cup to see how much is left.

She knows better than to ask me to hurry up.

‘Me time’ is so important to you and your family. It’s important to your job and your friendships. It’s important to your studies and your volunteer activities.

You need to be at your best so you can give them your best. And ‘me time’ doesn’t have to be lengthy, complicated or expensive. It can be as simple as a special drink, a little snack, a walk around your backyard, a lie down in the sun. It can be as simple grabbing the nearest child and sitting down with them to watch a TV show of your choosing. If they aren’t into your latest favourite reality show, stroking their hair is a good way to keep them still.

Modern life is super-busy. It’s a juggling act. A thousand jobs rolled into one. We know you wouldn’t change it for the world, but wouldn’t it be nice to pause for a little bit of me-time every once in a while.

Moccona is that time out; a little bit of indulgence in an otherwise hectic day. From its smooth, rich taste to its iconic glass jar, Moccona has been a favourite with coffee lovers in Australia for over 50 years. Every jar of Moccona is made from 100% coffee beans and carefully produced to create a premium quality coffee that you’ll love, every time.

Moccona lets coffee lovers enjoy a little more me-time, anytime.

How do you fit ‘me time’ into your day?