Q: How do you carve out “me time” in the midst of your busy schedule? Christine Paige Senior VP, Marketing and Internet Services, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente; Kids: Nicholas, 18, and Stephanie, 13

A: Finding time for me takes discipline—just like getting regular exercise and eating properly. And I think it’s just as important for good health. That being said, the hardest part for me is the “regular” part. Between a too-full workload and shifting requirements at home, finding a regular slot for personal time is not an option. Instead it’s irregular, varied and opportunistic. And I’d say for me it falls into four categories.

The physical I try to squeeze in some downtime, usually combined with a little exercise, as often as I can. This includes walking the dog, taking a swim in the hotel pool during a business trip or enjoying a Sunday walk in the woods. One of my kids often joins in, but it’s very much for me.

The luxurious Going to the opera is my top pick in this category. It takes planning, and it doesn’t happen often. When it does, it’s pure sensory pleasure.

The creative Sometimes true relaxation means doing something instead of nothing. I invent house projects, either at home or at a small cabin we have in the mountains. The key is to make sure the project doesn’t create more stress. I like projects that require a bit of problem-solving and carpentry but are not too far above my skill level. I leave the difficult tasks to the professionals.

The stimulating For me, real renewal requires completely removing myself from routine life and changing perspective. Foreign travel does this, and I’m lucky to be able to plan regular trips. These trips do include family and friends—who wants to travel alone?—but the motivation is very personal. In the last year, I visited Vienna, the Dalmatian coast and northern Italy. East Africa is next. Each time, I come back with a better sense of who I am and what keeps me going. Finding personal time, especially time to relax, is something I’ve got-ten better at with practice. Several years ago, we launched an ad campaign focused on the concept of total health that includes not only the body but also the mind and spirit.

As we urged our health plan members to “thrive,” I realized that I needed to get more serious about my own ability to do the same. So I began to think more about the things that renew us and the discipline it takes to set aside time for them. In some ways the same skills that make us successful at work are required here: creativity, planning and recognizing an opportunity when it presents itself. And while it may take work skills to find personal time, for me the key is making sure these activities don’t become more items on the never-ending to-do list but are things that should be high priority. Still, it’s always nice to check off “take a moment to breathe.”

Sue Sears VP, Global Market Development, Kimberly-Clark Professional Kids; Jay, 18, Chris, 16, and Andrew, 14 A: It’s early Sunday morning, and I’m sitting in my quiet family room (everyone’s asleep upstairs) with my coffee, reading a book. In approximately one hour, I will be at the gym for my daily cardio workout, followed by my weekly 90-minute yoga session, capped off by a relaxing steam and a sauna. It is sheer bliss and represents the “me time” I make a priority to carve out weekly. All alone, by myself, just doing what I want to do. All working mothers know this is a rare occurrence and time we treasure. No matter how busy I am, I try to plan me time, because it’s the way I rejuvenate and stay fresh in my personal and professional life. I also insist on maintaining my “girl time.” I frequently organize getaway weekends with my sisters or my close friends to our favorite beach spot, where we relax, enjoy each other’s company and have a few laughs. When planning business trips, I look for a little “bonus time” for myself whenever and wherever possible. For example, I make it a point to reserve at least one night during a trip to have dinner with a special friend or enjoy time alone in my hotel room with a glass of wine, a movie and a soothing bubble bath. It works wonders for me and is a great way to reward myself after a long day of meetings.

Anne Erni Chief Diversity Officer and Managing Director, Lehman Brothers; Kids: Paulina, 17, and Noah, 10 A: I try to think about my own time the way Wharton business school professor Stewart Friedman, a friend of mine, explains it: Your time needs to be a four-way win between work, family, community and self. Each day, week, and month, the splits vary. While I have not yet found the holy grail that could lead me to the perfect division of my time, I have found success in scheduling specific times for me. I rely on one simple standing appointment every week: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays with my committed personal trainer, Denise, and my great friend Katie. This time is the only true “line in the sand” that I draw for myself to focus on me. No matter what else is going on in my life, I always manage to break away for my treasured 90 minutes with Denise and Katie. My Friday appointments allow me to focus on my physical self and catch up regularly with a dear friend. There is no time during the week when I can pick up the phone and just chat with-out a purpose. At the gym together, Katie and I share triumphs, regrets, humor and heartache. As we work out, we swap stories of our different lives, philosophize and even bounce ideas off each other. It’s wonderful to think that in just an hour and a half I can revitalize myself physically and mentally and share the process with a true friend.