TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF! - CHALLENGE #10

TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF.  Hmmmm …. What does that even mean? That was a concept we may have embraced 'back in the day' - when we were still in school ... but who has time for that these days?


A few years ago I came across an unbelievable situation. I was sitting in a hair salon having my hair cut and mindlessly listening to these young gals in the chairs next to me.  They were discussing their “schedule for grad”.  I recall it going something like this …. Sept. – start tanning sessions  Oct. – begin nails and pedicure routines  November – book hairstylist   December – Christmas break   January – begin dress search   February – book flight (Huh?  What for?  Wait for it … New York for THE dress)  March – Spring Break – dress shopping in New York  April – accessories  May – Grad!  Oh, wow – can you imagine?  Here I am wondering if I should splurge on a new colour of toe nail polish!


What in the world? Ok – so we aren’t going down THAT path but it does address keeping a little balance in our lives. While it is important to be mindful of expenses and time, its also necessary to recognize that somewhere in all of the running around being a wife, mom, co-worker, family member, etc. there still needs to be time to kick back and set aside personal time. As women, we are so quick to look after other people’s needs, often putting our own health and welfare on the bottom of the To Do List. That’s how we burn out. Unfortunately, we are not the Energizer Bunny – no matter what our families and co-workers may think. And quite frankly, even the Energizer Bunny’s batteries run down now and again.

 

When my kids were young, I used to regularly meet a friend at McDonald’s. We’d let the kids play and just enjoyed spending time together having coffee. No cleaning up or preparations. What wonderful memories I have of those days. It was a great mental and physical break away from the daily grind.


Taking stock of your day gives you a good picture of what your priorities are. Often it involves kids, cooking, cleaning, out of the house employment, laundry, driving to and from sporting events and kids’ activities, shopping for food and necessities, bill paying, etc. Seldom in there is anything that even remotely looks like something where you have some “me” time.


Guilt is probably the biggest culprit behind taking time for ourselves. Young moms, who are run ragged trying to keep up with the demands of small kids, need to stop thinking they have to work while their kidlets are napping. If a nap is in order for Mom, too, a nap is in order. You don’t even have to be a young mom – sometimes the rest of us need to do this now and again, too! The house work and basic chores do need to get done but not at the expense of your sanity and energy. Even 30 min. on the couch can act as a “spa nap” - refreshing and rejuvenating you as opposed to rushing around trying to get ironing started or another load in while the baby naps. Taking time for yourself is not selfish. It’s called ‘SURVIVAL’. So grab a cozy blanket, pillow and snuggle up on that big comfy couch. Set the timer for 45 min. and prepare to relax and take in those well deserved ZZZZZZ’s. It will take you about 10-15 min. to settle down and drift off. Even if you don't actually sleep - a rest can make a noticeable difference to the rest of your day. If you need it, take it. Consider that one of the perks of the ‘job’.


For anyone needing to blow off steam – getting out is a good place to start. Meeting a friend, going for a run, gardening, or perhaps crafting, scrapbooking, curling up with a great book, having a bubble bath – it’s all good. Electronics are prob. not the best way to take time for yourself. Actually, I’m not even a fan of talking on the phone or shopping (unless it’s looking for books that you’d enjoy) when you finally get some time to yourself. We don’t need to multi-task all the time. Let whatever you take time to do be something that refuels you, not drains you or adds to your busyness.   

Aim for one little thing every day that gives you a sense of “away”. It may even be sitting in a cozy chair in your bedroom at the end of the day, wrapped up in your fluffy robe, feet propped up, sipping a cup of tea and reading some terrific stuff. That’s generally how my day now ends.



Gone are the days of rushing to throw in yet another load of laundry before heading to bed, making late night calls to family, etc. I now mentally slot into my day – ‘me time’. It’s important because I’m important. Not that laundry and family calls don’t have a place but like anything … chores and obligations will fill all our time, if we let them. Parkinson’s Law – ‘work will expand to fill the time available for its completion.’ Work never seems to go away. It’s always there waiting for us the next morning. Kids always need our time … they don’t go away either (as much as we might wish some days). It’s important for our family to see that we value ourselves and they need to learn to value our time away, too. How will they learn, if we don’t teach them? They are not mind readers and if we are going to send them a message – make it a good one.


So now . . . who gets to decide whether you are ‘WORTH IT’ (other than l’Oreal, that is)? Join me this week in finding a little time just for ourselves . . . as in Trooper’s song lyrics … “We’re here for a good time … not a long time …”

 Food for Thought:

    

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"One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes…and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.”

                                                        Eleanor Roosevelt


See you next week for my Learn One New Thing Challenge!



Images from: footprintsfromthebible.blogspot.com; nsf.gov; theitinerantminister.blogspot.com; e-forwards.com