Thursday, March 3, 2011

Finding Me Time Is A Juggling Act

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Me Time is at a premium when you're a mom. Even more so when you're an only parent.

Over the years, I have learned that if my battery is drained, I am not much good to myself or to my kids.

While daily massages and happy hours sound great, we all know they are incredibly unrealistic. So how do you keep yourself on top of your game? What do you do to ensure your life is still yours?

I know for the sake of my own sanity, it is important that I carve some Me Time into my schedule every day. While many think Me Time is a luxury moms can't afford, it really doesn't have to be that way. I agree, a night out with my girlfriends is often what the doctor ordered, but rarely something I can do. But there are so many things that are cheap and easy that we can do at home that give us the quick refresher that we so often need!

Routine is not one of my fortes. It is rare that today looks anything like yesterday. And tomorrow most likely won't even resemble today. So for me, planning Me Time at a specific time everyday just isn't in the cards. As much as I would love to pencil "Daily Devotionals" or "Catch up on my favorite show" in at 10:00 every morning, there isn't a chance that I would ever make my dates with myself if I did.

Instead, I find my moments in the midst of the chaos of each and every day. Whether I take a half hour to do some reading while the kids are doing homework, or rock out to my favorite tunes on my iPod while cooking dinner, I am actively finding ways to feed my soul.

So what if I have three baskets of laundry that are screaming to be folded. There will always be laundry. I will always have floors that need to be vacuumed, or dishes that need to be put away. I've realized, I can't live my life as a slave. If I'm not finding daily joy, I am not thriving as a woman.

Sometimes, my best quiet moments are after my children are asleep. Yes, I know that this is often the best time to accomplish anything. But kids grow fast. Mine are already in 5th and 6th grades. According to them, they are too big to be held. They're too big to be loved up. So I take advantage of this time while they are off in dreamland, curl up next to them, pray for them, and remind them as they sleep, they are my greatest gift in life.

It is important to know where your joy is. It is important to know in what ways you can refresh your spirit and revitalize your soul. It is critical that we each find a way to take a little time for ourselves - everyday. It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't have to be life altering, but in the end, it will be life changing.

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Remember, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors. I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

4 comments:

Evonne said...

Yes! Me time is critical! I try to get some me time every night after my kids go to bed. If I don't, it throws me all off.

J-Tony said...

Nice post. Couldn't agree more, it is important to know where your joy is. Thanks.

Becky said...

Totally agreed. I think I need more alone time than most people. Finding me time when my husband is home isn't that big a deal, but he travels frequently and some days I really have to squeeze it in, either after bedtime (will she NEVER go to sleep?!!?!) or at just some point in the day. Thank goodness for after school activities and playdates - they help.

Laura Everyday Edits said...

new follower.. would love
a follow back.. loved the teacher comments! scary! laura@imnotatrophywife.com

http://imnotatrophywife.com

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