Making Time for Yourself

Everyone has thought to themselves on one occasion or another ‘There isn’t enough time in the day to finish everything I need to do.’ That was me. I was frustrated every single day because I needed 27 hours a day, at the very least. My list is extensive. First and foremost, I’m a mom to six children and a ‘meme’ to a beautiful granddaughter. Joshua, 11, is the last of the six in the house. So, they’re not babies any longer, running around our legs, getting into things, and making me want to pull my hair out at times. They are grown and on their own, BUT I still worry about them and they still have a tendency to drive me insane. They will call out of the blue with some new problem or something that only Mom can solve (Believe me, I’m not complaining. I love being a MOM!). Then, of course, I’m a wife=housekeeper=therapist. After all, isn’t that what a therapist is partially paid for is to listen while the person spills out all their frustrations so it’s not all bottled up inside? Yup, me the therapist. Next is I’m running two businesses alongside my husband. PAUSE: I don’t want you all to think this is a complaint list. It truly isn’t. Continuing on, I’m a writer, a volunteer moderator over at Savvy Authors where I also take workshops to continue growing as a writer, and I have my Twinkies-my absolute wonderful CP group CBC, who I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

My point is my life is incredibly busy. To find those tiny moments of time for myself is a challenge in itself. And, unfortunately, it took me getting very sick last week and ending up in the hospital for me to realize that I do need that time for myself: my mind, my body, and my spirit. I rush around like a chicken with my head cut off from the break of dawn until 8pm. It’s a constant go. I’ve had to reorganize my life so I can still do everything AND have my time. That time doesn’t include writing. What it does include is emptying my racing thoughts chalkboard (will explain in a moment) and just trying to find a few extra minutes of peace within myself without all the worries. And a good book to read just before going to sleep.

What I have found which seems to work for me is picturing a large school chalkboard (not the new marker ones. I’m sure some of us still remember those old black chalkboards.) with all my daily worries, activities, what ifs, etc written on it. And I simply erase it all away, leaving it blank. And then I refuse to let any thoughts whatsoever to enter back into my mind for five or ten minutes. It is a refreshing exercise.

My advice is to find that something which will work for you to give you that little reboost. And if you already have it, please feel free to share in the comments!!