I need to take care of myself. What does it look like to you to take care of yourself? There’s basic hygiene, water, nutrition – you know, the basics. I’m just wondering how other full time working moms take care of themselves. I remember doing it when my son was a toddler up until the time I got pregnant with the twins. I did it with the help of having a membership to the Y, and then being a group fitness instructor. So that kept me accountable because if I didn’t show up to class then class didn’t happen. But now that I have twins and I’m back at work, I don’t really know what it looks like to take care of myself during this season.
I know sleep is a huge priority (as I yawn). I know that spending time with God is a priority, but it seems like it’s something I don’t ever get around to, not how I used to, not how I’d like to. I haven’t worked out in a really long time and I can feel my body craving all the good chemicals I get from working out. I know I need to go out on a date with my husband. It feels like it’s been forever since we went somewhere that wasn’t church or with family.
I know there are things I can do to take care of myself, I just don’t see how to juggle it all. I’m missing margin in my day. I need white space. I need…how do you clear things off of your calendar and to-do list when all of the stuff has to be done? I have a friend of mine at work who used to joke with me “Reina, all you need to do is get yourself a wife.” All I know is I feel overwhelmed and spent. So if you’ve got tips or suggestions on how to refocus energy and time, I’d love to hear them.
Catalyst Movement 
Comments on: "Amateur Juggler (October 4th)" (4)
Lol… *sarcastic*. I find that almost everything takes priority over me taking care of myself. I’m not sure when it happened. Then, last night and this morning I came down with a weird cold that left me notious and sore and tired. So I allowed myself to let some stuff slide, and it felt pretty good.
Encouragement: my mom raised 7 children, and we were all about 1.5 years apart. That led to a lot of years of her not being able to go out on a date with my dad or do a million other things I’m sure she had done before we were all born. But, as the older ones matured, we became more of a help than a hindrance and she got to sit back and relax a little more. Now, half of us are adults and she even gets to travel and take road trips with us, something that was NEVER really feasible when we were young. Life is slowing down a bit for her, I think. Hopefully she now has the time to read all the books she wanted to. 🙂
Putting things into perspective helps with prioritizing for sure! Thanks for the encouragement that one day traveling with my family will be a source of relaxation and not stress 😉
Really good questions. I try to remind myself that everything is a choice. Saying “no” can be really freeing. Also I remind myself that everything I’m doing at a given time is just for that season. I’m not reading many books now- and I love to read- but I will rejoin a book club again when my daughter is a little older. The fact that I’m not in my old women’s book group at church right now makes me sad but I remind myself that it’s not forever. In short, I try to make choices on a daily basis that are the next right thing for today. And to not beat myself up for not being perfect. I read books via the kindle app on my iPhone instead of spending so much time reading the Internet. I take a walk at lunch instead of sitting at my desk. That helps me with vitamin D and general health. I accept that I can’t go to the gym unless I want my 4 year old in child care 10 hours a day. I accept that it is my choice to say that is not doable for me. So, I have to work really hard on not being jealous of those whose choices are different than mine. I do enjoy cooking real food – so taking time to do that contributes to my sense of worth as a mom and caregiver AND of the person I was before I had a child. So I try to do that (rather than just cooking from the trader joes freezer section) a couple of times a week.
Thanks for sharing, Helen! I’m learning to take things in stride and to be fully present in this season. That may mean that I don’t have the tidiest house, the most consistent quiet time, or home cooked meals every day. And that’s okay. I don’t know what I would do without the frozen section from TJ’s!!!