Making Time for You
"I Can't cope!" is a phrase I've said so many times as tears have rolled down my face. Becoming a wife, mother, moving house and becoming a business woman within the space of 3 years got so overwhelming that I just wanted to run. I didn't feel like I as doing a good job and I felt like I was letting everyone down. Some of how I felt was due to post natal depression but parts of it was due to a fundamental problem that I had been overlooking at the time. I simply was not taking care of myself. I most certainly would have responded with a guilt-ridden rebuttal if someone had highlighted this issue to me at the time. However, as time went by the struggle to maintain balance intensified and I was becoming more and more overwhelmed.
Being at breaking point eventually overrode my guilt and so we managed to work some 'me-time' into my schedule. I realised that it wasn't wrong to spoil myself every now and again. I felt more energised, refreshed, appreciated and valued. The guilt I felt was as a result of having the perspective that 'if you love someone you give them all your time and all your energy' (even if you don't have it). As humans, our resources run out so quickly and easily and we can only do so much. The moment that I accepted my fallibility and need for rest was the moment things began to turn around. I was able to reflect and work out if I was heading in the right direction and realign myself with God given purpose. I found my 'sense of self' again and became more 'present' with my son, husband, family and friends. Life certainly isn't perfect and we do get thrown 'curve balls' that can throw us off balance but I'm definately more able to manage the many roles that I have to assume. Of course there are many factors that come into play like being able to say "no", scheduling, outsourcing and so forth but the fundamentals are in place. Don't worry, I will vlog all those time management lessons at some point aswell.
I just wrote this in the hope that if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by your responsibilities then the cause may be that you haven't taken time for you. If you fall apart then everything falls apart, so whatever your schedule is like, make yourself a priority. You may feel a little bit guilty at first but once you notice the impact that it has on everything around you I'm sure you'll feel better. So go relax with a massage, buy those shoes or gadget and make yourself feel like the winner you are. Of course make sure you have budgeted first! Haha! Seriously though, you will certainly make strides in the right direction if you make time for you bcause the truth is that you're important too!
Yours Sincerely Sal
