Life Balance: Making Time for YOU!

Kristin Southwick

Every time you board a plane, you hear the stewardess instruct you to put your own air mask on before helping those seated around you.  Many women feel an instinctual desire to help their children and others first.

However the words of the stewardess turn out to be vital…not only in the event of emergencies but also in your daily life.

by Kristin Southwick
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

You must help yourself first in order to be available and effective…
for those around you!

This is part 2 of a 4 part series on creating life balance.  Last month we talked about the Juggling Act between work and home.  In this article we’ll talk about an important part of life blance…finding time to nurture and care for yourself.

Consider this, when you are exhausted or overwhelmed, do you feel as though you have the same level of patience or desire to meet the needs of those around you? 

Many women may feel guilty about taking care of themselves, or feel that they can’t spare any extra time to attend to their own needs.  But if you take time to respect and listen to your body, you’ll have more energy, optimism, and patience for others.  You’ll feel less depleted and will be able to create more balance in your life.

Following are 3 simple steps to help you make time to nurture yourself.

1. What’s Important to YOU

Think about what’s important to you…something you love that you don’t get enough of.  Maybe you wish you had time to practice yoga, go to the gym, read a book, have a coffee date with friends, take a walk around your neighborhood, or indulge in warm bath with a glass of wine before bed. 

These are all simple basic needs that are positive and healthy for the body, mind, and soul.

2.  Consider Your Schedule

Once you discover what you would like to do to pamper yourself, consider your schedule.

How much time you would like to take to enjoy yourself so that you get a sense of fulfillment?

For example if it’s going to the gym, figure out what time of day would be best, morning before you get lost in the activities of the day, or maybe lunch time. Perhaps evenings or weekends would work better for you. Decide how long you want to stay, and how many times a week you feel you could participate.  You might decide to take an hour right after work twice a week while your children are at day care.  

3.  Get the Support You Need

Now, talk to your partner about times during the week that each of you could plan something for yourself. 

Brainstorm ways you can support each other without the guilt that sometimes comes with putting your needs first.  

Perhaps your partner can watch the children so that you can pursue something that relaxes you.  It’s so important to communicate with your partner as to what your needs are, and how taking time for yourself will help you and your relationship with those around you.

If you don’t have a partner, ask a family member, neighbor, or make arrangements to extend day care for an extra hour once week.  Remember, if people offer to help you, take them up on their offers.  They would not offer if they didn’t want to support you. 

I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration to plan something for yourself that you love and are passionate about. Taking care of yourself helps you be a better partner, mother, friend, career women, and person.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like Part 3: Creating Quality Family Time!

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Tags: Career, family, highlight, Marriage, My Time, work/life balance

Category: Live Your Best Life