As a mother and a wife there are numerous things you tend to feel guilty about but taking time for yourself should not be one of them. Every day many mothers grapple with making time for themselves and fulfilling their needs for their family. Even when you get a moment to yourself you tend to feel guilty because your habitual thought process is saying what else do I have to do? You find it difficult to sit down and relax because you know you have forgotten to do something. There seems to never be enough time to do it all, especially if you're a working mom.
I noticed that the little things that are important to our well being we neglect sometimes and put everyone else's needs in front of our own. This type of behavior is detrimental to our spirit and can lead to depression, anxiety and a breakdown of a marriage if you are not careful. If your daily routine has always been doing everything for other people and neglecting yourself you will be miserable. I know from experience that if you don't take care of you first you will die a slow spiritual death. If this sounds like I am being selfish, then good it's time for me and you to become more selfish and take care of ourselves. Why do some of us think that we have to wait until our kids are grown to get our lives back? By that time it might be too late. The time is now. There are ways to manage our time more effectively and methods to decrease the workload such as:
1)Take it from me invest in paper plates to alleviate the stress of washing the dishes
2)Give your children chores.
3)Ask your husband or others for help.
4)If the kids wake up at 6am on a Saturday you may have to get up at 5am just to get some time to yourself.
5)Instead of binging on Netflix or shows take that time to invest in what you love to do or research that business you always wanted to start.
6) PRAY and ask God to give you wisdom and guidance (this should have been number one!).
7) Invest in a responsible trusting babysitter to watch the kids occasionally.
When you fly on an airplane, the flight attendant instructs you to put your oxygen mask on first, before helping others. Why is this an important rule for ensuring survival? Because if you run out of oxygen, you can't help anyone else with their oxygen mask. I am no good to my family or my children if I don't take care of myself first. As my children are growing older and becoming more independent it has given me a chance to reflect on what is important to me. I am not just someone's mother or wife. I am valuable to this journey we call life. It is time to rediscover and go back to what you have always loved about yourself and regain your confidence back. We as women are sometimes afraid to ask for help and we don't have to do it alone.
As a mom, it is important to make valuable time for yourself and find a place of solace. Plan a day to go to the spa, wake up early and go on that morning jog, go see that movie you always wanted to see or invest in a good book or class you always wanted to take. Your family will be better with a more confident and loving you. Someway somehow you have to find the time to pursue your dreams, tackle your goals and become the best you. It will be difficult and challenging at first but you will be a better person for it. Don't feel guilty about taking care of yourself anymore.
