Does your busy life as a wife, mummy, friend, sister and daughter mean there’s never very much time for you? We have heard the term “me time” bandied around for years now, but many women say they still have no time for themselves, which means our wells run dry very quickly. I sat with a lovely friend of mine, Sue, who is a mummy of 5 beautiful kids and she shared some great insights about how we, as women and nurturers, can make more time for ourselves and why it is imperative for not only our own well being, but that of our families too… Why do women to ensure need regular “me time”? “Me time” for mum is essential for the well being of the whole family. A happy mummy means a happy home. By setting time aside for yourself – whether that is exercise, a leisure or creative activity such as an art class, or simply allocating time to have a cuppa while catching up on some reading all indicate that the relationship that you have with yourself is as robust as the ones you have with all those others who drain you of your time and emotional resources. You are not just mum, partner, colleague or friend – you are you in your own right and you need to keep your identity intact. What are the repercussions of putting yourself at the bottom of the list? As women we continually put ourselves on the bottom of the list – is this in our DNA? Men don’t – they still make time to do things that help them retain a sense of self. If we take on this martyrdom role we are the biggest losers but the whole family loses too. Like a pressure cooker we contain a myriad of emotions ranging from resentment, anxiety, loss of confidence and sense of self and when we get fatigued or stressed we blow. We either react with aggression or hide inside ourselves. All that we love becomes a burden not a blessing and as we lose sight of ourselves we forget the fun, humour and boundless love that life and family can offer. As a working mum of five, how do you fit time into your schedule for yourself? I prioritise my time in the same way I would a client or job task – so I put myself into my diary. In this way I make an appointment with myself that I cannot break. Whether it is a dance or yoga class, a pedicure or the monthly dinner catch up with the girls – they are popped in the diary along with immunisation appointments, parent-teacher meetings and client sessions. As women we tend not to prioritise ourselves but this weekly exercise is a hands-on way to valuing ourselves and our time. Consequently, we become more valued by those around us and we reduce tension and any residual resentment. Thanks Sue for taking the time to share with me so I could pass on to all my beautiful ladies here :)
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 08:37:41 +0000
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