Skip to main content

Unplug! MAKE a Little Time For You and 3 Ways To Make Sure You Do

Last week the kids and I drove up to Indianapolis to visit family and friends for a few days.  It was a much needed break.  It's been a few years since our last visit and it was nice to get away.  It's always nice to return to familiar places.  I'm sure the kids tired of stopping by my old, childhood neighborhood but they didn't say anything.  They'd seen these places several times over the years and listened to my stories of growing up near Butler University.  I love my kids as they listen without judgment and not once have I heard them sigh "Mommy, we know" as I've undoubtedly shared these stories with them more than once or twice.  

An outing with some old friends left me feeling some kinda way.  My the years have been long and the stress of everyday life seemed to show on their faces.  "You haven't changed a bit", one said.  "You look so young", chimed in another "what's your secret?" she asked.  Secret?  Secret?  Really?  

I will admit the years have been kind to me but life is good.  I mean really, it's good.  Hubby is healthy.  Kids are thriving.  Love my family, friends, job and just my life is good.  We're all church-going, full o' faith chicks but clearly have different ways of managing daily stresses.  When asked "what's your secret T" I had to share it.  I MAKE time for ME.  

In Joyce Meyer's latest book, Unplug, Meyer instructs on ways "to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress."  Beginning with Chapter 1, Meyer shares how stress not only effects us emotionally but physically and how eventually stress creeps into other facets of our life.

Making time for me is easier now that the kids are a little older but even when they were little I always made sure to create a little "me" time whenever I could.  

1.  Set a Timer
     Allow yourself at least 15 minutes of time to yourself every single day.  Set the timer on your cell phone for 15 minutes.  Go for a brisk walk.  Write in your journal.  Read a few pages of a magazine or book.  Go sit in your car.  No distractions.  No talking.  No sound.  Nothing. Just commune by yourself for a few minutes.  

2.  Same Time, Every Day
     Let your family know you are out of commission from ___ to ___.  This works well for families with older children.  We call it "Homework Time".  Everyday, the kids sit at the homework table and I sit at my desk.  They complete their homework and I complete "mine".  Kids need a little decompression time and creating a scheduled study time is a great way to get a few moments of much needed peace and quiet at the end of a long day.

3.  Declare the Last Few Minutes of the Day as Your Own
     After the kids are asleep, take a few minutes to yourself.  Retreat to your bedroom and cuddle up with a good read.  Encourage yourself to read 10-15 minutes or write a few lines in your journal.  Try this 2-3 times a week initially and then build up to doing it daily.  You will feel revived having put aside the stresses of the day.

Be sure to visit http://openbook.hbgusa.com/openbook/9781455559862 to read an excerpt from Unplug by Joyce Meyer and discover the importance of making a little time for yourself.  

What are some ways you sneak in a little time for yourself?







Disclosure: Many thanks to FaithWords / Hatchette Book Group for the opportunity to review this title. I received a review copy in exchange for this review. No monetary compensation was received. For more information on the Disclosure Policy of Three Boys and an Old Lady blog, please visit http://threeboysandanoldlady.blogspot.com/2010/01/advertisecontact.html  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Maple and Brown Sugar Air Fryer Bacon

I've been raving about my Instant Pot but now I have a new favorite... the Air Fryer.   O M G This thing is amazing!  I don't know why I was so late to the Air Fryer craze but I am so glad I am finally onboard.   I've been talking about getting one and then after my aunt posted pics of her new air fryer, that was it off to Best Buy I went.   I wasn't sure how big of a unit I would need but I figured the 2.5 liter would suffice.  I chose the Chefman Express.  It was priced on the shelves for $85 but online for $75.99 and my local store matched the price AND I had my Swagbucks Best Buy QR code so I got 500 SBs + 2 SBs for every dollar spent so that's another 170 SBs.  So, after discounts, my air fryer ended up costing me less than the sale price.  Woohoo! There were some fancy ones on the shelves with digital display but after checking the reviews I figured since I don't fry much this model would suffice. When I think of fried foods, I think

Jeepers! It's January Hop

Happy New Year! What better way to kick off the new year than with a giveaway! I am so excited to join The Mommy Island, The Kids Did It and 90+ other fab blogs in the first big giveaway hop of 2018! Here’s your chance to start the new year off with a win. One lucky Three Boys and an Old Lady blog reader will receive a $15 Walmart eGift card. $10 may not seem like a lot but it’s enough to stock up on some last minute Christmas clearance gifts. Trust me. I bought a 6’ Christmas tree WITH lights, 2 animal massagers, 3 Jelly Belly BeanBoozled Jelly Beans Mystery Bean Dispenser, Christmas cards and wrapping paper less than $20 during an after Christmas Walmart shopping trip. I was searching for some cough syrup when my friend’s kid spotted the Jelly Belly BeanBoozled Jelly Beans Mystery Bean Dispenser on sale for 50 cents. What a steal! The regular price is $10 so to find them on sale for 50 cents was a deal. We cleared the shelves. A few rows down we spotted some anima

A Pit Stop at Sho Nuff Hot Tamales in Greenville, Mississippi

My cousin and I were driving along and our tummies were rumbling as we crossed the Mississippi state line on US-82.  We didn't really have any particular dish in mind for lunch but we started seeing signs saying "Hot Tamales". "Hot Tamales", my Philly cousin asked. "Yep", I replied nonchalantly.  "I remember reading something about hot tamales being a big thing here in the Delta."   We kept driving and finally decided we would have to try these famous Mississippi Delta hot tamales. Now to decide which one.  There were literally dozens of tamale spots.  We happened upon a restaurant called Sho-Nuff and decided it was the one. We parked and entered the large, delightfully decorated restaurant.  The wall was plastered with local and national awards in recognition of those hot tamales.   There was a sign touting Sho-Nuff as the winner of the local newspaper's favorite restaurant award and 3rd place winner in the annual  Delta Hot Ta