Have you ever seen the demonstration with the glass jar filled with rocks, pebbles and sand?
The idea is your day is represented by that empty glass jar.
First in, the rocks, the most important obligations - your family, your job, etc.
The jar looks pretty full, but you can still dump in some pebbles that find the crevices. The pebbles are the lesser obligations, maybe some appointments like hair or nails? Maybe it's shlepping the kids to lessons and scouts?
Now the jar looks packed tight, and then some sand gets poured in - again finding places to settle. Because you know there's more to your day that just major obligations and being the taxi. The sand is helping with homework, talking to your friends and family, catching up on emails, etc.
Now the jar is completely full isn't it? Wait. A glass of water is added and it fills the jar.
What is the water? Is it the time you veg out in front of the TV? Is it the moments completely to yourself you THOUGHT you couldn't make time for?
The idea is we all have to juggle the rocks, the pebbles and the sand - but even that little bit of water can still fill in those empty spots, find a home in your day. And you know what? You can't leave it out. For that jar to be filled to the brim, you need to have those YOU moments. Even if it's just five minutes with your favorite drink, the time alone in the car to and from one of the "rocks or pebbles" in your jar - you need to recharge those batteries.
We have a saying in our house (to be fair, it's the hub who says it) "If Mom isn't happy, the whole house isn't happy." He's right. Even though I don't have much to do with the financial stability of the family - I'm the spiritual one, the emotional glue. If I'm frazzled, the whole house is out of whack. (If you've read my blog before you know this does not mean I am organized...me organized? hahahahaha)
How do you find the balance, the time for yourself to recharge? We're all different and have varying methods of reducing the stress levels of our lives. For me, I know that writing even that one page gets me closer to my next contract. Releasing my words to the page is my therapy - my emotional glue. I get up earlier than everyone else to give myself those quiet moments to get the words on paper. At night, it's that cup of tea and anything chocolate (and lately, followed up with tums chaser, but I digress.)
It's what I do. How do you sneak in those "you" moments?
Angelika Devlyn (1)
David Bridger (1)
Debora (1)
George Allwynn (1)
Kissa Starling (1)
I really like this post! Right now I'm not working, which is hard financially but I have a lot of time on my hands. It makes getting things done relatively easy. It'll be different when I can find myself a job again, though. Krysten(Quote)
Great post, Debora! I have a hard time with this one (I work and have two boys, 6 and 1, at home.) I've determined that my "me time" needs to be during my work hours some how. Sounds crazy, right?
At lunch I'll take a walk around the city or jump across the street to the bookstore. I also read and daydream on the bus ride home.
I'm learning that I need to give up trying to do anything for me during the waking hours between dinner and bed and give those heathens my undivided attention. But I get cranky and moody if I don't feel like I had any decompression time…hence, the sacred lunch hour. It works for us! Harper(Quote)
You're so inspirational. I love it. Makes me think. I guess I'm lucky I don't have as many obligations as most people with kids. Clarissa(Quote)
A fantastic, insightful post. Reminding me of my last night's, 'Mom's not happy." A very infrequent thing for me as a norm, I'm very optimistic and energetic. But with little me time and staying busy from 5 am until 10pm, needless to say I'd reached the point of my exhausted rope. Luckily Mr. G threw me another line.
Thanks for this post Deb. So glad I stopped in today. R.M.Gilbert(Quote)