Do you take time for yourself?

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   bravewarriorposted 8 years ago

   Do you take time for yourself?
   
   We all have obligations that take away from who we are. We have families, jobs, bills, dreams and more..
   
   Do you take time to keep yourself lubricated and striving for your dreams?  Or do you stagnate and dry up?
   
   Do you make time for yourself? Do you let those in your life know spending alone time is tantamount to who you are and what you have to offer?
   
   I hope the answer is, "yes".
   
   Now, I ask, "what do you do when you take time for yourself?"

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   Sunshine625posted 8 years ago

   Some days I wish the answer was, yes, but it's a no. Family comes first for me. Taking care of my husband is a full time job and being there for my granddaughters are my top priorities...then the house and bills and members of my cancer support group who are in need. Then me. I do take 30 minutes to myself every day to exercise. If mama don't have her work out, mama is not happy. I've become accustomed to writing while my peeps are standing around me, asking for something or talking to me. Haha! So my answer is...exercise to de-stress.

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Linda, the fact is, you still take time for yourself. That's what I wanted to know. For those whose life is much harder than mine, I want to know if and what they do to make "me" time. We all need it. Some of us are more stressed by life than others

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      Kierstin Gunsbergposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I also write with my daughter running around pulling toys out. If I waited for a quiet moment it would never happen!

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   AbdoMano1995posted 8 years ago

   Yes I take time for myself once in a while and  try to change myself to the better. Think of ideas . Arrange my time . Nothing is deep

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Abdo, that's the point of taking time for yourself. Nothing deep. It's great that you set aside time to contemplate.

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   Becky Katzposted 8 years ago

   I am my husbands caretaker. Recently he has had some very serious problems come up that require me to spend even more time taking care of him. He is diabetic and is having ulcers on his legs. I have to clean, medicate, bandage and wrap his legs every day. It takes about an hour and a half a day. He also has a swollen prostate and that caused him to have to use catheters.
   Between the two of them, and the other things I have to do for him and in the house and for our children, I do not have time to sleep 8 hours right now. I am suffering from lack of sleep and fall asleep every time I sit down. I just finished changing the sheets for the third time this week and want to go to sleep, but still have things to do, like the dishes. I think one of my kids is going to have to do that.
   I am hoping to be getting rid of the catheters Monday, when he goes back to the urologist. We got down to just having to wrap one of his legs this last week. Hopefully some of this will be off my schedule soon. Then I can sleep, and when I get caught up with that, I will see about getting some me time again.
   I like to sit out on my back deck and watch the dogs play, the rabbits run around teasing the dogs, and the lizards climbing around on the deck rails. Very relaxing and enjoyable when I can do that.

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Becky, it's wonderful that you take such good care of your husband, but I can see how exhausting it is for you. Can you get your kids to help out more with the day-to-day stuff? I hear your back yard calling!

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      Becky Katzposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Sha, they do help with a lot of the day to day stuff. My daughter washed all the laundry this morning. I woke up to my son emptying his bag, and I got 8 hours sleep last night. They saw that I was exhausted and did the housework on their day off.

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   vocalcoachposted 8 years ago

   We women are like first responders.  When an emergency comes up at any time, we are ready.  There was a time when I almost ran myself into the ground with the obligations I faced.  Then I learned to say no and found a way to balance my life.  I refuel my own engine now by walking daily in the lovely forest that surrounds my property.  I make this a priority. I also set aside an hour during the day to read.  I'm by nature a giver and love to serve others.  It's taken me a long time to learn the value of taking time for myself.  I'm doing it now and I'm a happier person for claiming my right to do so.
   Great question Sha!

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Audrey, taking a walk in the woods sounds so peaceful. I used to do that when I lived in NJ. I loved seeing the sun streak through the trees.
      
      I love that you take time out to read every day. I try to set Saturday aside for reading.

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   fpherj48posted 8 years ago

   Hi there Sha....I'm happy to answer your question.   I admit that this concept of "time for myself" has only been an option for the past dozen or so years of my long, windy & winding road.  Suffice it to say, I have done my very best to catch up on this!
   Based upon the reasons that I personally "write," this qualifies as relaxing, enjoyable "me" time.   Along with this comes settling in with a fabulous book and really getting lost within the pages.
   I love to sew.  I can close myself off with just my sewing machine & a radio, for hours at a time.
   Let me not forget that the privilege of being able to just "take a nap," is a
   gift to me, from me.
   Knowing you, you're waiting to hear about what I might do "outdoors."   Well Sha, remember where I live and be merciful.....LOL  Any winter sports were put to bed long ago when I realized just how damned COLD it is up here & that sometimes, the body rebels!
   However, throughout our 3 lovely weather months, time for myself is going for long walks, along the creek, or to the village park.  There are beautiful wooded areas near me and I would always say that I love to "get lost in the woods," until my son one day said, "Mom, really?  YOU get lost just trying to find the back yard."........LOL!  Hey, it's true, what can I say?
   There you have it Sha, some of the "me" things I do that keeps me sane.
   Well, OK, they keep me feeling happy...........!!

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   1. 88

      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Paula, I wouldn't go out in the cold either. I don't like being cold. Nevertheless, it sounds like you take plenty of time for yourself to do what makes you happy. That's what really counts!

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   peachpurpleposted 8 years ago

   the only time i can make for ,myself is after the kids went to bed, posting and commenting at hubpages

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Peachpurple, one day your children will be older and you'll be able to regain some "me" time. My son is now 22. It wasn't until he was out of high school that I was able to concentrate on me.

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   Anna Havenposted 8 years ago

   I generally only have free time late on in the evenings. I usually miss a little sleep so I can have some peaceful time. I either read or write when I do get free time.

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Anna, whatever it takes, right? I find it commendable that you give up some sleep to be with yourself.

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   Faith Reaperposted 8 years ago

   Hi Sha,
   
   Great question!  Nowadays, I do make an effort to take time out for myself and do what I enjoy in this life or just to relax a bit.  My two children are grown now and own their own.  However, I am blessed with three grandchildren, who we love having up at our home for the weekend about every couple of weeks. 
   
   Being that I have about an hour commute during the week one way to work in the city, I must rise early and then arrive home late in the evening.  We moved up here almost seven years ago, and have not regretted it for a second.  I am used to the drive now, and actually enjoy listening to my tunes while driving or just enjoying the silence and praying and talking to the Lord.  By the time I arrive at work, I am relaxed and ready to go. I work as a paralegal in an office that attempts to keep public officials and employees ethical, an arduous task, yet worth it and never a dull moment to say the least.
   
   I say all of that to say, that by the time the weekend arrives, I slow down quite a bit, and even take the leisure upon myself of sleeping in a bit later, being I rise so early during the weekdays.  I will take time to enjoy reading and I really do not concern myself with trying to do a lot of house chores on the weekends, for that is what I did when my children were young ...spend the entire weekend, doing chores, shopping and everything else. There really was no me time then.  However, I did make it a point to serve the Lord in a wonderful prison ministry on Saturdays, which to me, was a combination of me time with the Lord in service to Him.
   
   So, my me time now, is just complete relaxation time and spending time in prayer too for that extra special and intimate relationship with the Lord.  I need that time with Him, to bring peace into my life.
   
   In the spring, I love planting, gardening and sitting on my front porch or back deck enjoying His creation.

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Faith, it sounds like you have your "me" time exactly where it should be. You have found several ways to be with yourself and God. I know how important He is in your life. You're a very special person.

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      Faith Reaperposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, Sha, thank you so much! You received so many great answers here, so this is an unexpected surprise. Hugs and much love always

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    Kierstin Gunsbergposted 8 years ago

    As a young mother I find it so hard to carve out time for myself! When one of the grandma's has baby-duty I definitely use the time to work on a project (like redoing our other bedroom). But sometimes I just want to curl up in bed and stare at the wall, hehe.

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       bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Finding time as a young/new mother is a real challenge. You'll find something that works, even if it's curling up in bed and staring at the walls! :-)

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    LAWRTWposted 8 years ago

    Not like I should.  I need to do more things offline.

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       bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I hear that, Lawrtw!

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