Apr
Remembering Our “Me”
I don’t know about you, but there are times I simply feel overwhelmed. Like I’m being pulled in a million different directions and I’m not doing a great job with any of them. Toss in a few out-of-my-control stress factors and…well…you see where I’m going.
Which got me thinking about a writing objective a friend turned me onto a few months back…something I’ve decided to carry over into another part of my life–me.
The concept, as far as writing went, was to make myself sit down and write for thirty minutes every day. The goal, of course, was to write more than that when possible. But if that’s all I could spare, at least it was something.
And it worked. My last manuscript deadline wasn’t so daunting thanks to the time I set aside each day. The same kind of time I set aside to do a million other things–look after the kids, teach, write freelance copy, clean, cook, help with homework, etc. Yet as quick as I am to make sure all of those tasks get done, I’m equally quick to forget one other aspect…
Me.
I suspect you do it, too. All women do.
But after the week I’ve had, I’m beginning to realize that not carving out a little time for myself is a bad idea. Both physically and mentally.
So I have a new plan now. One I hope I can stick to…and one I hope maybe some of you will try, as well.
We’ll call it our Essential Me Time.
Mine will come in the form of an hour every afternoon (except Mondays). An hour where I can read, take a walk, haunt a bookstore, watch some mindless drivel on television, take a bath, bake some luscious treat, or lay out in the sun. Something…anything…just to slow life down a little and keep myself from getting run down again.
And to make sure I do it, I’m going to put “Essential Me Time” on my daily list of t0-do’s this week…right alongside the job, the cooking, the teaching, the writing, the helping with homework, etc.
I’ll report back on this in a few weeks, let you know if I’ve succeeded in implementing this new way of thinking…or if I’ve slipped back into my old (a.k.a. bad) ways.
Anyone else game? For trying it out and reporting back?
~Elizabeth Lynn
April 12th, 2009 at 9:35 am
An hour. Every day? And zoning out in front of the television doesn’t count? I’ll give it a whirl. The weather has my aches and pains starting up, something that I think would lesson if I was a little smaller in size. So I’m trying a week of dieting. Starting tomorrow. Calorie counting and exercise. I’ll put in the Essential Me time as well.
See you in a few weeks.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:21 am
It WOULD be nice to catch a few sunrises and sunsets with a cup of coffee in hand. Hm…
April 14th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Nope, zoning in front of television doesn’t count, Lynn. I’m talking the kind of time where you take care of YOU.
Joe, that sounds wonderful…
April 16th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Ok, the dieting thing… I knew this would happen. As soon as I say I’m dieting, I eat more than when I’m not. Monday 2400 calories. Tuesday 1600. I haven’t even calculated yesterday.
Coffee and sunrise? I think I’d have to set my lawn chair in the driveway to see it.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Let me start by saying I have an almost 4 year old and a 1 year old and I am a stay at home mom. My “work day” begins officially at 7 and ends around 8pm. The older one does not nap, and when she is at pre-k the younger one is awake, so there is essentially no break in my day. I am an on-duty mom for 13 hours a day. Every day.
Even with this crazy schedule, I found the hour I need. 6am – 7am is mine.
I wake up at 5:30 , dress, have a banana and go to whatever 6am exercise class is being offered at the gym 5 minutes from my house. My husband (God bless him) gets up with the girls and gives hem breakfast. I come home at 7:30 showered and ready for the day.
The exercise makes me a more patient (and sane) mom, I eat less and I feel SO much better. It is ironic that I had to get up an hour earlier to get more energy, but it works. The endorphins last all day, unlike the very short lift you get from a brownie or other junk.
August 15th, 2009 at 11:13 am
What a treat. I’m glad I just retired as an elementary school library/media specialist. While everyone else went back to school this week, I was able to read “Sew Deadly”. I couldn’t put it down. When will there be more? Thank you.
August 16th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Hi, Joanie! I’m so glad you enoyed SEW DEADLY. Reading is a great way to have “me” time, isn’t it?
As for your question, the second book in the series will release on March 2nd. It’s called, DEATH THREADS. A third book will follow sometime that fall. If you send me your regular mail address I can add you to my list for bookmarks when the next book comes out!