11/29/11

Putting Yourself First...

From Google Images
The last week has been CRAZY.  Yesterday was the first full day I spent at home since last Wednesday.  Needless to say, things around here needed my attention.  I have dishes to do, laundry to do, bed to make, dusting, sweeping, and some serious mopping needs to happen.  I had a plan set up for yesterday.  I was going to make a major dent in the mess around here.  But you know what?  I was struggling.  I was struggling because I was tired.  I had a choice to make.  Try to get some work done, and exhaust myself more, or choose to take a day to rest and recoup.  I ended up deciding that I would be more productive, and get more done if I took a day off to relax and catch up on some sleep.  And you know what?  I woke up today feeling so much better.  I feel more relaxed, less stressed, and ready to get things done!

As a housewife (or mother) we are almost always putting our husbands, children, guests, etc. first.  That's not a bad thing, it's a great thing to focus on others needs more than our own.  But sometimes you have to take time for yourself or you are going to wear yourself out and get stressed and frazzled.  (This is especially important to remember if you are sick.)  You may not always get the chance to take an entire day off, couch surfing, but you can do other things to ensure you are rested and prepared for life's tasks and challenges.  Here are a few tips!

*Spend time in prayer, ask God for strength, and the ability to get things done*

*If you are running out of time to get tasks done, prioritize which tasks HAVE to get done, and which can be placed on the back burner*

*Get organized!  Have a plan, and stick with it!  This can be a daily schedule, a cleaning schedule, or a menu plan*

*Make sure you are going to bed at a reasonable hour and getting quality rest.  This means getting into bed and keeping the phone off, the TV off, and only relaxing music*

*Make sure you are not over committing yourself.  It's OK to say no.*

Feel free to share other tips in the comments section!

2 comments:

Amy said...

So true. I would also add - don't isolate yourself. It's very easy to get wrapped up in tasks at home and miss out on interacting with spouse, children, relatives or friends. And I don't mean conversations about chores either! :) Hope you have a happy rest of the week!

Katie said...

Amen sister! I have been struggling with this myself lately! Thanks for posting this. It is encouraging to see someone else feeling the same way I do.

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http://www.heart-of-homemaking.com/2011/11/liebster-blog-award.html