Time Out for Renewal and Self Development – 1
In
talking to friends this past weekend, it was obvious that many mothers are
suffering from burn out and other stress related issues. They commonly say they
wish they could be happier and not so snappy with their children and were
trying to work out how to keep their children happier and entertained.
Certainly,
looking after the children’s needs are important to all parents and consumes a
lot of time, but looking after self needs is equally important. Time out is a
period of solitude where the focus is on self development and self reflection.
It can be an extremely beneficial and self affirming activity.
Do you
give yourself permission to take an extended amount of time away from your
children, your work or anything in your life causing you stress and burn out?
If you don’t, you are not alone. Most people don’t take time out, but look at
the benefits of making this a priority at least once a year.
·
Taking
extended time out gives the chance to take a step back and decide how to move
forward in your life. When you are in the middle of life and all its
responsibilities, it’s easy to focus on survival and not on achievement. Take
time out each year to make some life goals. They can focus on your family, but having some goals for your parenting, will
help you look back on the year and realize what achievements you have achieved
in the previous year and what you want to achieve in the coming year.
·
Time
out is not a selfish activity, but a time to be critical and honest about
yourself and your life. Its focus is to improve your relationships and to help
your family and friends. Personal Time Out gives you the opportunity to look at
your life and your responsibilities, evaluate what you are doing right and how
you can improve those things you feel are not going as planned.
Taking
a few hours or a few days out of your busy schedule is not running away from
your responsibilities, it is rather an opportunity to find your energy and
focus again so you can keep “running towards them” and embrace your life and
its responsibilities with a new enthusiasm. Decide to make having an annual
personal time out a priority in your life and gain assistance from your
family to acieve it.
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