Welcome carnival-goers via the Festival of Frugality #136 - Summer School Edition hosted by Student Scrooge and/or the Money Hacks Carnival #23 — It’s Gotta Be The Shoes! via Can I Get Rich on a Salary. I hope you all enjoy your visit. Put your feet up and stay a while. If you like what you see, you can always subscribe via Reader or Email in the right hand margain, as I'd love to have you on a more frequent basis. All family-friendly comments welcome. Enjoy your stay!
Yesterday I was reading my free copy of Focus on the Family magazine and read that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep a night are no more productive than those who have been awake for up to 3 days straight. That's a staggering statistic!
In this age of busyness where many of us seem to run more than we rest, there are some things we can do to relax a bit. You know, for your own health (mental, emotional, spiritual and physical), it is vital to get rest. Here are some tips:
1.) One Activity Per Child Per Season: I know that you want your child to be the next baseball star, football star, soccer star, piano virtuoso, Einstein, prima ballerina, AND martial arts fighting champion of the world, but give the kid a break. They may enjoy all of these activities, but they need to pick one activity per season. They are not committing themselves to a lifelong hobby, just one season of trying something out. If they want to take violin lessons, that's okay, but not during soccer season if that too is on their "list of things to do." Trust me, it will keep you and your child from being too stressed out. Although sometimes it may feel like it, there is no competition regarding who has the most advanced child. If you feel this way, you need to get some more friends.
2.) One Major Commitment for Mom/Dad Per Season: It's fine if you want to be PTA president, but don't schedule a huge bake sale at the same time you want to organize the ACS Relay for Life. If you are teaching a women's Bible study 2 nights a week, there is no reason you also MUST be on the planning committee for your city. Set your priorities and enjoy the fruits of everyone else's labor. If you want to hold that bake sale, throw yourself into it and then participate in the Relay for Life rather than organize it. You can be a part of several things that hold your interest, but you don't have to be fully committed to all of them.
3.) Learn to Say "No": This goes along with #2, but it seems that when you organize one thing well that others naturally want you to jump onto the bandwagon of the next event/project. It's only natural for them to ask, and although it may be only natural for you to accept, you have to say no sometimes. That can be really hard to do if you have the heart of a servant, but it is vital for you and your family's health and well-being. Explain to the person asking that you are already overcommitted, but will help in the outer realms of the project, or you'll provide them with contacts that you have been successful using, or you will be glad to help next year if the timing is right. You actually may feel a bit bad after this, but it is okay to say "no" sometimes.
4.) Set aside a day of rest: This is not just Biblically endorsed, but it just makes sense. Take one day out of the week and spend doing things you enjoy that DO NOT STRESS YOU OUT. You know, picnic with your family, play board games, read a book, take a walk. Remove things in your life on that day that will remind you of the things you are not accomplishing that day like your planner, the computer, your stack of decorations to be used at VBS. Enjoy yourself and your family. Don't regret the time you spent on things to pass that you should have spent on things eternal.
5.) Treat Yourself: Every once in a while, take some time out of your usual routine and treat yourself. Have a neighbor watch the kids while you get a pedicure. Walk around town enjoying small shops. Visit with a friend and watch a good movie over popcorn and sodas. Savor that ice cream cone. For your next birthday ask that your hubby/wife to get you a massage appointment rather than stuff to gather dust.
Seriously...give yourself a break. All of the above things can be done for free and they could possibly save you money up the road on medical or therapist bills! The bonus is, once you take a break, you will be much more productive during your "up" time. Take some rest. You deserve it.
In this age of busyness where many of us seem to run more than we rest, there are some things we can do to relax a bit. You know, for your own health (mental, emotional, spiritual and physical), it is vital to get rest. Here are some tips:
1.) One Activity Per Child Per Season: I know that you want your child to be the next baseball star, football star, soccer star, piano virtuoso, Einstein, prima ballerina, AND martial arts fighting champion of the world, but give the kid a break. They may enjoy all of these activities, but they need to pick one activity per season. They are not committing themselves to a lifelong hobby, just one season of trying something out. If they want to take violin lessons, that's okay, but not during soccer season if that too is on their "list of things to do." Trust me, it will keep you and your child from being too stressed out. Although sometimes it may feel like it, there is no competition regarding who has the most advanced child. If you feel this way, you need to get some more friends.
2.) One Major Commitment for Mom/Dad Per Season: It's fine if you want to be PTA president, but don't schedule a huge bake sale at the same time you want to organize the ACS Relay for Life. If you are teaching a women's Bible study 2 nights a week, there is no reason you also MUST be on the planning committee for your city. Set your priorities and enjoy the fruits of everyone else's labor. If you want to hold that bake sale, throw yourself into it and then participate in the Relay for Life rather than organize it. You can be a part of several things that hold your interest, but you don't have to be fully committed to all of them.
3.) Learn to Say "No": This goes along with #2, but it seems that when you organize one thing well that others naturally want you to jump onto the bandwagon of the next event/project. It's only natural for them to ask, and although it may be only natural for you to accept, you have to say no sometimes. That can be really hard to do if you have the heart of a servant, but it is vital for you and your family's health and well-being. Explain to the person asking that you are already overcommitted, but will help in the outer realms of the project, or you'll provide them with contacts that you have been successful using, or you will be glad to help next year if the timing is right. You actually may feel a bit bad after this, but it is okay to say "no" sometimes.
4.) Set aside a day of rest: This is not just Biblically endorsed, but it just makes sense. Take one day out of the week and spend doing things you enjoy that DO NOT STRESS YOU OUT. You know, picnic with your family, play board games, read a book, take a walk. Remove things in your life on that day that will remind you of the things you are not accomplishing that day like your planner, the computer, your stack of decorations to be used at VBS. Enjoy yourself and your family. Don't regret the time you spent on things to pass that you should have spent on things eternal.
5.) Treat Yourself: Every once in a while, take some time out of your usual routine and treat yourself. Have a neighbor watch the kids while you get a pedicure. Walk around town enjoying small shops. Visit with a friend and watch a good movie over popcorn and sodas. Savor that ice cream cone. For your next birthday ask that your hubby/wife to get you a massage appointment rather than stuff to gather dust.
Seriously...give yourself a break. All of the above things can be done for free and they could possibly save you money up the road on medical or therapist bills! The bonus is, once you take a break, you will be much more productive during your "up" time. Take some rest. You deserve it.
Photo credit: Robert/Says/Hi
3 comments:
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Wow. Thanks for a serious dose of conviction for the day. Rest is one thing I'm NOT good at, but I need to get better...
Thanks for the reminder.
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