Some of you may remember that I decided to take on a teaching job in the midst of wedding season. And you would be right to think “Is that girl crazy?!” Yes, I think I was. Although my teaching skills in sewing were not as horrible as I had predicted (you need your bobbin threaded? I’m your girl. You have a huge knot of fabric and thread caught on the inside of your machine? I’ll fix it in no time. You need your skirt sewed in 15 minutes? I got you), my workload was put on the back burner and my sleep schedule was in disarray for 2 months. My mood swings were also a big ball of fun (sorry Paulie…). In other words, I was working 16 hour days. Most of the time my weekends got rolled into my work week. I think I can count on one hand how many days I had to just “kick around” and “binge Netflix” without worrying if something had to be posted, edited, emailed, backed up, etc.
Teaching is now finished for the summer and I am beyond thrilled to wake up, enjoy my mornings, and work side-by-side with my little love (that would be Rusty of course – my big love is away at work). In my pj’s if I wish. I still have a lot of work to do, catch up on, get ahead of, but I can confidently stop working when Paul gets home without worrying about things I should have accomplished but just didn’t have time. Those last three words have been my motto for the past two months and I’m so glad I can cut back on saying it, whether it’s to Paul or myself. Paul asks, “Do you want to go for a bike ride?” “Do you want to go see a movie?” “Do you want to take Rusty for a walk with me?” And the answer he has been getting constantly, “I just don’t have time.” Ugh. I hate those words. Especially when I don’t have time for myself.
As I’ve become a full-fledged adult, I’ve realized that making time for oneself is difficult. It’s actual work. I literally have to make a list of things I want to do for myself so I can a. remember and b. make myself do it. Maybe I’m not the only one that has to do this?? I don’t know. Here’s an example of my list (I rewrote this yesterday because I actually had time):
1. Wake up early and enjoy it. Perhaps with some tea and my diary.
2. Work on Photoshop actions. (I know this is technically work, but I just absolutely love it).
3. Paint.
4. Read. (Harry Potter #5 has been on my nightstand for 3 months. That is just awful. I should be rereading the series all over again and be on #3 by now.)
5. Lay outside in the grass. With a blanket. In the shade.
6. Make dinner (Friends, I’m ashamed to admit this, but this week has been the first time we’ve had a home-cooked meal in almost 2 months. I know – awful.)
Maybe some of you don’t need a list, but I sure do. I have to keep reminding myself of things I should be doing instead of overworking myself. So, if you’re a small business owner, or someone who works long hours, or are a full-time mom/dad, or are just struggling with too much going on, try to find some time for yourself. Even if it’s 15 minutes of tranquility. On my 16-hour days, sometimes I would just slip outside onto the deck and watch the sun go down for a few minutes. Even that helps keep one’s sanity. 🙂
