Being a busy family can be consuming. Activities, work, home life.....do you have time to breathe?
When you invest time and money into tasks for your family, that is honorable, and definitely shows great character and love. Often, though, it comes at the expense of YOU and giving to yourself, and giving YOU to your family. Life becomes one big task rather than an experience and time well spent with your loved ones.
What can you do about that?
Invest in Yourself
BRING IN MORE AFFIRMING, POSITIVITY
Make a list of content that will help you in your personal growth. Just start with ONE. Perhaps it is taking a walk in the forest preserve every day at lunch. What about listening to a TED talk that encourages you?
SIMPLIFY LIFE
Often, when we have a cluttered home or workspace, we feel anxious, or not able to function as well as we would like. Look around. De clutter what you can, and perhaps move furniture or other items around to make your space more peaceful. Think about other things you can remove from your life, too. Perhaps, moving away from watching certain television shows and going to the library would be better for you.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
When you let go of something from your life, replacing that thing by learning something new can be just the thing you need. What makes your heart sing? Have you wanted to take piano lessons? What about taking an art class, or learning a new language? By learning something new, not only do our brains operate differently, but we can also feel more fulfilled.
MENTALLY DE CLUTTER
Do you have a lot of ideas swirling around in your head? Or, perhaps, you are just thinking about all the things you have to do. Playing those "tapes" over and over again in your mind can certainly cause anxiety or a sense of dread. The best thing I have found is to WRITE THEM DOWN. Journal everything, or just write down a "to do " list and check boxes off when you are finished. It helps you see the progress you are making and will give you more confidence to keep going.
The best advice-be with your kids. Grab some of the joy that they usually feel. Jump around with them. Run through a field, play a game, visit a park, swing on the swings....you get the idea.
I think kids have a way of helping us feel less stressed (although, the opposite can be true, too) due to their innocence and ability to just "be" who they are. As they grown up, things do change a bit, but most of the time, younger kids exhibit this joy and it is wonderful to be around.
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