If you’ve read many of my articles, you’re probably aware that I am a crafty woman. I sew, but I also knit, dabble in crochet, embroider, bead, make hats, sculpt, draw, write… You see why I just say ‘crafty’, it’s a lot quicker than all that! However, in the year after my daughter was born, I didn’t do a single crafty thing. Not one! I was in pure survival mode, as many, many, new parents are. Once I’d found my footing, though, I slowly began to get back to the hobbies that I so loved, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy!
I love to create things. I also love to read, and to play video games, and above all that I love to spend time with my husband! I also want to be a great mother, and along with my husband I’m homeschooling my daughter and I’m also writing and I’m also back at university. There’s a crazy number of things that require my time and attention, and it is so incredibly easy to let the little things that I find joy in sit neglected in the corner, and that’s not a good thing.
When I do have free time, I’ll be honest, it’s hard to find the energy to get off the couch and go and do one of my hobbies, usually sewing, and the getting started part is always the hardest for me, even though I love it! I love the sewing part, and I love having something special that I have sewn part! I just find it hard to get going, but once I do, I feel so good!
This is a really long-winded way of saying that it’s so important to make sure that you don’t lose those special things you love, even when there is a crazy number of things that need to be done. No matter how long your to-do list is, you’re still a person who needs down-time, whatever your down-time is. Time spent doing something just for you, for your mental health, and not feeling guilty about it, either! Also, facilitating the same thing for our spouses, because they need and deserve it, too.
Your ’you’ time might look like curling up on the couch with a blanket, cup of tea, and a good book, or it might look like going to get your nails done, or going for a run, or sitting down with some hand-crafting, or spending time woodworking in the shed, or digging in the garden! It’s really about spending time engaging in those activities that bring you joy and keep you centred. Making time for my hobbies always leaves me feeling happy and content and better able to be my best when interacting with my family.
So, trust me on this, the next time you start to feel your tension levels ratcheting up because the to-to list is getting longer than your arm, take half and hour to yourself for some you-time, and after that half hour you’ll feel SO much better able to tackle whatever’s on your plate for the day!
