Moms Chat: Schedule Your Rest Time

Whether you work inside or outside of the home (or both) moms are very busy people.  The demands of raising children and managing a family are numerous and often competing.  It’s hard to find time to take care of yourself, but, oh, so necessary. 

Even if it’s just a few minutes of solitude late in the day, having time to oneself helps to create a better environment for everyone.  Moms need time to recharge their batteries and connect with their inner selves.

Below, our McLean Patch Moms relate what they do in order to take care of themselves.  Please let us what you do to take care of yourself too!

Jennifer Bargerstock,  Falls Church resident, married, with two sons and a daughter, one Golden Retriever, one mixed poodle-terrier, two cats.

I find that it is beneficial to have little things built into the day to rest and relax. For years, I have volunteered with my free time as it leaves me feeling useful and productive in a way that laundry and house cleaning doesn’t at the end of the day. However, I have discovered that like anything else, moderation is the key. Lately, the volunteering I enjoyed so much in the past has felt much more like a chore; I’ve learned saying no to some activities is important to taking care of myself. Between my work and volunteering schedule, I have felt overwhelmed and stressed in recent months, so I have been very careful to take a little time each day for a restful cup of tea and a snack in the afternoon or time to read the paper in the morning. The mornings I have later appointments are great because I can meet a friend and walk our “hounds” and get some fresh air and sunshine.

         One pleasure that I have enjoyed consistently for as long as I can remember is writing. I was the weird kid in elementary school who loved to write essays, short stories, and even book reports! This year, though I had very little free time left, I couldn’t stop myself from joining the McLean Patch Moms to force myself to partake in an activity that I love and make little time for in my life. I am hoping the contributions I make here are meaningful and that my skills improve each week. Even when it is inconvenient, I try to make time for the activities that bring joy and relaxation, or my life just becomes a long and tedious “To-Do List”. I am hoping I start to hear more from readers in our comments so I can learn what I can improve to interest more people, and hopefully give someone else a moment of pleasure.