Wholesome Mommy :: by the Centsible Sawyer

Everybody needs a break every now and then…even mom.  Recently I was discussing with someone how I don’t ever get “me time.”  With a four year old and a 19 month old in the house someone is always needing something.  What about after everyone has been fed, bathed, and tucked in?  Everyone knows that’s when mom is laying out clothes for the next day, getting a jump on packing lunches for the next day, reading her email, or if you are me, it is when I blog.

It started to bother me that I never had any time just for me, just to read my Bible, pray, take a bath, you know ANYTHING!  So, finally it dawned on me that I had make time.  I kept saying there wasn’t any time but then when I asked God to show me where I could find a bit of time for Him and me, He did!

It occured to me that I didn’t have a set schedule for myself.  I am very organized and for the most part our whole lives live on a schedule.  I have a set time we like to eat dinner, a specific time I like to have the kids in bed by, a specific time for lunch, naps, for cleaning house, for waking up for work, for grocery shopping, for when I bake my bread for the week, and even for meal planning.  But, I didn’t have a set schedule for sleeping and waking for myself.

Often, I would stay up really late on nights when I didn’t have to be at work at the school so that I could play catch up on the blog.  Then I would wake up feeling kind of run down the next day and would linger in bed while the kids watched a cartoon or two in the bed with me.  This would go on for a couple of nights and then I would crash early the following night but still get up late.  When I had to be at work at the school I would go to bed earlier and get up earlier.

So, I decided to put myself on a schedule.  Typically my kids are in bed between 8:30 and 9.  They don’t get up until around 8 am. So, I decided to set a goal to be in bed by 10:30 each night {this is the time I try to go to bed when I have to be at work}- whether I had to be at work at the school or not.  That way I could get up at 6 or 6:30 whether I had to be at work or not.  If I don’t have to be at work that buys me at least an hour and half of “Me Time.”

I tried it for a week.  At first it was a little difficult to stop working online and just go to bed.  But, I quickly realized I was actually accomplishing more by not staying up late fighting back the sleep.  And getting up early meant I had extra time in the morning to finish up tasks if I needed too.  It has also given me more time to read.  I’ve been reading the Bible, other Christian study books, and I’ve made my way through a couple of other books on my never ending pile of research I have been wanting to get to but could never find the time.

When I get up now I cherish this time.  It feels special.  I brew myself a cup of hot tea, drizzle in a bit of local honey, and grab my reading material.  I can then greet my children with happy smiles and full attention when they wake up instead of groggy moans and hiding under the covers.

I still have my moments when I stay up just a bit too late or I just can manage to get up when the alarm goes off but I just try again the next day and resolve to get back on track.

It has really made a world of difference for me.  I feel so much more refreshed.  I really encourage you to find just a moment for yourself if you haven’t already.  It doesn’t have to be long. Just make sure you find time each day for a minute to gather your thoughts and realign your day.

Kit Kat Mini’s sponsored this post.  They wanted to know how mom’s like us find a little time for ourselves to “Take a Break.”  If you can’ t find time for yourself in the morning like me, perhaps you can steal away a bit of time in the afternoon, if only to enjoy a handful of chocolate and nice cup of your favorite beverage.

Kit Kat Mini’s are available now at your local Walmart and can be found in single serve bags or in larger shareable size containers.

What about you?  How do you steal a moment just for yourself?