I was reading
’s excellent post on ‘How to stay sane’ this morning and was struck by this:He also goes on to say that there should (nay must) be a part of your life which is for you.
It really doesn't matter what the hobby is. All that matters is that you have one.
…
it's quite easy to fall into a thought-trap. The thought-trap is that you are wasting time.
There’s this perception that if you’re not working, or doing something important like fixing the dishwasher, mowing the lawn, or washing the bedsheets dfyou’re wasting your time. Playing a video game? Wasting time. Doodling in a meeting? Wasting time.
But time spent doing something that you enjoy is never wasted. And it’s essential to carve out those moments for yourself, whether it be to spend ten minutes doodling or journalling, or even just making a cup of tea.
Case in point: when the kids were small, mornings were chaos. School uniforms needed to be found, breakfast supplied, coats, and PE kit located. I used to get up at 7 am and it was a constant go-go-go from then until bedtime.
So I decided to get up a bit earlier. Nothing too exciting, maybe 15 minutes early. Careful not to wake anyone, I’d go downstairs, put the kettle on, and make myself a cup of something hot.
And take my time. Let the teabag brew properly. Take a moment to look out of the window. Embrace the peace and quiet of the morning for those few minutes, tea in hand.
In the warmer months, I’d sit on the doorstep with my tea and just enjoy the moment.
Even now, it can be hard to justify taking some time for myself. But it’s something which you have to do. Prioritise others over yourself is fine, but make sure to look after yourself as well.
Hope you find time to get a bit of space to yourself over the holiday period.
Strong believer in time of our own ... feeling less guilty about it as the years pass.