B is for Balancing your Life to Restore Energy

    Is for BALANCE

Many of us have a hard time balancing our family responsibilities and staying balanced.   This can be especially challenging,if you have small children at home; but even those without children have obligations to care for extended family, partners, pets, and even the home's in which they live. It is certainly easy to lose track of our own needs as we give ourselves to the people, pets, and places we love.  However, it is absolutely essential to their well-being that we take care of ourselves FIRST, filling our own wells with water so that we have something to offer when we return home each day is crucial.

I know first hand just how easy it is to get caught up in the demands of home life; because as we all know they never stop. There is always one more thing to do, another dish in the sink, a counter that needs wiping, or a someone needs a ride somewhere. If you do not set some boundaries, you will find yourself on an endless journey of housework and doing for others.   Eventually, you will probably feel drained and out of touch with your inner life force.   So instead of waiting for this to happen, integrate self-care into your daily schedule. Although I am the first to admit that there will be times when even that will not be possible-for example, with a new baby or a sick relative.  And what you need to do at that time is to retreat inward .  You can always find five minutes to close your eyes and breathe consciously. You may even be able to meditate.

Most of the time, though, it is possible to set aside a full hour for every day. In addition, scheduling a longer interval of time, perhaps on a weekly basis, will ultimately  help in restoring your energy. So go get a massage, go to a movie or out with a friend. Taking time to experience the world outside of our homea makes returning home all the more wonderful.  In the same way, taking care of yourself is a natural complement to taking care of your home and family.