Making Time for Me

This past summer, I didn’t read any books. And it made me a little grumpy.

My husband semi-jokes that I am happier if I am reading. If I am having a rough week, he’ll often suggest that I leave the dishes ’til morning and go curl up with a good book. (I married a good man, eh?)

At the beginning of the year, I set a goal of reading 30 books because in 2012 I read hardly anything. That goal has been so rewarding not just because I have read so many fantastic books, but because I am investing in something that I enjoy.

As I’ve gotten older, I have come to recognize the importance of making time for me and what I’m passionate about. The catch-22 is that as I get older, I have more responsibilities that can make “me time” challenging.

But somehow I manage to carve out the time and I think I am a better wife, mom, co-worker and friend because of it. That sounds dramatic, I know, but its true. When I work in time for myself, I feel more balance and am able to better pour out into those around me.

Usually for me, that time is spent working on my Project Life album, reading a good book, crafting or baking something I pinned on Pinterest. But, that’s just me. You might chose to spend time on you doing yoga, collecting stamps, sewing or something else entirely.

It doesn’t matter what it is, what matters is that it fills you up.

God uniquely created each one of us with passions that invigorate us, yet we often push them aside for laundry, cleaning, errands and a host of other activities. I’m not saying those things aren’t important (clean underwear is a good thing), but rather that those things can’t rule your life. God delights in His creation using our gifts.

This month, what if you were to look at your schedule and find one extra hour a week for yourself? Do you think you could do it?

One extra hour is less than 10 minutes a day, but would add up to 52 hours for you! Think of all the things you could do with 52 hours. You could start that book you have been wanting to write, organize the photos on your hard drive or take a new class at that gym.

I believe this investment in ourselves could be the start of something big and meaningful. Will you join me in making time for what you love?

NOTE

This week I launched a short survey asking women to share how they spend their time for a book I am working on. Would you please take just a few minutes to share where you are in this journey? Your answers will be a cornerstone of the book’s research and I would be so, so grateful. Thank you.

Question:

What is something that you love to spend time on? More importantly, how do you make time for yourself and this passion?