How I Make Time For Me

Last week I wrote this post about the importance of slowing down and making time for myself each day. How do I accomplish this in our chaotic fast-paced world where society dictates that busy is better? How do I nourish my own soul in order to be able to bring peace and calm to my home and family? Well, my schedule constantly changes and evolves depending on which season of life I am in, but I continue to make time each day for calm and peace and coffee. I began to create this special time when I was a young mother who decided one day to pour a cup of coffee and snuggle in a chair as her sweet little baby girl napped each afternoon.


When neighbors called and invited us to the park or the pool, I politely declined. My children needed a schedule, and I needed it too. More important than keeping up with all the chaos outside and the ever present need for busyness was my desire to create a place of comfort, stability, and warmth for my family. By caring for myself a little each day, I was able to do just that. As more babies came along and children grew, I continued to keep that special time during each day as an anchor for calm, peace, and rest. And I still do to this day. My children often join me now, cozy with coffee, tea, or milk, taking a few moments in the middle of our day to rest and be together.

In addition to my afternoon coffee, I also make sure to spend some time each morning doing something for myself. When the children were little, that may have meant a shower and a ponytail before they woke up!  These days, I have teenagers who tend to sleep quite late. This allows for a morning routine that includes some type of exercise or my new interest...yoga. I am loving the peace and calm yoga brings. Madison and I light a candle and spend ten to fifteen minutes with a yoga video she finds on YouTube. Am I an expert? Not even close. Do I get dressed up and go to the gym in perfect workout clothes? No way. I am here to tell you it is perfectly acceptable to do yoga in mismatched pajamas and with severe bedhead. Just saying.

Candles are a great way to bring peace and warmth into your home. If you have read here for any amount of time, you know all about my love of candles. It is amazing the amount of cozy a simple candle can bring to a home. If you cannot burn candles, or would rather not, battery operated candles with timers are a great option that I actually enjoy as well. Every evening I turn the lights down, light a candle, and pull out the throw blankets. Blankets are the perfect way to encourage cozy in your home. I have them everywhere! Soft throw blankets lying around make our home more inviting to family members and guests.

Taking time for yourself, sipping coffee, burning candles, saying no to outside distractions, snuggling in cozy throws...these are all ways to make your home and life more peaceful. More calm. More centered. One more very important thing? Make your family your first priority. Say no to unnecessary meetings, sport events, projects, parties, and commitments that draw you away from the comfort of your home and create stress and chaos as you try to balance it all. This enables you to maintain a warm, cozy, loving home for your family...A place of calm, stability, and peace that serves as a haven for your loved ones in this otherwise hectic and demanding world.