August 6, 2018

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.


















29 comments:

  1. I agree with all of this. I'm such a homebody. It's the one place where I feel I can really relax and enjoy myself. I used to feel guilty somehow that I wasn't out running around but I don't anymore. I also agree with the importance of schedules and routines, especially with children. I was always home for naps and early bedtimes (still am for the bedtimes) no matter what was happening. If that made it hard to be social, so be it. My kids' healthy growth and development was far more important and still is!

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  2. This resonates with me so strongly. We had a terribly busy long weekend and I have claimed today as a nothing day. (We may not even make it out of pajamas.) I try so hard to keep our days calm, structured and less busy. Thank you for your awesome example. :)

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  3. Great post -- totally agree! Love to just be home with family and not rushing from one thing to the next. Some may call me boring, but that's fine with me! :) Hope you have a wonderful week!

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  4. Love this! I found years ago if I don't have time in the morning alone before everyone gets up I'm not the nicest person. I love this time just me and sometimes the dog. It always starts with coffee.
    Happy Monday!

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  5. Thank you Billie Jo for fulfilling my request. You did an awesome job. You are a very talented writer and I really enjoy your meatier posts. Your pictures are wonderful too! You are very gifted in that area also. Thank you for sharing you God given gifts with us. I know it takes a of of time.

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  6. Well said, my sweet friend, well said. When our children were young and growing up our family time was guarded by doing most of the things you said. Even now that the children are adults with families of their own, my husband and I say no to many outside activities because we prefer to stay home and enjoy the coziness of being together. And when you and your dear husband are at the mile marker of 46 years, like we are, you will still feel the same way.

    Oh...and where the candles are concnerned a TOTAL YES in agreement! I even have a small one (along with a sweet candle ring) that sits in the middle of our kitchen table...and yes, it is lit for every meal...even breakfast! :)

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  7. Absolutely, this post is spot on, my friend. Thank you for the many smiles, Billie Jo.

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  8. So much truth to this Billie Jo. I truly believe schedules are key for you children. They thrive on routines. And, having set down times in this busy world is a must. So much is expected of young people today. I do believe they need time each day to decompress.
    I am all for candles, a warm drink, cozy blankets...time to relax and unwind, or just reflect. I mentioned before, the weeks following my husband's surgery were the best (not because he was in the shape he was in mind you)...we were home, had no commitments, and could just savor the peace, quiet and togetherness.
    Well said friend. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. I love this post! It really is spot on. I came to that same conclusion about a year ago when we were running in 500 directions ALL the time. I decided to prioritize and learn to say no. I like being busy however I need to have a balance of being home and just being too. In our house, I love burning my Scentsy warmers (don't really trust candles with the boys. LOL). Have a great week!

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  10. I will be honest, quiet peaceful times have finally come in this home. We were the go and go family when the children were growing up, but now it is quiet and calm and I love it! I admire you for doing it from the beginning. Candles are a plus as well. Those and a difuser that I use too.

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  11. Well said, we always tried to keep a safe, calming environment when the girls were growing up, which they now do for their on children. Time for yourself is paramount when you are a carer.

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  12. Oh Billie Jo, I love this post ~ It's good to know there are others who have a heart for the home as I do. Enjoy your cozy afternoon..

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  13. I agree with you that we all need some calm and quiet time in our lives!! My life isn't so crazy anymore, now that I am retired, but my quiet morning time of prayer and devotions always sets my day on a good path. Amen!

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  14. You always inspire me! Do what makes you happy.

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  15. I am always inspired by women who learn how to make time for themselves.

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  16. Loved this! So much truth. I rarely invite people over...not because I am antisocial, but becuase I am so guarded with my quiet time. Hugs

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  17. Good for you!! Just reading your post I feel myself melting into one of your cozy blankets. I love a nice peaceful home as well. When the boys were young we had busy schedules during the school year so when summer rolled around I would stop everything and enjoy each summer day as they came. No schedule to dictate what we did.

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  18. A beautiful post, my friend, and oh so true. Thank you for your wisdom and honesty :)

    Hugs to you!

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  19. Oh, I loved this and needed to be reminded of all these things. It is so easy to get caught up in being busy and having kids that need to be at this activity and then the next. Thank you for the reminder to keep things simple and to keep family first. <3

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  20. This is why I have come here for all of these years. Your pull and encouragement to bring calm to ourselves and to our homes and families is such a gift to all of your readers and to me!

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  21. I enjoyed reading this blog entree. I totally agree with you about how very important it is to take time for yourself in this fast paced all too busy world! I have never tried Yoga, but I may have to give it a try. I hope you have a blessed week. Hugs. ~Juli

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  22. I've not been able to consistently keep a calm and peaceful home. You inspire me to try again. Bless you! Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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  23. Billie Jo, I love this post. Finding that balance is necessary. I feel like it's taken me getting older to learn how to do this. Your thoughts are always a wind of fresh air.

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  24. I love this so much! I hope my girls have sweet memories of a sweet and cozy home. <3

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  25. This post is so wonderful, Billie Jo. I am nodding my head to everything you've written here. Finding balance and keeping a cozy home are what I strive for every day. Candles, blankets, coffee, and most importantly saying NO when needed is so important. I couldn't love this, or you, more! xo

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  26. Very true.... though hit seems for me finding this time is rare... yet I know it is necessary. Always a joy visiting your blog. Enjoy the rest of your week!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  27. I agree with all that you have posted, Billie Jo, what a wonderful example to your children to take time to be refreshed and renewed! I too have always tried to make time for me, and enjoy candles, I am now looking for fall candles, since I have fall on my mind.
    ~smile~
    Blessings,
    Sue
    I also have wanted to learn yoga.
    Thank you for sharing these cozy ideas.

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  28. Beautifully written; there really is NO place like home. I'm with you on that one. I too declined a lot of things with my girls when they were growing up; I didn't appreciate all the chaos and constant 'running around'. I loved down-time at home in between the neccesary things we HAD to do.

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  29. Being a young mom it was hard to take time for me. I got the kids to school or daycare, I worked, picked them up and got them fed, helped with homework and got them ready for bed. Dad worked nights. Then on the weekends he usually did his thing at least one day. After that I was a single mom with two kids and it was also hard then. I tried to give them the time they needed which was hard to work in that time for me. It was not till my kids were gone that I learned to give myself much needed time...then one came home with a 1 yr old...and it started all over again. I have to say though since being retired I have learned to give myself and my furbabes LOTS of time and I am loving it. Young mothers need to find the way to do that for themselves, and their health and in the long run that makes the lives of their kids, family and the strenght of the home better. Great post.

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo