The “Luxury” of Free Time

What did you do for yourself today? What did you do that was entirely for you—where you considered no one’s needs but your own? Nothing, right? When I mention the importance of taking time for themselves, most people laugh in my face. Then, when they realize that I’m entirely serious, they look at me exasperatedly and say, “You’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t take time for myself. My kids [husband/boss/mother] need me.” Now I don’t deny that. But do they need the tired, crabby, stressed, half-functioning you? Or do they need the you who can actually take care of them because she’s feeling well-rested and charged?

The truth is, we all have a limited amount of energy. We’re like batteries that become less powerful as their energy is drained. What happens to the effectiveness of that battery when it doesn’t recharge? Now think back to the last time you actually did do something for yourself. Recall how you felt afterwards. How much energy did you have? How much more productive were you? How much more effectively were you able to interact with others? These days, when there is so much to do, we have to recognize that if we don’t take advantage of the “luxury” of focusing on ourselves, we won’t be as useful to anyone.
So now, what will you do to recharge your battery?