Rihanna
Work, work, work, work, work, work
You see me I be work, work, work, work, work, work
You see me do me dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt
There's something 'bout that work, work, work, work, work, work
When you a gon' learn, learn, learn, learn, learn, learn
Me na care if me tired, tired, tired, tired, tired, tired
We live in a society where every moment of our time is consumed with a million things to do - sometimes all at once. The children go to school, tutoring, cheer, dance and drama classes. They have class projects, the movies and Dave & Busters play dates. The significant other is just as busy with work, school, the gym, etc. As women, we get the overflow detail: work, grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning, homework and on and on.
Unfortunately, this saga doesn’t apply to Sisterlocks Consultants alone, either. Many tell me that their clients literally run to their appointments, often late, having barely had the time to properly shampoo their hair. The time it takes to find space in their calendar for their next appointment is sometimes exhausting. To have difficulty carving out a 2-4 hour time slot every 4-6 or 8 weeks to do something for yourself, is simply not okay.
Having an eight day work week and 28 hour days seems to work well for us…until it doesn’t. Some of us crash and burn sooner than others but eventually, it’s bound to happen. Think back to when you saw a friend or family member who was overworked and over extended. How did they look? Tired, right? That’s not a good look! It happens sometimes but if that’s your norm, if you find yourself proclaiming often, “I’m so tired!” it’s time to make a change. Don’t wait until you flatline! I encourage you to find balance sooner than later.
Take baby steps. Start by putting you on the calendar, FIRST. Schedule a few months in advance and put your “me day” each week/month on your calendar. Highlight those times in your favorite color in your day planner and/or electronic calendar and email a copy of the schedule to yourself. Set reminders and do not give your time away.
- Enroll in a class or learn something new. Having a new interest can be invigorating. It also gives you something new to talk about with family and friends.
- Once a month treat yourself to a relaxing experience; a mani-pedi, a leisurely lunch with a friend, browse a bookstore or visit a botanical garden.
- Unplug from your phone, tv, etc. for at least an hour a couple of evenings each week. Spend that time having a meal with the family or play a board game. I know people who turn off their phones once they arrive home in the evenings and it stays off until the next morning. I’m not quite there, yet!
Even when your schedule is hectic, don’t forget to step away from work/responsibilities to have lunch. A midday break, even thirty minutes, can replenish you. A ten minute nap works wonders and you’ll feel refreshed.
I’m a firm believer that while we can’t have it all, we can have most of it. But we also want to be here to enjoy it in good health. How will you find balance? Please share some of your tips for “me time.” Remember: take care of you!