Books

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode 9

[amazon_image id=”1400206464″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life[/amazon_image]

Read about the first chapter here.

Read about the second chapter here.

Read about chapter three here.

Read about chapter four here.

Read about the fifth chapter here.

Read about the sixth chapter here.

Read about chapter seven here.

Read about the eighth chapter here.

 

Her ninth chapter is called;

Sometimes It Is About You

This chapter solidified my belief of the importance and gave me peace about making time for myself.  I have learned through trial and error that I am a much better person, thus making me a better mother and wife when I take good care of myself.  I try to do these five things to take care of myself: get enough sleep; have a reading time; exercise; take time for myself; and nurture my friendships.

Getting enough sleep is paramount for me.  I need sleep.  If I do not get an average of 8 hours of sleep a night, it’s not pretty.  I’m even more moody (if that’s possible), very impatient, and in a funk all day long.  This impacts my other decisions, I tend not to eat as well, grant grace, exercise, etc.  It’s an ugly cycle and everybody looses.

Having a reading time.  I like to try and do this in the morning, but in this season of life, that’s just not possible.  So, it’s the first thing I do during nap time.  Yes, it sometimes demotivates me, but it’s a higher priority than getting housework done.  I can tell a big difference when I skip the reading time and do something else.  I start with my Bible Study and then if I have time, I’ll read another book.  Depending on the day, this is any where from 30 minutes to an hour.

Exercise.  I need to make this a higher priority, I haven’t been doing too much the past year, and I have really started to tell a difference.  For my mindset and body, I need to exercise.

Take time for myself.  Sometimes my reading time is “my time.”  Sometimes, it’s running errands by myself.  Sometimes it’s taking a 

salt bath.  Sometimes it’s just reading before I go to bed, watching TV or going out with friends.  I like to craft, but right now that’s not really an option because my supplies are still in boxes.  The point is, it doesn’t have to take a long time or a lot of money, but it needs to be something that I enjoy and that refreshes me.

Nurture friendships.  I have learned that friendship is important to me and I am a better person when I can be a good friend.  A few years ago, I started feeling very alone.  Yes I had my husband, but I moved away from my family and friends.  My husband was born and raised in the city we live in and so has only had a few people move away, so he doesn’t completely understand.  I decided to take matters into my own hands and do what I needed to do to be happier.  In order to be a good friend, I need to take time and nurture these friendships.  I make it a point to send encouraging FB messages or card in the mail,  just let them know I’m thinking about them.  I make lunch dates, go to GNO, invite them over for dinner.  I don’t do all of these things every month.  I probably only do each thing 2-3 times a year and not always to the same friend.  But relationships take work, no matter what kind they are.

These things may not be what you need to focus on, but figure out what best fills you and go after it.  Make a routine and fit these things into your life.  Yes, life will happen and you may not be able to always do them, but that needs to be an exception  instead of the norm.  There is also a sense of peace that comes with having them integrated into your routine, so if you do need to skip, you know there will be other opportunities.  It is also “a light at the end of a tunnel” on a bad day.  Sometimes, it’s what helps me get through difficult times in the day.

 

Quotes

My favorite quotes from this chapter were:

• “We can’t survive the storms of life without regularly taking care of ourselves.”
• “Don’t look to other people, books, diets, programs, pills, or even a church to give you the strength you need to live the life God has called you to live.”
• “In fact, many times when you direct your attention towards yourself and practice self-care, you become a better person all around.”
• “Health is certainly more valuable than money because it is by health that money is procured.”  Samuel Johnson
• “When we take care of our bodies, we actually experience less stress.”
• “Reading challenges, inspires, shapes, and educates me.”
• “One thing I’ve noticed is that, outside of comparing ourselves to others, women are notorious for beating ourselves up for not doing or being everything we want to do or be.”

 

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