The Engergizer Bunny isn’t human, is he?
As I started to type this, I got a pop up notice on my laptop that told me I was low on battery and I needed to switch to another source of power or risk shutting down completely. Ironically, I am writing this on a sun filled glorious morning sitting poolside at my home in Florida where I have come to recharge my personal batteries!
As an entrepreneur and a parent, it is extremely challenging to make the choice to find time for you.
Time doesn’t ever just “become” available. Like you, I often find myself weighing the priorities of how I should spend the next 15 minutes. Should I try to answer these last few emails or start packing the kid’s school lunches? Do I respond to the flashing red light on my telephone advising me I have new voice mail message or do try to finish up my past due expense reports? Sound familiar?
Creating time for you is a conscious act that many of us put off for too long. I know I often did. Personally, when my battery pack was empty and I still forged ahead on my power reserves, I became dramatically less effective. Stressed out, unenergized, and unable to manifest the positive vibes and confidence that is demanded in my role as a leader and a mother, I was significant less effective. About a year ago I decided to consciously create time for myself, and it has been life changing for me.
On trip down here, I was assisted with a heavy piece of luggage by a fellow airline passenger. After a bit of polite traveler small talk, I learned he had 4 kids and the oldest was 6 years old. I inquired if he had a lot of family in the area and he told me he didn’t. He then proceeded to tell me proudly that the children had NEVER had a babysitter. Now he looked pretty refreshed after his good night’s sleep at some hotel last night, but my mind could only wander to what his poor wife was experiencing. Does being with your kids 24×7 for every day of their life make you a better mother in his mind? How are they nourishing their marriage which has to feel the strain of no ability to interact without children around? How does his wife gear up for yet another day of wiping up spilled grape juice, changing diapers and comforting endless temper tantrums?
What I do know is that as I entered my home Friday night, I declared to my husband and my three kids that I was on vacation and Dad was totally in charge for the next week. I just finished my third cup of coffee listening to the sound of the wild parrots that live in the trees in my yard, and I am headed to the beach to look for dolphins before the little people I live with pop out of bed. I’m plugged into my power source on track to get a back to a full battery level. The kids Dad will do a great job of pouring cereal for breakfast, and life is good.
