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Time Off for Tired Moms and Dads

By Sandy Schroeder

We all need little escapes, or even medium size vent points, to make sure we hang in there and do what we do every day without collapsing or blowing our tops. Those little escapes can be difficult to get if you have small children, or young teens, hold down a full-time job, keep a household running, and participate in your community.

Whatever you do, at home, on the job, and out in the world to help others, may benefit from some strategic escapes. It does not have to be a whole day away. It could be small with 10- to 20-minute breaks here and there, or a half-hour at night before bed.

Does this sound familiar? You may be showing up every day and doing it all as you fix breakfast, work all day, go home fix dinner, read stories, and supervise baths. Then you turn in, and get up and do it all over the next day.

Whatever your schedule, if you are beginning to feel overly tired, less motivated, or totally irritable, you may really need to consider time off to keep you and your family healthy and happy.

Do a Quick Check-Up

Ask yourself some simple questions.

  • When's the last time you just went for a walk mid-afternoon with no real destination?
  • How often do you browse your favorite antique shops, hardware stores, fashion boutiques or collector bookstores?
  • Are your hobbies gathering dust and waiting for you?
  • Do you miss reading for pleasure?
  • Are your friends waiting for you to call or come over?
  • How much would you give to just have an hour totally to yourself?

Ways To Make It Happen

Whatever your situation with your family, work, and free time, look around to build in some healthy breaks.

  • Consider swapping kid sits with another mom or dad to create time breaks
  • Hire a reliable teen to come in and help out to go out for dinner or away for an afternoon
  • Get up a little early, or stay up a little late, to have quiet time to yourself every day
  • Refocus everything at the end of the day with a walk with kids and the dog
  • Plan visits to grandparents and take small breaks while they play cards with your dad, or help your mom bake cookies
  • Make friends with other families that have kids with similar interests like soccer, biking or hiking

The years at home with kids pick up speed as you go along. You may actually look back in the future and wish you could recapture that time. Meanwhile, do whatever works to keep those little breaks coming.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Maple Grove, Minn.

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