| Feather Light Studios

REST in DECEMBER?! Who has time for that?

YOU.

We cannot alter time. Time goes by with or without us. However, what we choose to do with it is totally in our control. Winter solstice is December 21st. It is the shortest day of the year. Literally, and symbolically, the days thereafter offer more light.

That is when inspiration comes.

January is on the horizon. The New Year offers new beginnings. December is a time of rest. Sinking into our mental hibernation, we allow our creative minds to rest and recharge. That’s why it is so important to address self care this month and pamper you.

You may be thinking, “You’re kidding right? The holidays are the busiest time of year!”

Bears slow down and hibernate in the winter. Birds fly south for a warm vacation. Trees become dormant. Nature’s way is to go within and get snuggly. We should take the hint. Sinking into our mental hibernation we are allowing our creative minds to rest and recharge.

Let’s get real.

I am crazy busy in December.

As a single working mother of two small children, I HAVE to be creative to find resting time. Otherwise, my life is like a tornado.

Girlfriend, it is so worth it. The result is, believe it or not, MORE energy! If I take time to pamper myself, I actually GET MORE DONE. I feel full of joy and can embrace the holiday with a genuine sense of cheer and gratitude.

Use the following tips throughout December. Not only will you be able to ENJOY the magical moments of the holiday season, but when January arrives, you will feel refreshed, reset and ready to blast off into the New Year with vitality and creative ideas!

12 FREE ways to lower stress and free up time so

YOU can slow down and enjoy this festive time of year.

Breathe.

Take deep centering breaths throughout the day. Count to 3 as you breath in and count to 5 as you breathe out. Stop lights are wonderful places to try this. You may be amazed at how tense you are “sitting still” at a light.

Ask for help.

Wonder Woman and Charlie’s Angels do not do it alone. They have support and “higher powers” that offer vitalaid to their public heroics. It takes a village ladies…use your resources. You might find that others take pleasure in helping you. Asking for help, you are taking the guess work out of HOW to give to YOU. In other words, you could quite possibly be GIVING when you are also receiving. Now how cool is THAT?

Say NO, thank you.

Any of you have ever been a first time kindergarten mother KNOW how easy it is to fall into “Sure, I will do that.” It takes 1 millisecond to say yes to occupying hours upon hours of your time.

Now, mommies, let me be clear. I LOVE to volunteer at my children’s school. I am talking about balance. You cannot do everything. EVEN if you think you are the BEST person for the job, sometimes, you just have to let it go. What is more important, your sanity or a “perfect” bullition board?

Say YES, thank you.

Say YES to sleeping in a few extra minutes. Say YES to taking a bubble bath. Say YES to going out to dinner. Say YES to letting someone help.

Restructure your time in little increments.

Waking up 15 minutes earlier can set a peaceful tone that lasts all day. Packing kids lunches the night before (or teaching them to do it themselves) can open up oodles of morning time. Turn off the TV. Television sucks hours of time away in what feels likes seconds. Journal or make ART instead. Being creative brings clarity and joy!

Stop mulit-tasking.

Ok, not entirely. After all, we are women. It is in our nature to do 25 things at once. BUT. You CAN choose the most important 3 things for the day and then let everything else go. Can we say “freeeeddooommmm!” I promise the sky will not fall in.

Put a pause on impulse.

When someone asks you to do something, (this includes children,) say, let me think about that. Unless it is urgent, finish your task at hand or check your calender first. If you can, take some time to do a true “gut check” as to whether it is something you need to do, want to do and/or have time to do.

Speak up!

Tell your family what you need. Share, within reason, what you are feeling. If you are stressed, take 5, sit down and breathe. Kids will understand (even if they are looking at you like you’re crazy). Think of what a great lesson you are teaching. Modeling self care and self awareness will serve your children for life.

Set clear times for availability and unavailability.

Choose times in the day that are JUST for family. (I have a no phones at the table rule.) Choose times for work. Stick to them. This will allow you to focus your whole self on something. Honor yourself and your family with your undivided attention. It is a wonderful model of how to be respectful of others.

Set technology boundaries.

You can do it. Pick a time when the computer goes off and stays off. You can do it. Turn off your email notifications. Turn your focus to your life not the computer screen. Set a timer (yes, I’m serious) for Facebook.

Use your intuition.

Check in with yourself on a regular basis as to how your life is feeling. Note what is working and what is not. Allow yourself to be flexible. Introduce, or elaborate on some spiritual practices (like meditation or praying). Get in touch with your inner wisdom to guide your choices around how to spend your time. Like yoga, the more you practice this, the easier it is to do.

Change a habit.

Are you used to staying up ’til midnight? Try going to bed at 9pm and getting up with the sun. A simple switch in perspective may be just the thing that catapults you into creativity! Do you stay in sweatpants all day? Get some cutie outfits on and watch how the sluggishness melts away! Do you plop in front of the TV first thing in the morning? Grab your coffee (bundle up if its chilly where you are) and walk around the block!

Change often feels uncomfortable because we mommies are so used to doing for everyone else. We love to nurture and care for our tribe.

Just remember YOU are important too.

A happy mommy makes a happy family.

You can do it.

Start today.

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