Making Space for Yourself Again

Girl, when was the last time you did something and nobody needed anything from you?

Not your kids.

Not your boss.

Not your clients.

Not your family.

Not your phone.

You.

If you had to think about it, you probably need some space.

Because life is a LOT right now.

You're working. You're parenting. You're building a business. You're taking care of family. You're paying bills. You're answering emails. You're trying to keep the house together.

And somehow we're still expected to have energy left over to take care of ourselves.

We Get Really Good at Putting Ourselves Last

As women, we can get so used to being needed that we forget we're allowed to need something too.

We say:

“I'll do it later.”

“I'll rest when everything is done.”

“I just have to get through this week.”

But here's the problem.

Everything is never done.

There will always be laundry.

Another email.

Another appointment.

Another bill.

Another person who needs something.

If you keep waiting until everything is handled before you take care of yourself, you may never get your turn.

Burnout Isn't Just Being Tired

I learned from my therapist that rest isn't something you have to earn.

And whew.

That one hit me.

Because sometimes we don't realize we're burned out. We just think we're annoyed, unmotivated, overwhelmed, or unhappy.

You stop enjoying things.

Everything feels like work.

Your patience gets real short.

You don't want to talk to anybody.

You wake up tired and go to bed thinking about everything you didn't finish.

That's more than “I need a vacation.”

Sometimes you need to make space before you completely run out of yourself.

And Making Space Doesn't Have to Be Fancy

I'm not saying book a $400 spa weekend.

Although...if you can, girl, book it. 😂

I'm saying start small.

Sit in your car for ten minutes before going inside.

Take a walk.

Put your phone on Do Not Disturb.

Go to bed instead of finishing one more thing.

Take yourself to lunch.

Do your skincare without rushing through it.

Sit in silence.

Read.

Pray.

Laugh with your girlfriends.

Or do absolutely nothing.

Yes, nothing counts.

Put Yourself Back on the Calendar

We schedule everything else.

Work.

School.

Appointments.

Meetings.

Hair.

Our kids' activities.

So why can't we schedule ourselves?

Put 30 minutes on your calendar that belongs to you.

And protect it.

Not because you're selfish.

Because you're a person.

Your child needs you, but your child also needs a mother who isn't completely running herself into the ground.

Your business needs you, but it doesn't need you exhausted every second of the day.

And if you're single, you don't have to fill every quiet moment with productivity.

You are allowed to enjoy your own life.

Make Some Room

Maybe this season isn't about doing more.

Maybe it's about making room to breathe.

Room to think.

Room to rest.

Room to laugh.

Room to remember who you are outside of everything you do for everybody else.

Because what's the point of building a life you never get to enjoy?

Start small.

Ten minutes.

Then twenty.

Then maybe an afternoon.

Come back to yourself.

Scripture for the Journey

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
— Mark 6:31

Even Jesus recognized that there was a time to step away.

So take the break.

Make the space.

And remember:

You don't have to completely fall apart before you're allowed to rest.