Favorite Ways to Relax and Refill

When my son was born I started to feel guilty when I had “me time.” Before he was born, I was always on the go, involved in a lot of volunteer work, bible studies, and activities. After my son was born, I cut back on a lot of things, so that I could have more free time to be home with my son. There was nothing wrong with me wanting to have more time to spend with my son. I still continued some of the activities I was in before my son, but I felt guilty every time I left the house without him. When he was born, I cut back on the time I spent reading the bible and praying. I told myself I was busy, and didn’t have much time. Didn’t have much time? Seriously? Isn’t it ridiculous that we get too busy for God, when he is the thing in life we need the most? How did I think I would function as a new mom without  God?

                I enjoy writing, but after my son was born I didn’t have time for that either. I stopped doing a lot of things I enjoyed doing to have more time with my son. I acted like Robo-Mom spending all of my free time taking care of my son or trying to maintain my house.   told myself I was being a good mom,  sacrificing the things I loved for  my son, but I started feeling empty inside. I needed my time with God, and I needed my “me time.” I started to realize, that if I did not make time to relax and refill I would be empty inside, and if I am empty inside I will not have anything to give to the people in my life, my husband, my son, my family, and friends. You cannot give what you do not have to give. I started making my God time and my “me time” a priority in my life. I pray and read the bible first thing every morning. That’s what I did before I was a mom, why should I stop now?  I am trying not to feel guilty about the activities I am involved in. I did cut back a lot, and it’s okay for me to have some time away from my son. I write every day, now even if it is just for ten minutes a day with my son next to me. It helps me to refill, and energizes, because writing is one of the things God created me to do. I am able to maintain my house better and take care of my son better, when I make God priority and little have a little time for me every day.

Here are some of the things I do to relax and refill:

·         Read the bible

·         Pray

·         Write letters to God. (It’s one of the ways I pray. I feel more connected to God , when I express myself to him in my writing)

·         Listen to music

·         Worship God

·         Read ( I am enjoying reading the Am I Messing Up my Kids. It is part of  an online bible study I have been doing that has helped me to refill as well.

·         Work on my son’s scrapbook, baby book, or journal.  (I am keeping a journal of all the things he does I want to remember

·         Exercise ( I always feel refreshed after I work out. It gives me energy. My son likes to sit in his swing and smile at me while I work out.

What are some things that you like to do to relax and refill?