Keeping our Batteries Charged

[Helen Kirlew Smith]

Kia ora

Christmas is fast approaching; I can feel it in the air!!!

I love the anticipation of Christmas and the excitement that builds
especially with the kids.

It’s a wonderful and magical time to spend with our family and
friends, celebrating in many and varied ways.

The lead up, however, is very stressful. If you are anything like me
the lists - to attempt to stay on top of things - have started!

Watch Out. It is very easy at this time of year to neglect yourself.
The last thing you want is to be stressed, tense and resentful when
the big day arrives! Does this sound familiar?

So how do we change this? Here is one strategy that we hope will
help.

Think of yourself as a Battery.

All day long we deal with situations that are potentially battery
depleting. For example, we get up late and are now in a rush, the cat
has been sick in the night and we have to clean it up, your child is
refusing to get out of bed/dressed/eat/, your child falls over getting
to the car, and your already on tight schedule.

You drop the oldest off at school/kindy/creche and head to the
supermarket with the other kid(s), you have forgotten your list, and
the kids start fighting and refuse to sit in the trolley. You get
home, your youngest helps to carry in the shopping then drop it on the
steps and you watch is roll away down hill.... the list goes on!

Most days you will find yourself coping with ease, other days you find
yourself 'LOSING IT' and it ‘aint great for anyone, is it?

The point here is that we can deal effectively with all these battery-
depleting occurrences most of the time, IF, we start with enough
charge in our battery.

If we start out with a low battery it doesn't take long before we are
operating on empty.

So the question then becomes how do we charge our battery? What can
you do to give our-self more energy? How can you take care of our-
self?

Often it is the very simple things that make a big difference. Here’s
my list of Battery Chargers:

• Have enough sleep - go to bed an hour earlier
• Eat some fruit - it’s not there just for the kids
• Exercise - walk the kids to school etc. and run/walk back
• Book Time-Out - alone or with good friends. It’s good to have
something to look forward to.
• Read a book for an hour instead of cleaning - you are worth it
• Lie/Sit in the sun (for 10 minutes) after you’ve hung the washing
out
• Have a soak in the bath whilst your partner puts the kids to bed or
gets them breakfast
• Stare out the window with a cup of tea whilst the kids tidy up their
mess - okay, this might not be achievable :D

I really encourage you to do at least one thing each day to charge
your battery...taking care of yourself in this way will make a huge
difference to you and you family in the lead up to Christmas and see
you through the summer holidays.

Bye for now, and remember our next Understanding Your Anger Workshop
is 7-10pm, Wednesday 10th March 2010. Also, we'd love to hear any
stories about what you use to charge your Battery.

take care
Liz

http://www.breathingspacenz.com

Breathing Space - Professional Development for Parents, our services
includes:
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-Workshops
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