Energizer Bunnies by Djuanna Brockington
By Djuanna Brockington • Nov 14th, 2008 • Category: Free Flow Friday •
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I am, by nature, a very laid back person. I like small gatherings with family and friends, reading, my iPod, and movies. When it’s my turn to host book club, we meet in restaurants. I mean really, they can’t expect me to clean AND cook AND have energy left over to discuss a book.
Because I wear so many hats (mom, girlfriend, consultant, budding entrepenuer) I feel like on any given day I am being pulled in twenty different directions. Sometimes I find myself in constant motion, but not necessarily getting a lot of things done. And at the end of that type of day, I’m left exhausted. And once my body stops moving, it thinks it’s time to go to sleep.
Lately, I have been trying to be more organized, direct, and purposeful in my actions and scheduling. Not easy when you’ve been flying by the seat of your pants for so long. In the shower this morning, I started thinking about what charges my batteries. Not surprisingly, it’s having quality time with myself. Being able to read a good book for longer than 15 minutes, a cup of coffee in a cafe with a great view, or catching a movie- alone. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy time with the important people in my life. I am just one of those people who seems to recharge with Me Time.
Yet, knowing all of this, I still fall into the “guilt” trap when I take time for me. I think about how I could be spending time with Diva in Training, how the The Man and I haven’t had a date night in a few weeks, how messy my house is, what consulting stuff needs to be done, and how my business To Do list is so long, it seems like it is never going to go away.
Today, I promised myself to stop that madness. I will take the time to take care of me so that I can take care of all of the other areas of my life that need tending to. I will organize and prioritize, but also give myself permission to deviate from the plan when necessary. Each day, I will do the best I can, and not get worked up about my shortcomings. And I will take time for me. EVERY DAY. ’Cause that’s the best that I can do.
Where do you get your energy, and how do you recharge your batteries?
Djuanna Brockington
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Djuanna Brockington is is a Southern Diva who knows about mid-life. Once she hit her 40s, life as she knew it no longer made sense. What she wanted and what she was experiencing, both personally and professionally, were not matching up, so she started seeking change. Be careful what you wish for. After 19 years of service, Djuanna left full-time employment in the public sector for life as a consultant and writer. When she is not chasing the dollars to pay the bills, she is enjoying her family and friends, reading whatever she can get her hands on, and working on that elusive novel. Visit Djuanna on the web at http://www.divafictionbytes.com
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Very nice blog and timely to be published on a Friday!
I will surely take your advise and plan a little “me” every day and how easy to start this on a weekend and carry over to my “crazy” work week.
Like you I need to “recharge” by myself – not around other people.
Wow, I was just having this conversation last night with The Man in my life. He was listing all of these things I need to be doing for me and I told him that I didn’t have time, that I wasn’t the priority, not when I have two little ones that demand so much of me, a job that demands so much of me, and all of my other commitments to my church, projects, etc. After reading this blog, I realize I can’t effectively give to others until I give to myself. So as of today, I am the priority! I am taking myself to a movie tomorrow night – no kids, the movie I want to see, and I am taking a long hot bubble bath, uninterrupted, tonight. Thanks for this, I needed it!
I have 2 men in my life (ages 10 & 13) and I seriously considering changing my name because I am really over the name “Mom”.. Between working full time, plus parenting full time, My men play travel baseball and although the season is over for them being the committe chair and fund raising for the next season takes up a lot of my time. So I think that I’m gonna take a page from your books, tonight is going to be “me” night. Going to bookstore and get a great book, make a strawberry daquiri, turn off the cell phone, send the kids over to their dad’s and wind down. Thanks for the push-Ladies.
Hey Ladies, I am so glad that this post registered with you guys. Just remember that not only are you worth it, but you NEED it. That puts everything into perspective.
Djuanna´s last blog post..Energizer Bunnies…
I had a rough week at work. Account startup is always challenging. I am closed in my room with my 2nd glass of Moscato wine, tv on BET watching ATL(I have never been attracted to TI, but in this movie) ok…..back on track. My husband is in the living room playing his playstation and my kids are in their room. I have decided I need to recharge ALONE. My pedi is tomorrow.
I love going to a tea bar and having a tea tasting and just sit and long hand write in my journal or read a book. That calms me. Things are easier now that my one child is grown; I realize how much I put off while raising her but I still get side tracked with work and other pulls on me, like worrying about my elderly mother. Finding a balance is very important.
Dera´s last blog post..Black Republicans. Who Needs Them?