Taking some time to appreciate you!

Well this could be quite a comedic blog - it comes to you after an afternoon adventure at Mt Towrong winery, tasting their lovely wines and enticing gins. The reason for this stellar afternoon? A catchup of 'girl bosses' to appreciate where we came from and what we have achieved. Not only am I incredibly lucky to share an amazing journey with a truly special friend in Louise, but I am forever amazed to be surrounded by fearless females who continue to make exponential changes in the business world! Lets be honest, being a working mum is exhausting! Scrap that, being a mum in general is exhausting! Lets not sugar coat what is a truly rewarding yet utterly challenging time of our lives! It's rewarding, empowering, exhausting, overwhelming, isolating, but above all else, the best journey you could ever be on! So the inspiration for sharing these views comes after an afternoon of self reflection but above all else, a timely reminder to take some time out for YOU and to reward yourself for being YOU! So how can you make time for yourself?

•  Set yourself up for success - choose a time that is convenient for you so that you can get proper downtime to do whatever you want! For us, we chose a Sunday lunch because all our husbands are home, thus children were sorted; there were no activities to come home to; domestic chores had been done and from my end, my lovely husband had dinner sorted!!
• Use this time as 'me time' - this might mean getting your nails done; reading a book; going for a walk; scrolling through catalogues or just having a nap! Whatever it is, this time is about you and what you need so make it enjoyable!
• Make your 'me time' a priority!- stop making excuses and prioritise making time for yourself. Surprisingly, life will go on! :)
• Dont feel guilty! You're allowed to do things for you and say no to people in order to do so! It will be OK!!

 By making time for yourself, you feel more energised, have better self-esteem and it allows you to think more clearly and make better decisions. It has also been show to reduce tension and anxiety and promote better sleep and less fatigue. It may also improve interpersonal relationships, making you a better partner, parent or employee. I know personally when I have been away from my husband and children, I can't wait to see them! I am always eagerly awaitng a big hug from the kids and some time to be with the hubby. Being away gives you a sense of perspective and appreciation for what you have and makes you really gratuitous for the opportunities you have. We all lead busy lives and are good at making excuses not to make things happen. However the reality is that when we do, it actually re-invigorates us and makes anything possible! Finding a balance is of course challenging, however you can only try. For example, I was in Tasmania on a girls weekend last week and this coming weekend, my husband is heading away with his mates for a boys weekend. We both find doing this (seriously we only do this a couple of times a year) is not only healthy for our own relationship but is also a great way to just 'be' with friends who you can share life's journey with. 

So the moral of this blog, reward yourself for your achievements in whatever capacity they are. Make time for you and don't feel guilty about it! You will reep the rewards and feel a new sense of self when you prioritise yourself. Have a balanced approach and make time that is achievable to realistic. You deserve it!