When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit early Spring this year, although the seriousness of the medical side of the situation caused many of us to worry, others (including myself) also enjoyed how time almost stopped for a moment. We had nowhere to go. Our families were all together. No sporting events to run to every night, family meals prepared together, and we had a lot of game and movie nights. Now let’s fast forward that to eight months later. We are not quarantined anymore, but we are not free to live our lives as we did a year ago. We are in this limbo of wanting freedom, but still being in fear of this virus that lingers among us. And for most of us, it means we are still all at home. Working from home and schooling from home, extracurricular activities from home, and church from home. Home is now not a place for rest, but a full functioning business. As a parent you now are “On” twenty- four hours a day. In between your work calls, you are checking in on your school age child’s web meeting, and coordinating social distancing playdates for your preschooler, while making lunch and folding laundry. There is no more down time once the kiddos are in school to take a power nap, have lunch with a friend or even go to the gym. So, the biggest question is how do you do selfcare in a time of quarantine? How do you score some alone time for self-reflection? Well, most answers people will give for selfcare are easy. Get exercise, take a nice bath, read a book, go for a walk, meditate, read scripture, talk with some friends, or watch a favorite movie. Basically, do something you love, that makes you feel good that is for you! This is all great and good, however from one parent to another this is not going to work unless you do two things:

1. Schedule it on the calendar (it’s a meeting for yourself)-if you don’t do this it will get pushed aside for other matters of the household or it will get interrupted!
2. Get your partner on your side- Have someone willing to give you the time you need to step away and you do the same for them- everyone needs some “me” time!

Taking time to take care of yourself will help you take better care of everyone in your family! Make sure to set up your appointment today!