Back to school means more than getting the kids off on their first day of school.
Back to school time means back to YOU!
How many parents are emotionally done by this time of year and ready for a schedule, ready for a change, ready for structure?
ME!!!!
Not only am I ready for a new school year, but I’m ready to start focusing on myself again and I’m not alone when I say this; I’m ready for time to myself and time to focus on my work.
Summer break is great! I enjoyed being home with my kids about 70% of the time. It was a great opportunity to do fun summer activities and travel with my kids; creating fun memories they will remember.
But by August, you’re feeling neglected because you’re not spending enough attention on yourself. You were accustomed to that daily gym routine, monthly facial, coffee meet ups with your girlfriends, etc.
Today I want to focus this post around what back to school time really means for parents and all adults.
Back to School = Self care time
I am especially guilty for putting myself dead last. Most moms do it all the time.
We are busy focusing on our kids, making sure everyone’s fed, scheduled, rushed here & there. Unfortunately, this leaves very little time for ourselves.
Last month, I went to a skin trade show and took a class about self-care. It was a great class and hit home. As an esthetician for 16-years, my job is to care for others and make women and men feel great every single day. I’m grateful to have a job that I love and can help people.
My job is giving and rewarding in many ways, yet I find if I don’t take time for myself, I don’t enjoy my work as much. It’s not that I don’t like my clients or my work; my cup is running on empty and if I don’t fill it up, I feel depleted and run down.
How many of you can relate?
What can you do to help ease this feeling of depletion, frustration or resentment?
- A quick recharge, for example, five deep breaths at a stop light or train.
- A five-minute meditation first thing in the morning or right before bed
- Getting up 10-minutes before the family to sit with a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the silence of your home
- A quick 10-minute yoga stretch found on YouTube right after the kids head out the door
These simple, self-care steps can help you put some daily love into your own life; in ten-minutes or less!
You should also schedule yourself regular massages, facials and have your nails done, but you must make time for you every single day.
Back to school = Focus
I don’t know about you, but this time of year, I’m craving some change and working on creating something new for my business.
There’s something magical about the start of a new school year. A brand new routine, a brand new schedule, a brand new way of life. This year especially, since the kids and I moved to a new house in July and I have a 6th grader stepping up to middle school. Lots of changes over here, but it’s exciting!!
I always feel called to put my heart and soul into my business. This summer I let go and stopped that rushed feeling to get it all done. I stopped writing blogs & newsletters and stepped away from social media. I didn’t put much attention to my work because I was with my kids.
That’s the cycle of life. It’s ok to step away from what you really feel are the most important things in life.
Kids are young for a short time and once these years are gone, there’s no getting them back. It took me a long time to see this, and I’m still struggling with it. I’m finally at the stage in my life where I appreciate the kids and understand the importance of being present in their lives while they need me the most. Some days I love it and other days I want to get in my car & drive away.
As parents, we need to learn to let go of the stuff we think is important to our lives and stop to focus on what is REALLY important; our family.
We all know this concept and hear it all the time, until you take a step back, it’s to really grasp and understand how important being present really is.
My journey to letting go
For those of you who don’t know my story, I have to share my eye-opening awareness with you.
This April, my divorce finalized after three-years. During that time, the kids and I experienced a one-year move to Texas and moved into my parents home for over two-years.
I decided this summer I would get a house for the kids and I, which meant spending had to be at a minimum. I decided against putting the kids in summer camp to save money. In order to keep working, I had to enlist help from family, friends and babysitters.
That meant cutting back my work days to be home with my kids, something I haven’t done in three years. That was scary because as a single mom, I have to work!
It was difficult being home and adjusting to the fact that I couldn’t be at work, working on clients every day like I was used to.
I struggled a LOT this summer, it hasn’t been easy and the weather not cooperating early in the summer didn’t make the situation any easier.
In July, the kids and I moved into our Bolingbrook house and we are finally settling down!
The four of us are starting to settle in and then we took a trip to AZ just before school started. During this transition time, my Ah-Ha moment came from the realization that my sacrifice to be home with my kids is the best decision I’ve made for our family in a long time.
Stepping away from work or things you feel are more important opens your eyes to what’s in front of you and is MORE important.
To be honest, I’m never going to be the best person to be home with my kids, but I’m grateful for the time I have been home.
I long for my work days and long for days when I can step out of the house and get a break, but I am learning to enjoy the ability to let go and let the universe take care of the rest.
What is it you’re ready to get started on once the kids head back to school?
- Is it starting up that long-desired career you’ve been putting off?
- Going back to school to pursue your dream job?
- Cleaning up your house and getting re-organized?
- Working out?
- More self-care like scheduling yoga classes, facials or massages?
Whatever it is, now is the time to get started on you! You are so worth it.
XO
Samantha
To schedule a facial or buy my book, please visit my website: skindeepil.com
