Taking Some Time For Myself - Guilt Free!

 

I have a large list of things to be completed around our house.  This year I did not manage to get nearly the projects checked off the list I originally had planned, however I do tend to think I can get far more accomplished than I really can.  Add in pandemic restraints that affected not only the availability of supplies, but the cost of them as well, and I did have a few obstacles getting in my way.

 

Time is also a factor.  I work full time and it is common for me to work overtime, pretty much on a daily basis.  My job is hard and challenging.  It uses up a lot of my brain power and taps my emotions too.  Nonetheless I enjoy what I do, who I work with, the company I work for and I have a great boss.  For all of that I am incredibly grateful and know that I am in a fortunate position, especially as I've remained gainfully employed throughout everything that has occurred this year.

 

There are a ton of hobbies I am interested in doing and not nearly enough time to work on any of them.  I keep thinking that once I am retired I will finally have the time to do the things I want to do, but in the meantime I put a lot of pressure on myself to work on the "To Do" list and be as productive as possible when I am home.  I have to quit doing that.

 

While taking care of my home and being a responsible and productive person is very important to me so is taking care of myself.  Part of taking care of myself is to allow for some downtime.  Time spent doing whatever I want to do that brings me pleasure and allows me to rest and rejuvenate.  When the girls bought me a die cutting machine for my birthday I realized that I didn't want to wait three more years to take the time to use it, nor did they want me to.

 

Initially I felt guilty when I spent an entire afternoon learning to use it and making some greeting cards.  Then I felt guilty spending the money for craft supplies, more dies and a bunch of paper.  Then I felt guilty when I spent more time crafting.  I began to rationalize what I was doing by thinking I could make cards and sell them to offset the time and money I was spending.  Then I realized I was being ridiculous and told myself to knock it off.

 

Now I actually have scheduled time that I get to craft and do whatever I want.  Guilt free.  No agenda.  And both of my girls are encouraging me and thrilled that I am doing this.  It makes them happy to see me happy.  The other benefit to this time is that I am still getting things done around the house, albeit at a much slower pace, and it is helping me cope better with the challenges that come up at work.  Whenever I start to feel anxious or stressed I remember that I have craft time just ahead and I am able to push through.  I actually think it is helping me to do my job better too.

 

So what on earth am I going to do with all this stuff I am creating?  Well, I think the girls and I are definitely going to set up a little shop of some sort, either on Etsy, eBay or Facebook and sell these things, because honestly I really don't need over 100 greeting cards.  Yes, I have really made that many cards this month.  Pretty crazy, huh?  But, oh so much fun.  And I don't feel the slightest bit guilty about it either!