Finding time as the holidays approach gets harder and harder, doesn’t it? This time of year, it’s so easy to let yourself get swept up and swept along in the rush and bustle.

That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead and schedule in some time to breathe! Your ability to enjoy the holidays and not feel depleted (and, ultimately, disappointed) depends on your ability to find ways to take care of yourself throughout the season.

My advice to you?

First and foremost, change your view of self care.  It is not an indulgence, it is a responsibility.

Making self care your responsibility means that your next job is to find time for yourself.  To do this, you’ll need to use your skills with setting, communicating, and following through on time and relationship boundaries.

I’d advise you to start small, especially if boundary-setting is relatively new to you.  Begin with a boundary you know you’ll be able to maintain. Maybe try something like going for a 10-minute walk first thing in the morning.  Communicate your boundary to those who need to know.  Then follow through on your plan, validate your success, and build from that base.

Broken down into steps, it sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it? It’s important to start thinking about this and practicing now, because as the holidays get closer and closer, your life’s demands will accelerate and finding time will get harder.

The rewards for taking care of yourself using time and relationship boundaries are huge. Remember, self care is your responsibility no matter what the season.  Start now, and enhance your holiday enjoyment while you find time!

What do you think?  Do you use boundaries in your life?  Are they a challenge for you?

Related Posts

• Finding Time Boundaries in Times of Stress and Times of Calm
• Take Good Care of You
• Extreme Self-Care
• Finding Time For Yourself, Even on Your Busiest Days
• Find Time to Honor Yourself and Your Relationships with Boundaries

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Personal Development, Self Employment Law, The SELF of Self Employment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Coach Paula Eder, Ph.D., The Time Finder Expert, has 35 years of success helping individuals, small businesses, and solopreneurs align their time choices with their life goals and core values. Heart-based time management is her passion. Paula enjoys nothing more than working with people to recognize and help facilitate the small time choices that lead to large, life changes … because the way you use your time is the way you live your life!

If you're ready to stop feeling overwhelmed, sign up for Paula's FREE Finding Time Boundary Template at http://www.findingtime.net/ezine.html/. And for more time tips and techniques, visit Paula's Blog at http://thetimefinder.com.