Taking Care of Yourself
I'm afraid this week I am learning the hard way the importance of taking care of yourself as a parent. Life in the Skulley household has been anything but calm during the month of July. We've been going nonstop at work, church, and home ... full speed ahead ... until the end of last week when both Jack and I became sick, bringing everything to a screeching halt. Jack had a cold that quickly became an ear infection, and I came down with a cold that quickly turned into the never-ending cough/sinus infection. Needless to say, it has not been a fun few days.
Ultimately, this sickness has been a reality check for me. It is the perfect real-life example of how stress (both good stress and bad stress) can take its toll over time. I have been reminded of how important it is to slow down, reduce stress, and take care of myself so that I can take care of my family.Weeks ago, I should have taken the advice of Kathy Firkins, the writer for the July 2009 ParentLife article "Super Stressed." She talks about how stress is physical, mental, and emotional. She also provides her "Top 10 Instant Stress Relievers." If you're feeling stressed, don't miss this article.
How do you deal with stress? What are the most effective stress relievers that you have found to work for you?
