Last Day of My Break

The day has come "( 

my last day of the Christmas Holidays

with the family

Hubby has returned to work today and I have one

more day left "(

It was a massive 2013 for 

Darvanalee Designs I worked right 

up till Christmas Eve

I was feeling exhausted by the end of November 

and knew that I had to book in some 

down time...

 some Me time and 

Family time...

And that is exactly what we did 

It gave me time to think and do nothing and as most of you know 

I work from home so it is hard to get that work/home life balance right

hard to not go out and hangout in the studio and just keep working...

But I did I managed it 

although I will say I did do some sewing but it was something for me 

something that I have wanted to do for a sometime now ....it is still a 

"Work in Progress" (WIP) but it was something for me.

It made me realize just how much I have missed doing things for me and the family 

as I love to create and I love getting the girls creating too ") 

While I was sitting there sewing away and chatting to my little people 

and just generally having a great time....It got me thinking I need more of 

this in my life ") 

So I need a plan and I need to write it down 

where I am going to see it everyday 

Solution:

A good Friend of mine Gail gave me a Diary for Christmas 

so I got hold of it and I started to plan out my year 

seems silly right to start planing our your whole year 

but here is what I have done 

I have booked in my work time 

Monday to Friday 9:30am  to 2:30pm 

Some might say that is not much time for working 

but when you are sewing and quilting and teaching 5 days 

a week you need down time 

and I failed in this last year...

In this time I will be fitting in everything related to 

my work...Everything from pattern creating/Quilting/ Classes and Class

samples ") 

In the past year I have neglected myself and my health and 

I can't keep that up as I will burn out before I know it :) 

although I did eat healthy most of the time 

exercise was a bit hit and miss :(

Goal: to fit in Daily  Exercise 

So to fit in Exercise I booked in every morning and afternoon a 

walk out in the real world by walking my kids to school and 

walking to pick them up in the afternoons while my girls ride their 

bikes to school...hence my Business hours

being 9:30am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday 

and that is that taken care of ") 

its looking good so far 

and I have booked in half an hour of 

weight training first thing in the 

morning at 6am :) 

Next: Time to fit in some time for Creating with 

my Crafty girls 

Solution:

Monday and Wednesday afternoons 

are what we are calling Mummy and Me time.....

from 3:30pm -5:30pm ....once they return to school at the end of January

for now they are just doing craft when ever they want ") 

Now this is going to be a bit of a juggle 

as I have to spread myself between my girls...

but they are excited they have even put it in

their Diaries too....there will be no getting out of it now LOL

and I wouldn't want to anyway ") 

Obviously these time may change a little to fit in homework 

and other school activities ") but for now it is a plan

and 1 plan is better than none 

and we have yet to nominate a day for TV during the week

they can't decide just now...but I think my kids spent way too much 

time in front of the TV last year....and they can only play their computer/tables and 

other devices on weekends 2hrs each day no more...I have noticed that their social 

skills with one another has been a bit average of late...

too much wasted time during the week :) and 

they are not being involved with family life 

Tuesday/Thursday/Friday

we are looking at doing some 

things away from the house so I can't 

sneak off and work in the studio 

at the moment we are looking into

Yoga and things like that...to get the 

kids to relax too...:) 

as they have very busy lives too ") 

weekends are just for family time...time 

for visiting the park going on family 

outings and relaxing with my hubby and the 

kids ") 

WORKING A BIG NO NO 

(Although 1 Saturday a Month is for Markets)

Goal:ME TIME

this is the most important 

time to shut down :) 

So I have decided that it is way too easy to 

get caught up in the world of social media 

email/games and everything else to do with the 

internet...so there is now a ban on all

devises in Our bedrooms 

and this is going to sound really silly...

but I have the kids going to bed every night at 7:00pm

some might say WoW this is early...but my kidelts 

really need to sleep...otherwise I have some 

really angry sleep deprived chicky's indeed...

they will read for half an Hour then Lights out

 I have booked in time for me to do my 

from 7:30pm after a quick clean up...

Except for Tuesday nights I have my 

Quilting Club :) meeting 7pm to 9pm 

but this has nothing to do with work 

this is just for me :) 

Yoga 

Bubble Bath by candle light

and then 

Meditation to try and shut down 

I have not really been to successful with meditation in the past, but this year I am going to try harder and longer and not give up soo quick "/ 

Bed at 9:45pm 

where I have a list of Books that I want to read

an actual book not a Kindle and no Internet

Lights out 10:30pm 

Lets Hope I can keep this up I think 

this will create a good Home/work balance 

for all in the house and I might just find 

that I will have a lot less stress in my life 

well fingers crossed anyway ") 

Good Night ")  N