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Equal Time Strategy
3/21/2009
by Amy Buchanan
Caring for an infant (or a toddler, for that matter) can be exhausting.
Nearly ever parenting magazine and baby advice book tells news moms to sleep when the baby is sleeping. But that’s easier said than done.
Many women use naptime to finish chores, check their email and tend to other things on their to-do lists. Invariably, when the baby awakens from naptime, the mommy is more exhausted than she was at the start.
If you’re one of those moms who can’t make yourself sleep when the baby sleeps, The Take Care Project has a solution for you. You’ll wind up getting some rest and some chores done. Maybe you won’t get all your laundry done, but you’ll get a headstart on it. And you’ll get some much-needed rest, which is infinitely more important than having a pristine house and perfectly pressed clothes.
The next time your little one is napping, try the Equal Time Strategy.
Once your little one is asleep, commit to giving yourself at least 15 minutes of downtime. You may choose to catch a catnap, meditate, read, do some relaxing yoga poses or watch television. Treat these 15 minutes (or longer, if you prefer) as me time. Only do things that you enjoy and that relax you.
After those first 15 minutes have passed, you’re free to give equal time to some chore that needs to be done. Allot the same amount of time for cleaning and other chores as you did for resting, but no more.
When chore time is up, it’s time to relax again. This round, give yourself a little extra time to take it easy – maybe 20 minutes or 30. Once those restful minutes have elapsed, you can spend an equal amount of time on chores.
You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish around the house in these short, but concentrated, spurts because you’ll be focused and somewhat rested as you work. And your stress-level will be lower, guaranteed.
Getting off your feet for just a bit – even if it’s only 15 minutes – will do wonders for your body and spirit, as well. Sometimes, all you need to feel energized is a little catnap or a few minutes with your feet up on the sofa. You may find that you enjoy this downtime enough to give yourself permission to enjoy more of it. You can always leave the dirty dishes and the laundry for another time.
When practicing the Equal Time Strategy, remember:
- Always begin with a period of rest. That way, if your little one awakens early, you will have gotten some rest.
- Never spend longer on chores than you did on rest.
- It’s OK to cut chore-time short to rest some more.
- You may find it helpful to use a timer to keep track of your rest and work periods. It’s very easy for a sleep-deprived mind to lose track of time. However, only set the timer during your chore period. Nothing but your baby’s cries should interrupt your rest time.
- Take the telephone off the hook when you and your child are resting to avoid any interruptions.
- You know better than anyone how long your baby naps. Set your Equal Time schedule accordingly.
- Try to arrange things so that you end your Equal Time routine with rest. This won’t always be possible because children’s naps can be unpredictable. But arrange things as best you can so that you’re relaxing, not powering through some chore, when your child awakens.
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