Brain Breaks and Self-Care ~ @AuthorKristina Knight

It's been a hectic start to 2019, gang, and I can't quite believe we're staring down May already. I kind of thought we were still in March last week (and not just because of the weather!) and then I realized we *couldn't* be in March still because we're back from our anniversary cruise (which was wonderful!) and state testing has started for bebe.

Over the weekend bebe and I had a little craft-a-thon. She's been wanting to make surgeon masks (I dunno, she hates doctors...maybe she's planning a heist?), but didn't want "regular surgeon masks, Mom". So, a little You-Tubing and a little craft-stash stalking and we were ready to go. I (of course) did the bulk of the sewing because the actual sewing machine scares her ( she lives in fear of running over her fingers with the needle... *whatever*). The point isn't that we sewed a surgeon mask, the point is that it reminded me - I haven't been sewing lately. For, like, nearly a year.

I like sewing/quilting. It's sometime creative that is outside the realm of writing, so I use a different part of my brain...and yet, I get writing (plotting, character ideas, scene thoughts) done while I'm taking time away from the computer.

Sewing has been part of my self-care routine for...well, since before bebe. But as she's grown up and needed more (and sometimes less) of my time, as my writing career has grown to the 20 book mark, as RadioMan and I have tried to carve out dating time while also raising a kiddo and having careers...the list goes on, but self-care has kind of fallen to the wayside. And that isn't a great thing, I don't think.

Self-care is time that I spend just on (and for) me. It's reading a book just for fun, it's taking a walk at
a nature preserve, it's brainstorming with a writer friend, it's a date with RadioMan, it's movie time with bebe. It's all the things that remind me that as much as I take care of RadioMan and bebe and my career, I also need to make time to take care of me - and sewing should definitely come back into that part of my life.

Because the hour or so we spent on the project? Was filled with laughter and silliness. It reminded me how much I enjoy making "things", and how much I get out of the process. Things like a calmer mind, a new scene idea, a memory of bebe laughing so hard she fell off the chair...So, I've resolved to add sewing in to my routine a little more. I mean, I do have about 3 UFO (unfinished objects) in the crafting stash....



Oh! And if you find yourself in need of a "reason" to take some time for self-care, give this (5 Reasons to Love Yourself) a read. I read this on Monday and loved it. For the past year or so I've been trying to give myself a break/give myself permission to focus on me - at least a little bit of the time - because self-care is really important. And self-care doesn't mean you don't love your DH or kids, it just means you recognize the need to refill your own well, to give yourself a break.

Have a great week!           ~Kristina