Take five. It’ll help you take the rest in stride

Yesterday, you were up at 5 a.m., loading the washing machine and making breakfast before rousing the kids to get ready for school. After dropping them off, you put in a full day of work only interrupted by running an errand at lunch. After work, you ran another errand en route home, then prepared dinner, dried and folded that laundry you’d washed in the morning, loaded the dishwasher, bathed and read a bedtime story to your younger child. By the time all this was done, it took all the patience you could muster to listen to your older child vent and then offer him advice about a problem at school.

Finally, at almost 10 p.m., you’ve got a minute to yourself. And you’re so dog-tired that the only thing you want to do with it is to fall asleep – if you’re not too wired to settle down!

This kind of demanding schedule has been the drill not just for the last five business days but for the last several years. It may be Saturday today, but the demands are no less. There’s nothing you crave more than a free afternoon, but that’s about as likely as a trip to the moon.

Loads of ordinary errands and housekeeping must be done – and fitted around the kids’ Saturday sports practices, too. Not only that, but you’ve absolutely got to prepare your income tax forms this weekend, too.

It’s no wonder you sometimes think, “The only time I have to myself is in the bathroom!” Even if you’re generally upbeat, it’s easy to lose patience, work less efficiently, and feel exhausted under such a regimen.

The fact that you need to get refreshed is a no-brainer. But if you do take time to relax, tasks will only build up, forcing you to work harder and faster.

When free time is at a premium, what can you do to find time for you?

First, realize that a break will actually help you to work more efficiently and good-humoredly, too. And with your sense of humor intact, it’s easier to face demands and cultivate helpful friendships, too.

If a substantial block of leisure time seems simply impossible, reward yourself with small breaks and little treats in the routine of your life. Begin with the only place you feel free, and buy a bouquet for the bathroom. It will start your day with a smile. At work, accompany your coffee breaks with low-calorie treats such as fresh grapes or animal crackers.

Take up a relaxing hobby, such as knitting or crochet, to enjoy while you wait for kids at sports practices. But don’t get too hooked on counting stitches. While waiting, network with other parents to see if you can trade child care for each others’ kids. You might just score that free afternoon, after all.