Hi, I'm Monica Packer, and you're listening to About Progress, I'm talking time devoted to your self-care, hobbies, and even

working on your do-something list. Brad's been out of town for business more often this year and each time he's been gone it's like my body

remembers that this is what life used to feel like when he was working six days a week with long hours and a long commute

and I was solely in charge of all things

home and kids. Moments for and to myself were a few and far between and I can now

pinpoint how the lack of time to myself was a big player and how I lost myself and struggled to feel like myself.

Even now with Brad and I both primarily working from home, our lives are so packed, it's still difficult to find that time.

Whether or not it's officially to myself because there's seven of us crammed into this house with the most demanding of us being a 14 month old.

This is all to say if you are struggling with making time to and for yourself, I really get it.

And that's why what I have to share with you today

is not only based in reality,

it's also shared with this intent.

Take what works for you and leave the rest behind. Why does it matter that we take time

for ourselves? Life is full of responsibilities, many to most of them connected to people and none of that can be ignored.

If we step away, then those things often don't get done, with so much to do and so little time to do it. Why doesn't matter that we take time for ourselves?

It's really quite simple. Without time for our own self-care, habits, interests, and hobbies, we lose not only those things, but the self attached to them.

Here are some signs that may help you realize that you do in fact need time for yourself.

If you feel you're not reacting in ways that reflect who you really are, then you need time.

If you largely navigate to numbing behaviors over more restorative habits or hobbies,

then you need time.

If you end most days collapsing into bed, feeling distraught,

that it all starts again in just a few short hours,

...