SMALL TOWN VALUES BIG CITY RESULTS Rinehardt Law | www.rinehardtlawfirm.com | 419-LAW-2020
FEBRUARY 2020
WHAT CAN I DO WITH 24 HOURS? Make a Little Time for Myself T his February brings leap day, and it got me thinking: With an “extra” 24 hours in the month, how can I use this time meaningfully? points in my life, dance has been a way to reconnect with who I am. When I was pregnant with my second child, I tried tap dance, and I’ve also studied ballroom dance.
One of my intentions this year is to focus on setting aside time for things that bring me peace and joy. I often wish I had an extra hour in the day. I’m a single working mom, and most days, I find myself burning the candle at both ends. The very lowest person on my priority list is me, so if I don’t prioritize myself, no one will. If I don’t practice self-care, I won’t be able to take care of anyone else. Self-care is making sure you stay physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. Then you can be the best parent, employee, sibling, or partner you want to be. If your bucket is empty, you can’t pour anything into anyone else’s. If I can find a couple days in February to give myself a few extra hours of rest, call up a friend and have dinner, or play a board game with my kids and catch up with them, I’ll fill up my bucket and have more to give my loved ones. This year, I’m going to start by choosing things that fill up my bucket. Like Hillary, I have a passion for fitness. It’s so helpful for my mental health and a great way to release stress. I grew up dancing ballet, and I carried that passion with me through law school. At one time, I even considered a professional career in dance. At different
Now, though, it’s been several years since I’ve danced. I’d love to find a class in our community and get back into it in some form. For me, it’s a form of self-care that relieves stress and allows my mind to let go of things. I want to get back to that. Being outside also brings me a lot of calm, and while I’m not particularly a winter person, if I can take a walk in a park or visit a nature preserve, regardless of the season, I know it will be beneficial. I also want to focus on getting better sleep. In our fast-paced world, we’re trying to be and do so many things at once, and sleep “Self-care is making sure you stay physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. Then you can be the best parent, employee, sibling, or partner you want to be.”
is usually sacrificed first. I know it’s part of the reason why I can’t get over a cold as easily or why I feel more stress than I would if I’d had a full eight hours of rest. If I can give myself a few extra hours in February, that will be a great start. For anyone recuperating from the repercussions of trauma or an injury, I know it might feel challenging to get back to the things that used to bring you joy. It’s still so important to find something that calms you and allows you to experience some joy. Giving yourself the treat of watching a movie, picking up an inspiring book, or calling a supportive friend to say hello can all be great forms of self-care. It’s whatever feels relaxing and healing to you. With an “extra” 24 hours this month, I’m going to spend a little time focusing on me. I hope you’ll do the same.
–Melanie Fahey
1 Rinehardt Law | www.rinehardtlawfirm.com
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