Just for yourself
one more gift to buy,
one more dish to cook,
one more decoration to hang-"everyone's counting on me,i can't stop now." If you find yourself having thoughts like this,take a moment to remind yourself of the person you are outside your family and holiday roles.When was the last time you took care of yourself?Relaxation is mot a luxury,after all-it's important to our health and well-being.And unless we refuel once in a while,we won't be much good to anyone else either,so here are some of our favorite ways to put life in balance again.
Steal a moring-or even an hour-for yourself,Leave work early,or take a half vacation day.Skip a social gathing you don't really want to go to,and do something just for you instead.
When you are out holiday shopping,take a break for a nice lunch or a coffee.
Get in touch with the inner you.Find time to call or visit a friend from high school or college.A conversation with an old friend ofeten can help you connect to who you were before you became a mother or a wife.
Go to a high-school football team or swimmeet and scream your lungs out for the winning team.
Go to a movie with your best friend.
Get back in touch with nature.As you walk in the woods or through a park,you'll find yourself slowing down.Nature gives us a sense of perspective about life.
Take a roll of film and your camera and go outside and photograph what you see.
Take a bath instead of your usual shower.Fill the tube with hot water.Light a candle,and tell your family you can't be disturbed for 20 minutes.
Arrange a bouquet of flowers(stick to one or two colors)and put them in a place_your desk at work,next to you bed-where you can't fail to notice their beauty.
Sit by a fountain or waterfall and really listen to the sound of the trickling water.
Find a place outdoors to lie on the floor on you back.Close your eyes for five minutes.Practise slow,steady breathing.
Put on your headphones and sing back up to your favorite tape or CD.
Watch the sun rise or set.
Reread a favorite childhood story-the one that wakes you cry or smile.
Go through your cook-books and plan a delicious meal.

只为你自己
多买一件礼物
多做一个菜
多带一个装饰品---"人人都依赖于我,我现在不能停下来."如果你发现自己有这样的想法,那么,拿出一点时间来提醒自己,你并非家庭和节日欢聚中的角色吧.你最后一次关心自己是在什么时候呢?放松身心绝非奢侈行为,毕竟--它对我们的健康和幸福意义重大.除非我们时不时地让自己休养生息,否则我们不可能对其他任何人有很大助益.因此,这里是一些人们最喜爱的使身心重归平衡的方法.

为了自己,偷得浮生半日闲--哪怕只有一个小时,早点下班,或者放自己半天假.从自己并不想参加的社交聚会中落跑,代之以为自己做点事.

当你为节日而采买时,停下来享用一顿美妙的午餐,或是一杯香醇的咖啡.

倾听自己的心声.抽时间与高中或大学的朋友聚会.与老朋友的欢聚,常常会有助于唤醒你对于自己为人妻母之前形象的回忆.

去看场高中足球或游泳比赛,扯着嗓子为赢队欢呼.

和最要好的朋友一起去看场电影.

回到大自然的怀抱.当你穿行在森林中,或徜徉在公园里时,你会发现自己的节奏放慢了.大自然赋予了我们对生命的感知.

给自己拍些录象或照片,出门把你看到的东西拍下来.

泡个澡以代替平时的淋浴.将澡盆放满热水.点上根蜡烛,告诉家人20分钟内不要打扰你.

扎一束花(插成一种或两种颜色),把她放在你的写字台上,或是床边,放在那些使你时刻能注意到她的美丽的地方.

坐在喷泉,或是瀑布旁,倾心聆听淙淙的水声.

在室外找块地方和衣躺下.闭目凝神5分钟.平缓地呼吸.戴上耳机,随着磁带和CD,唱你最喜爱的歌.

观看日出和日落.

重读儿时最爱看的书--那种会让你哭或笑的故事书.

学学菜谱,准备一顿美味佳肴.