Recently, I wrote about ways to treat yourself for free or inexpensively. I'd like to expand upon those ideas with some more suggestions because it truly is the main purpose of this blog to encourage moms to give as much to themselves as they do to their familieis. One of the quickest ways to begin to feel stressed and overwhelmed is to neglect yourself. Because it's in our nature to take care of those around us, it's easy for women to forget to take time for themselves. Here are some more ideas for ways you can pamper yourself without spending a lot of money.

Ways to Find Free Time and Enhance Your Life

We are all unique individuals with interests and activities that are separate from our families and our work. But in order to tend to our own identities, we need to find some time. That can be the most difficult thing of all to do. Whether it's time to hang out with friends, engage in a hobby, read a book or just take a bubble bath, alone time is an absolute necessity when it comes to finding fulfillment. Try these strategies to carve out a little "me time."

• Make "me time" a priority. The first thing you have to do in order to carve out some time for yourself is to make a commitment to yourself. If you don't feel you deserve the time, it will never happen. Give yourself permission to take some time just for you.
• Communicate your needs. You'll want to be sure to tell your loved ones that you need time for yourself and explain to them why it's important to you. If they are aware of your needs, they will be more likely to give you some alone time.
• Put it in your scheudle. Actually write down time in your planner each day or throughout the week to increase the likelihood that you'll take the time for you. Treat these moments as you would any other appointment or obligation.
• There are tons of things you can do for yourself that cost little or no money at all. Here are some ideas: wake up early to enjoy your coffee or tea in silence, take a bubble bath with a magazine and a glass of wine, put your headphones on and just chill, call a friend to chat, take a walk to clear your head, read a book to unwind before bed, watch a chick flick, exercise to a video or Wii game, schedule a girls' get together. The possibilities are endless. You just have to allow yourself to commit, then sit down and figure out how to enjoy your time.
• Take a class or just learn something new. One of the best ways to get back to you is to focus on intellectual or spiritual development. Take a class at your local college. Many offer low-cost adult ed courses that cover a variety of topics. You can even learn something new online without leaving your home. Top colleges and universities even offer free courses online. A little research and due diligence is all it takes to find just the right learning opportunity for you.

So what are your ideas for making time for yourself? I'd love to hear them. Let's brainstorm together!