Happy Passover and Happy Easter!

This week is the anniversary of the formation of my teen group which currently consists of 10 high school girls! Every week I am blessed to lead such a cohesive and fun group of teens. It is amazing how much I learn from them (e.g. how many people make a 1.5 hour weekly commitment to better themselves!)  I know how busy their schedules are and feel grateful that they have made the group a priority.

On a similar note, a friend of mine mentioned that she read somewhere that for people to avoid burnout, we need to set aside 9 hours a week just for ourselves. The 9 hours can be spread out throughout the week or a day off of work. The source of self-indulgence and relaxation could be reading a book, gardening, or napping with your cat. Assuming we do these things without ulterior gains, we can avoid depression, anxiety, stress, and behaviors that lead to trouble. Imagine feeling less irritated and overwhelmed with life’s curveballs if you make time to decompress. We need to set aside this time for ourselves just as much as we need to go to the dentist, get our oil change, and take the kids to practice.

So this post goes to my group members who remind me weekly how important it is to make yourself a priority. So today, on my birthday, I am doing nothing related to work. Phone is turned off, shutting off computer as soon as I send this, and enjoying the day with my wonderful husband and my menagerie of animals. Not a better way to celebrate!