Between the house, kids, husband, bills, work, and everything else that gets tossed on your plate, there always seems to be one person that gets overlooked: you!

But just because you’re up to your neck with activities and responsibilities, it doesn’t mean you need to leave yourself out of the mix. Let us help you find the time for ‘me time’ with these hints and ideas.

Alicia on “Make it a Joint Effort”

“Keeping on top of all those daily ‘must do’s’ can be a tough task. But there’s no reason for you to tackle all those responsibilities on your own! A great plan that saves time (and sanity) is to team up with your husband and switch up those family responsibilities. When it comes to our daughter Lucy and her endless array of activities, my husband Adam and I take turns with the small stuff (practices, rehearsals, and the like) but always show up together for big events like games and recitals. That way, both Adam and I can enjoy a little time to ourselves all while keeping our family buttoned up done at the same time.”

Sarah on: “Ditch the Guilt”

“Sometimes, our own worst enemy when it comes to carving out a little personal time is ourselves. Who hasn’t pushed their own needs to the side with the rationalization ‘with all that’s going on, how could I possibility take a moment for myself’? But keep in mind having a little me time now and again won’t make you any less of a super wife, mom, or employee; in fact, it’s usually quite the opposite. It’s a general rule of thumb that your mood affects those around you — whether for the better or worse! So, if you have any guilt about devoting a little time to yourself: cast it aside. It’s a mindset better left for the birds!”

Here are a few tricks to help you find (and keep) some time for ‘me time’:

#1. Bundle Up
While no amount of wishful thinking will help you escape your weekly errands and chores, there’s still a way to make all of your ‘must do’s’ work in your favor. Try to bundle all of your errands and appointments in as few clusters as possible. Not only will you save tons of time that would otherwise be wasted shuttling to and from your destinations, you’ll give your car a much needed break from all those ‘city’ miles, which as we all know, can really add up!

#2. Seize the Opportunity
Sure, we could all benefit from a little more time in the day (if not to get more done, then for a full night’s rest), but there are tricks to help you make the most of the time you already have. Try to line up some spare moments for yourself during family down time, such as when the kids are busy with after school clubs or during nap hour. And if conflicting schedules keep you from enjoying a little me time (all those practices and play dates never seem line up!) hiring a mother’s helper a few afternoons a week is sure to do the trick as well.

#3. Keep Everyone in the Know
Once you’ve managed to secure a little time for yourself, don’t forget to let your loved ones in on your personal plans as well. Discussing the details in advance and blocking the time on your family calendar will prevent you from having to ditch your plans at the last minute due to an unforeseen conflict. Then once you’re squared away with your family, kick back and relax — it’s definitely well deserved!

Late spring and summer is the time when most people move, for obvious school and weather reasons.

The feeling of shaking off the old and launching into the new can be exhilarating but also quite intimidating. There will be an enormous amount of responsibilities and headaches accompanying your move. No matter if your move is to the other side of town or the other side of the universe, the word of the day is “organization.” The more you prepare and plan before the first box is packed, the easier and less stressful your move will be.

Alicia on “Being Able to Chew Everything you Bite”:

There is no way of getting around it: Moving means planning, tracking and executing tasks both large and small, which, seen in their totality, can be overwhelming. That is why you will want to put together a binder, or buy a prepared one like Moving.kit from Buttoned Up. It can help keep all the tasks and paperwork organized. More importantly, it should help you view all those tasks as compartmentalized jobs — bite-sized pieces of a huge meal. So, instead of thinking every day for months that “We have to move,” you can think: “I have to hire a mover.” “I have to list my home and schedule appointments.” “I have to contact the power companies here and at the new place.” And so on.

Sarah on “Trust”:

You are certainly going to want to delegate tasks to all members of the family, and it provides a great learning opportunity. Let your kids be in charge of packing up their stuff — with your supervision, of course. Since it is unusual to take everything, the first thing they will learn is how to prioritize and let go of the things of the past. Once the move is complete, and any carelessness has resulted in a broken or lost item, they will understand the value of taking care of the things they care about.

While no one column can cover an entire move, we at least offer these hints.

#1. Manga Manga
With the million and one things there will be to do on the days of the move –move-out day, travel day(s) and move-in day — you want to make sure you have a plan for food. You are all going to work physically hard for a few days, and everyone gets hungrier the more physical exertion is required. Accordingly, when people get tired and overtaxed, emotions can get raw. Make sure you have high-energy foods like fruit and trail mix with M&Ms mixed in as well as deli sandwiches in a cooler so that anyone can get something more substantial without a lot of prep time. Don’t forget water.

#2. The Long and Winding Road
The best way to stay on an even keel is to be prepared for any deviations from your plan. Make sure you have the phone number for your moving company, whether you are hiring a company or renting a truck. You need to take an inspection of all vehicles before heading out to make sure they are roadworthy. In case of a breakdown, having the national numbers for a few chain motels would not be such a bad idea. Finally, you should have with you the number for the power company in your new city so that if there has been a snafu you can contact it immediately.

#3. The Corners of your Mind
You never truly leave an old home; you just move into a new one. Since memories of your old life will always be with you, leave something behind to tie you physically to your onetime home. You could, for instance, bury something in the back yard. The whole family can get together and choose an item that best commemorates the time spent there. You might even have a little ceremony during which each person talks about a special memory.