Closer Look: Finding Free Time is Important

Closer Look: Finding Free Time is Important


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Mary Richards ReportingAsk just about anyone and they say they have no time to themselves.

"When I say free time, what do you guys think? Impossible. Well when you have kids, I don't know if you really have free time, yeah there's always something to do."

Jay, Shawn and Suzanne say you'd think it would be easier living in today's world.

"It's funny because everybody talks about technology and cell phones and everything as being so great help, but it is time consuming to answer the call or return the call or the e-mail. I actually am a big believer in a matter of priorities."

Phycotherapist Melanee Cherry says you have to take some free time to keep from going crazy.

"It's interesting when something we love comes into our life, even if we don't have room for it, we will find a place for that because it's pleasurable to us. But if it's something that requires a little bit of discipline then it's more like, okay well I'm so busy I can't add one more thing."

Cherry says she's a big believer in even taking five minutes a day to just sit still and breathe.

"When you do check in and you are just focusing in on your breath, then you really are in the here and now, you're not off in your mind or already planning the next thing you've gotta do. There's always going to be time for that, that will always be coming up in your mind."

Cherry says breathing deeply improves blood circulation and oxygen flow to the brain.

"If you feel calmer then you're going to make better decisions and you're going to be able to manage things better."

Cherry says, do whatever it takes to take some time for yourself. Jay, Shawn and Suzanne are working on it.

"Free time for me is a hot shower, keep the door locked. I had to steal free time by outlasting the rest of my family, wait 'til all the kids and the wife go to sleep and then I have about an hour late at night."

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