By KAREN MARCHANT

I remember those seemingly endless “diaper days.” The ones that began and ended in a blur of noise and activity as I kept my children fed, safe and clean. By 8am, I was already looking forward to naptime, when I could have some much-needed time for myself.

Yet when naptime finally arrived, I rarely gave myself permission to rest. The laundry, dusty tabletops and dirty bathrooms screamed for my attention.

Women expend a great amount of energy caring for their families, and we need time to be replenished and refreshed.

In our society, women are often judged, admired and celebrated according to what they are able to accomplish.

Sometimes we don't realise just how exhausted we've become. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you're overdue for quiet time:

- Are you spread so thin you feel tired all the time?
- How often do you make time to play?
- Do you have difficulty relaxing?
- Does your mind race a lot?
- Do you “need” to have the television or radio on for background noise?
- Do little things stress you out and set you off?
- Do you have a difficult time saying no?
- When was the last time you stopped to enjoy a cup of tea or a sunset?
- Do you feel responsible for everything but also guilty if you stop to rest?

If you're like millions of women who feel physically and emotionally exhausted you'll need to be recharged and ready to face each new day.

When we take a break from our daily chores, we're able to accomplish more, not less. Turn off the noise and drop everything for a little while.

This article was extracted by Focus on the Family Malaysia (www.family.org.my) with permission.