814-Lancajtor Farming, Saturday, February 22, 1992
TAKING
TIME
by Rebecca Escott
Extension Home Economist
Pace Yourself!
It’s Good Advice
When I got married, one of my
co-workers shared a valuable piece
of advice with his "Best Wishes".
His advice "Pace yourself.”
"Pace". Webster defines it as a
verb meaning, "to set or regulate
the rate of speed". When individu
als and families experience
changes, pacing is important (And
I don't mean creating nervous traff
ic back and forth across the living
room or bedroom flow.)
Personal energy is exhaustible.
Everything will not get done. What
can you do?
First you have a variety of obli
gations. Don't spend all your time
and energy in one area at the
expense of the others. You need
some energy for work, but you also
have to conserve strength for your
children, personal interests, and
spouse. Young couples with child
ren are hard-pressed to find time
for themselves. Try! Farm couples
may be able to share some together
time during the midday instead of
trying to catch a few minutes at the
end of the evening.
Second, name your most impor
tant tasks. Tackle them when you
have the most energy. Early even
ing is usually a stressful (non
productive) time! Children are
returning from school and may
have had nothing to eat for five or
six hours. For adults, patience and
energy are dwindling.
Third, with every change we
need to let some obligations go.
"Because we're planning a road
side stand this year, the house may
just not get cleaned." "Because
we're caring for a new baby, the
garden may have to be smaller.” "If
I'm taking on leadership at church,
I can't continue to coordinate our
parent group at school." Keep this
in mind in relation to aging, too. As
your physical energy and skills
change, you need to adapt your
expectations about the amount and
kind of work that can be done.
Make it clear that a few things
have priority and devote energy
and thought to them. I certainly
haven't perfected this loan art. But
I’m trying. It's frustrating for me to
have things that I care about being
squeezed out of a jam-packed
schedule.
A lecturer commented on how
people try to do too much. She
said, "Working full-force seven
days a week until you are
exhausted at the expense of rela
tionships is not a sign of strength.
It is a sign of weakness." Pacing,
finding balance, learning to give
and take and being content when
you don't have everything is a sign
of strength.
It is easy for adults to exhaust
themselves physically and mental
ly so that they are of no use to the
people they care about. Parent edu
cator Jean Illsley Clarke shares this
caring reminder, "Children
deserve parents whose needs are
met We need to remember that
when our own needs are met we
can then take better care of other
people."
It sounds easy, but it is not For
those of you who are struggling,
try these suggestions: Start going
to bed one-half hour earlier. Your
body will take several weeks to
adjust to the schedule, but the extra
rest will strengthen you.
Think through your needs for
the next day. Have lunches packed
and clothes selected for you and
your children. Keep a running list
posted on the refrigerator or bulle
tin board noting needed grocery
items and "to do's".
Build in some quiet times. Get
up and shower before the rest of
the household is in full swing or
listen to relaxing music while you-
're driving.
Always keep in mind the ONE
most important thing for you to
accomplish at work (and if your
home is your "work", what's the
most pressing task there?), for
your child, for your spouse, and for
Steps For Homebuyers
WEST CHESTER (Chester Co.)
Penn State Cooperative Exten
sion presents "Steps for Homebuy
ers," a three-part series to educate
prospective homebuyers or current
homeowners. Step One; Finding a
House to Fit Your Budget will be
held on Monday, March 16, and
includes advantages and disadvan
tages of home-ownership, working
with a real estate agent, finding out
about financing, and setting realis
tic expectations. Step Two: Sizing
Up the Structure will be held on
Monday, March 23, and will
address assessing structural qual
ity, checking the electrical, heating
and plumbing systems, and testing
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48” Through 120”
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48” Through 96”
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yourself. If you can do these things
during the day, you have done very
well.
The pace of life that our society
sets is exhausting. It is nearly
impossible to maintain. Do your
self and your family a favor,
change the timing, choose a new
step, and walk at that pace with
confidence.
for radon. The series concludes on
Monday, March 30. with Step
Three: Learning about the Purch
ase Process, which is making the
purchase offer, understanding the
paperwork.
"Steps for Homebuyers” will be
held at the Chester County
Cooperative Extension office,
Dague Building (3rd floor), comer
of New and Market Streets, 235 W.
Market Street, West Chester, from
7:00-9:30 p.m. The cost is $l2 for
the entire series; registration is due
by March 9. For registration infor
mation, contact the Chester Coun
ty Cooperative Extension at (215)
696-3500.
42” Through 96” ?
48” Through 84”
I
OVER SEEDERS &
PRIMARY SEEDERS
48” And 72”
, 2 ‘ W&-
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TILLERS
34” Through 76”
Serving Central PA Since 1921
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