It is time to visit or revisit the issue of feeling guilty because you feel the need for some space and a little time away from chores, etc. You love your job, you love your family but after a stressful week or stress-filled, albeit fun, family get together you often feel that you have been stretched to the limit. It's time to revitalize and rejuvenate yourself.

You know the feeling, you are teetering on the edge and you just need a break. You owe it to yourself and your family to go ahead and take one. In today’s busy world, it is easy to fall into the trap of never taking time for yourself. With all of the technology available to help us get things done better and faster, we seem to be more stressed, sleep deprived and time-crunched than we have ever have been. While we can't stop time, not yet anyway, it’s almost certain that you can benefit from some real time away from the things that drain you.

If possible get away for a day, it does not have to be far away. Rent a hotel room, borrow friends hide-away place. Then grab a book, DVD, CD and escape for a day. Put your feet up and watch a movie or read that book that you have been meaning to get to for years, but haven't been able to find the time.

If you are one of those folks who believe that home-cooked meals are a must in your house. That’s wonderful. You don't have to stop cooking, but try cooking only simple meals for a week. Keep it healthy, but keep it simple. Crock pot or slow-cooked meals is the way to go here. Start your meal in morning and it will be ready to plate when you arrive home from your easy day. Use one of your R&R days to pick up salad, cooked chicken and prepared side dishes.

Take your vacation time. Do not hoard your hard-earned vacation days, or worse, loose them because you don't take them in a timely fashion. For years I was guilty of this. If you are keeping a vacation cache of time for an emergency, do not allow the emergency to become you because you wear yourself down and become ill. Keep in mind that everyone needs a break. Be realistic about your workplace, it really will survive without you. And if that's your worry, that it can survive without you, you really need a break.

This last suggestion may be almost impossible for some. Do a disconnect, promise yourself that you will not answer your cell phone, return a text message or check your e-mail. People have survived for millennia without these things. Use common sense here, you know those who only call when there is an emergency. If you cannot do a complete disconnect, I know that I cannot; be selective and let your voice mail take the telephone call. Check your e-mail once in the morning and once at mid-day or whatever works for you.

If you are not quite how you will find time to or why you should take time to revitalize yourself, I recommend reading Self-Nurture: Learning to Care for Yourself As Effectively As You Care for Everyone Else by Alice D. Domar and Henry Dreher. You can get this book from Amazon as shown or most online book stores, or visit your local library.