Before We Begin

Wake up. Dress and feed the kids. Barely get makeup on. Leave. Drop the kids off at school. Stop at the bank. Work, work, work. Fill the gas tank. Pick up the kids and rush home. Prepare dinner as quickly as possible to avoid the cries for snacks. Baths. Stories. Bedtime. Clean up the kitchen. Chat with my husband. Fill out that permission slip. Respond to email. Fall into bed.

Sound like a typical day in your life? Or at least a variation of it?

Let’s face it. As women, we are really good at juggling a lot. Sometimes I get to the end of my day and when I look back over it I am amazed at all that was packed in.

But all too often, the one thing we don’t make time for in our busy days is ourselves.

Do you ever crawl into bed and as you try to turn your mind off realize you did nothing for you? Instead of reading that book that has been on your nightstand for weeks or picking up a pen to write an overdue thank-you card to a friend, your day was filled with meeting the needs of others.

And if you go days, even weeks, without that needed time, life can feel really hard.

I’m here to tell you that you not only can but must make time to do things that matter to you, no matter how busy life gets. It may seem like there aren’t enough hours in a day—particularly if you are juggling a lot of responsibilities—but I promise you, it’s possible. You should use your gifts and passions not just for others but to fill you up. It is all too common today to run on empty, but I have learned that life is so much better when you make yourself a priority. No matter how busy we are, we all can make time for ourselves.

Like you, I have a lot on my plate. I’m a wife, mom, full-time marketing professional, and blogger. Additionally, I love to travel, scrapbook, bake, and read. These aren’t once-a-quarter hobbies either. I do something for me almost every day. Because these hobbies are incredibly fulfilling to me, I often talk about them—both on my blog, The Mom Creative, and in my personal life.

Consequently, not a week goes by without someone asking me, “What’s your secret—how do you do it all?” Usually I just laugh and say that I don’t do it all. I bring up my dusty mantel and my laundry piles. I point out that no woman, including me, does it all, and that any perception they have of me in that light is wrong. But still they press on, eager to know how I make so much time for myself. This book is the answer to that question.

I believe this book will resonate with you because it was written for every woman, regardless of lifestyle, career, or location. Single attorney? Married mother of five? College student? Grandmother? Yes, yes, yes, yes. The Fringe Hours was written for you—a woman who needs and deserves that time.

I surveyed more than two thousand women in the course of writing this book and interviewed dozens more. I asked them questions about how they spend their time, what their days are like, and what they wish they could spend more time doing. This research was incredibly important and helped me gain insight into how women spend their time, what they are passionate about, and what their struggles are on both a macro and a micro level. Their stories are woven throughout the chapters you are about to read. I’m sure that you will see yourself in many of them. I know I did.

It is my prayer that this book encourages you, right where you are. Whether you currently spend no time on yourself each week or more than ten hours, The Fringe Hours is for you.

God created you with a unique set of gifts and passions. May The Fringe Hours give you permission to pursue those desires.