Balancing Weaving Passion with Hectic Life: Self Care in Practice

The latest chatter about self-care includes the idea of weaving as an activity that you do purely for yourself and not just because it's something you have to do. Examples include taking a bubble bath, going hiking, or engaging in any other pursuits that aren't essential parts of dly life such as weaving. Unfortunately, these activities often get pushed aside when life becomes hectic.

Self-care is paramount. Engaging in such activities rejuvenates your physical, mental and emotional well-being; they allow you to be creative and witness the manifestation of that creativity on a loom. I've found myself falling into the trap of believing I'm too busy to weave. That's not good! It's essential for mntning balance between doing what needs to be done versus indulging in what brings you joy.

Here are my top 5 tips on weaving when your life is hectic:

• Make time once or twice a week to prepare an easy meal. I love breakfast meals like scrambled eggs, toast and fruit; it usually takes around 10 minutes of work or less from start to finish for cleanup. Use that saved time to weave.

• Invest in lease sticks. Previously, I believed I should warp my loom entirely at once but found myself needing to work on weaving here and there throughout the week. So now, I've decided that leasing sticks are essential as they allow me to keep my warp organized even when I only have a few minutes a day.

• Reading is self-care too! I don't get much sleep due to a baby so sometimes, I'm not comfortable at the loom for fear of making mistakes while sleeping. So on days where I can find some extra time, I'll either read my favorite weaving books or plan projects that inspire me. Right now, 'Next Steps in Weaving' by Pattie Graver is my go-to book.

• Let others know your intentions: inform your partner about the evenings you want to weave for at least an hour so they don't feel neglected and can adjust their plans accordingly.

• Combat any guilt you may have about not sping enough time on weaving. Instead of regretting what could've been done differently, reflect on which memory would be more impactful: having a clean floor or creating something with love?

I've decided to pledge focus on weaving without feeling guilty about it and hope you'll join me in making this pledge too if you're also hesitant to weave due to overwhelming responsibilities.

Happy weaving!

Christina
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