Most women not only have their jobs to think of, they also have a family to care for. Sometimes, though, it’s inevitable to feel the strain of being a full-time parent. It’s important to know that parenting, just like many of life’s important tasks, is not an all-or-nothing endeavor. Doing less of what you are doing as a parent does not mean you are not being a good parent anymore. And fulfilling your needs, at least to some extent, can bring about a joy that will enable you to be a better person and parent.

All human beings have the need for security, love, achievement, freedom, and fun. Denying any of these needs may bring about negative feelings that may affect our day-to-day living. Feeling the strain? Here are questions to ask yourself to help you find your “me time.”

(First published as “What About Me?” in the “Good Family” section of Good Housekeeping Philippines’ July 2011 issue. Adapted for use in Female Network. Photo by Håkan Dahlström via Flickr Creative Commons.)