Do you feel like you do not have time to do the things you love? Or you have an old hobby that you just cannot pick up again? Or are needing a little time to just sit alone and be refreshed? If you believe that you don’t have the time, The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You
I was intrigued by a book that talks of finding the extra pockets of time in your day. I tend to read in small random increments. The author, Jessica Turner, mentioned reading a magazine while blow-drying her hair. While some may find that odd, I could relate as I have done that myself! And…I could add to the list of activites done while reading, but I will stick with reviewing the book instead of letting you think I am too odd…
People often overlook the small pockets in their day and The Fringe Hours is a great tool to help you find the time. Time spent waiting is a perfect example. This time can be wasted so easily. If reading is the activity that you want to do in your fringe hours, keep a book with you at all times. You can catch up on your book instead of just spending the time waiting in line or waiting for your appointment.
Jessica Turner also suggests to step back and take a look at how you use your time. She asks you to reevaluate. She mentions encouraging a friend to let some of the “perfect house” go. I completely agree with her suggestion! If your life is hectic and you have little time to relax or little quality time with children, step back. Your children will remember the memories you made together much more than whether or not you completed your weekly living room dusting.
She spends a portion on a chapter focusing on using time efficiently by eliminating technology waste. I was taking notes on that section and found helpful tidbits that I will be using!
The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You
I felt like The Fringe Hours would be almost perfect for a mom who works outside the home. For a stay-at-home mom like myself, it was slightly less relate-able. She speaks of her schedule (which sounds crazy and hectic) and I didn’t envy it one bit. It did not sound easy. I feel like almost every suggestion was covered in the book, but one: there was no consideration of deciding not to work. No, not as the answer to everyone! But…I feel like it should have been mentioned: maybe step back and see if there is a time in your life that you can take a few years to be home with the little ones. I would have been satisfied with a paragraph or two. Just a suggestion to step back and consider it as you reevaluate your time.
Jessica did leave an all-consuming job when she had her second child. So she DID reevaluate her work-life balance and made a change.
The Fringe Hours recommends letting go of the guilt when taking care of yourself. I think that it’s very important to do the things you love. Take the time and energy to take care of yourself. You just may have more energy and love to spread around if you have been refreshed. The Fringe Hours helps you to make the best use of your time so you can truly enjoy the activities you love.
The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You
Disclosure: I received a free copy of The Fringe Hours to review and I was not financially compensated in any way for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Jenny says
I think I would enjoy the section about dumping the time technology wastes, but no mention of staying home? Hm, I would have thought that would have been at least metioned.
admin says
Yes, the technology section really got me thinking! I have deleted a few apps from my phone already. :)
Jennifer DeFrates says
It sounds like I could have written this book. I won’t tell you where I read my magazines, and I catch up on books while I do my hair, my netflix queue gets attention while I do my make-up, my daughter does her homeschooling while I work online, my laundry gets done between wake up and breakfast and then folded while doing something else. I have found lots of time this way, however, I sometimes feel that multi-tasking too much robs me of mental peace. I’m always going a million miles an hour. Trying to figure out how to finish one task at a time so I can check things off my to do list instead of feeling like I’ve got twenty things going that are half done.
admin says
I am with you! Multi-tasking helps to get much more done…but it’s not always the best way to go. :) It does feel nice to check something off as DONE, doesn’t it? Good luck trying to balance that all out!
Rhonda Chapman says
“Step back” is definitely something all arents should remember. We tend to give, give and never say No. Then we burn out or fall into depression. It’s not easy to say No but I have, part of why I quit my job and went solo.
admin says
Nice job stepping back to reevaluate your job!
C. Lee Reed says
This sounds like an amazing book for us busy moms. i tend to get up a little earlier than everyone else on the weekends. I get more done that way.
admin says
Yes, the early morning hours are a common time to find the fringe hours that the author speaks of! I have started getting up earlier to have the early morning hours to myself also.
Kim Stewart says
Great review – that is on my to-read list. Thanks for sharing on sits girls share fest. Have a great weekend!
admin says
I hope you enjoy the book! You have a great weekend also.
Rose @ Walnut Acre says
This sounds like a really good book. I often do more than one thing at a time in my quest for finding extra time.
maryanne @ mama smiles says
This book sounds great! It really is about finding those snatches of time for yourself, a lot of the time.
Terri Presser says
Sounds like an interesting read, might help to be able to find a few more minutes in the day. Thank you for the motivation to get up early, just thought I’d let you know it is going well. Thanks for linking this up at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
admin says
I’m happy to hear that the waking early is working well for you! Nice work. :)
Carrie Ann Tripp (@CarrieAnnTripp) says
Great review! I might pick this one up to read. I already steal as much fringe time as I can…including sitting at stop lights. However, I am very open to finding more time as I have began the process of chasing my dream on top of everything else this year.
Jamie @ All That Srocks says
I’d be terrified to know how much time I spend on my phone. Especially since I started blogging. And I had the rudest awakening today after I nursed my little guy…he was playing on my lap and ducking under my phone to look at my face and get some attention. I felt awful! I usually try to get a few pins or tweets out while he nurses- 2 birds 1 stone- but to see his cute little face at 9 months old, trying to look around the phone in my face just about broke my heart. I try to find some balance, but I need an UnPlug Day! Annddd maybe some tips out of this book ;)
admin says
Yeah, I have had those moments too. An UnPlug Day…great idea!
Angie Benjamin says
Great review! I have seen many people recommending this book. It’s in my “to read” list.
Definitely still have a lot to learn about time management! Technology is one of my weaknesses too!
Visiting from Living 31 Link Up! Have a an amazing week! x
admin says
Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great week also.
Trista says
What a great review. I think I am one of the ones who claims I have absolutely no time to myself or for things I want to do, but in reality I just don’t have good time management skills. I think I will be adding this book to my collect it sounds right up my alley.
admin says
It’s a process to figure it all out. :) I hope you find the book helpful!
nelle monaco says
this book sounds really interesting- thank you so much for sharing ;) i am trying to unplug from my phone – but it’s so hard sometimes. but so important, too.
admin says
Hard, but important. Yes!
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
I totally need this book! It sounds like a very informative and helpful read. Very interesting indeed.
Thanks so much for sharing!
xoxo
PS- I read while blog drying my hair too and I surf Pinterest while biking on my recumbent exercise bike.
admin says
Unless I’m outside on a run, I love multitasking when working out! I’m usually reading on the bike or elliptical also. :)
Gabby@MamaGab says
Hey, I thought I was the only one who reads while blow drying hair & brushing teeth! :) This book sounds really great.
admin says
Brushing teeth too! Doesn’t everyone? Last night I tried to NOT read my book while brushing my teeth to see if I could do it. I got bored. ;)
Meg Gemelli says
I never seem to get enough reading time, and when I have a moment, I need to get in the Word. Thank you so much for this review. I feel like it actually saves me time when others suggest good books to tackle rather than me wandering through store aisles:) Have a wonderful day!!
admin says
Yes, it’s important to prioritize time in the Word! Thank you for mentioning.
If you need book suggestions, I can give you some! If it saves you time wandering. ;) Although it can be enjoyable to wander a bookstore…I also have a few recommended reads on my blog on the right sidebar.
Andrea Mitchael says
What a wonderful review! I love the concept of the book and am curious to see how it would relate to my life in this stage. I am currently working 26 hours a week from home and expecting baby #2 in a few weeks. I miss many activities that I did in college (such as ultimate frisbee) and want to pick some of that back up this year. I definitely need to anticipate the changes in my life with this new baby, I think hobby technology will need to get pushed aside, since I work from the computer.
Thanks for sharing this book and linking up!
Betsy says
Hi there! So glad to visit you from Kelly Balarie’s place! I’m intrigued by this book. It’s such an applicable topic for busy women. Thanks for taking us through the books main points with your slant on it as a stay at home mom. Blessings on your week. (Hope you find those pockets of time. I want to do that as well!)
admin says
You are welcome! I usually am able to find the time. :)
Joanne Viola says
I was also on the launch team & very much enjoyed the book. I was a stay at home mom & now that my children are married, I watch my granddaughters while their parents work. I found this book to be encouraging to carve out time by which to feed my own soul and to do so without guilt. I am glad I stopped by to read your thoughts on the book as well. It was a great read!
admin says
I also enjoyed being able to preview the book & be on the launch team! I’m glad you enjoyed it also.
Barb says
I can’t say I’ve blow dried my hair while reading (that would take some skill) but I do read while brushing my teeth. Can’t help myself… Thanks for this balanced review. The book sounds like so many of us can relate. May you find some fringe hours yourself this week. :)
admin says
It sounds like we are not alone in reading while brushing teeth. The blow drying isn’t too hard. ;)
Annie says
I’ve been looking for some extra time in my day, and I think I’ll have to check this book out. Thanks for the review – there’s so much to read out there, and this helps a great deal!
admin says
You are welcome! Thanks for reading.
Kelly Balarie says
This is an interesting thought because I am always looking for more time. I feel like I run at a deficit sometimes. THank you for sharing this and thank you for joining the #RaRalinkup at Purposeful Faith.
Jenny says
I have been seeing this book pop up everywhere. I guess that’s my queue to purchase and read it. Thanks for the review.
Meredith Bernard says
I can use all the help I can get in finding pockets of time to do ANYTHING…so I’m sure this book would speak to me. And I’m a professional at bathroom reading. ;) Thanks for linking-up this week. xo
admin says
Ha! :) Thanks for reading.
Kristi Miller says
This is something I struggle with, but I know it is important. I just wrote a post about serving others but included a precaution based on 1 Timothy 5:8, that calls us to take care of our own household before helping outside of the home. We can’t do that very effectively if we aren’t doing anything to take care of ourselves in the process. Thanks for the recommendation! I found you at the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-up. :)
admin says
Thanks for sharing about your post!
Judith says
We could all use our time better and a book addressing that would be good.I liked what you said about the author not speaking to a mom considerinv being a say at home mom.
admin says
I was hoping that staying home would be mentioned as an option.
Sharon Rowe says
Thanks for sharing on Monday Madness:) It is an interesting book and like others I have seen it pop up a lot lately, thanks for sharing:)
admin says
Yes, it seems like there is quite a bit of excitement for The Fringe Hours.
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says
I need to get my hands on this book! Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup and hope you join us again this weekend! Pinning to our linkup board.
admin says
I’m sure you will enjoy it!
Jessi Fearon (@TheBudgetMama) says
I first heard of this book from Crystal Paine and I preordered it – I cannot wait for it to get here! Thank you so much for this detailed review – I really cannot wait to dig into this book (especially the technology time waste).
admin says
I hope you enjoy. :)
Dawn @ Reveal Natural Health says
This is a great review. I had to laugh because I often take my laptop around the house with me when I am reading blog posts. For example, I read part of this post while brushing my teeth ;)
admin says
Love it! It seems like we are not alone. :)
Dawn says
I appreciate how that you were able to give a candid and thorough reveiw of the book and how it applied to your life. There is quite a difference in the perspective of a SAHM and a working momma, woman, and wife. The title has me intrigued.
Thanks for sharing the review!
Blessings,
Dawn
admin says
Yes, I think the book will be applied in a different way depending on your situation! There were points that would apply to both SAHM & working outside the home moms.
Dawn says
I’ve seen this book mentioned on social media, and was curious. Thank you for writing about it. I think it sounds like something I would like to read. I’m a stay at home mom too, so I also like to at see mentions of that option for moms.
admin says
I hope you enjoy the book!
Joanne Viola says
I also read & reviewed The Fringe Hours as part of the launch team. It truly was a wonderful book & is helpful for any woman who needs to learn & make time for herself in the course of her busy days. I enjoyed reading your review :)
admin says
It was fun to be apart of the launch team, wasn’t it??
Sarah Donegan says
I have been noticing my free time seems to have vanished lately. Maybe reading this would help me find it! :)
normaleverydaylife says
I think I’d like this book! I always try to have reading material with me to make the most of my time, but I’m interested to see what other suggestions are in the book. Thanks for sharing!
admin says
You are welcome! I hope you find it helpful.
Maria says
What a great review! It’s a great premise what the author is promoting, and it something that all parents should consider thinking about. Time for ourselves is so fleeting, so it’s nice to have options to explore that. Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely have to look this up and peruse through it more!
admin says
I hope you have a chance to look it over!
Sara says
I just finished reading this. I agree with you, that working moms can probably relate more to the life that Jessica lives. I actually read the book because I’m not busy. I’ve always tried to create quiet time and space in my day, but all around me I see my friends running from activity to activity. They are burned out and overwhelmed. I don’t know exactly why I have chosen to live at a slower pace, but I thought reading the book might help me to articulate this to my busy friends. And for that reason, I do think that I found some helpful ways to explain myself as I examined why I make the choices that I do. It might be worth reading for that reason too…
admin says
I think there is value in living a slower placed life. Yes, there will be busy, hectic times, but I think it’s great to prioritize your time and limit the burn out and overwhelm.
What a wonderful reason to read the book! I’m happy that you read the book with the purpose to share the info with your friends. I hope you are able to have some great conversation around it. Good luck. :)
Beth says
I have heard SO many great things about this book. It’s definitely on my read list.
Jenny @ Women With Intention says
I can’t wait to read this book :) Thanks for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays! I look forward to seeing what you have for us this week!
admin says
It’s a good one. :)
Ashley Egan says
I spent nine years at home with my kids and just went back to work, I think that I have more time for myself now that my kids are in school and I have that commute to work, it is guaranteed me-time. I love the Overdrive app on my phone because I can read or listen to books on it, without shelling out money to buy books or tapes. My husband loves to listen to books on tape, while cleaning, which is a win-win for everybody. Thank you for sharing this great book and thanks for linking up to Awesome Life Friday!
admin says
I listened to books on my commute prior to having kiddos. I loved that! Now books on tape while cleaning…that does sound like a win-win!! I should consider that…