It was a hard decision: Take a nap or go to a movie. I had wanted to do both, but time was not on my side this Sunday afternoon. I had to make a choice. If I chose a nap, I could sleep in peace and quiet, alone in my bed for a few hours. If I chose a movie, I would head to the local theater and watch “Eat, Pray, Love.”

Nap? Movie?

Nap?

Movie?

Gotta see the movie.

I missed seeing “Sex and the City 2″ in the theater and am still waiting for it to come out on DVD. I didn’t want to miss “Eat, Pray, Love” and didn’t want to hear too much about it before I got a chance to see it. So, this afternoon, I set out to see the movie while it was hot in the theater.

Having read the book, I knew it was about one woman’s journey to reclaim herself and figure out what she wanted. I knew it would give me a shot of inspiration that I needed.

I decide to go all-in for my book-turned-movie date. While Elizabeth Gilbert, the main character, is in Italy she eats, and eats, and eats. So, it was with that same spirit that I stood tall when ordering Raisinets, popcorn - with butter, and an ice cold Coke Zero. Dining without shame is the “eat,” in “Eat, Pray, Love,” after all.

Just as Gilbert navigated her journey alone, it was fitting for me to see this movie alone. I like going to the movies by myself, so this wasn’t new, but it felt perfect as I sat waiting for the movie to start. I enjoyed every ounce of that buttery popcorn and all of the chocolate covered raisins — not having to share them with anyone. I marveled at the scenery of the three locations: Italy, India and Bali. (Bali is going to get pounded with tourism after this movie.)

So, was the movie as good as the book? Is it worth skipping a much deserved nap? Certainly, is what I say. Any time you can be by yourself and feel like you’ve journeyed through three countries with beautiful scenery while being inspired to be a better person, is worth it.

Tomorrow, however, (like in the movie) I’m taking myself on a date to buy new jeans.

Is your baby still not sleeping through the night, yet you have to get up in the morning to head to a full day at work?

Maybe your teen is giving you grief because you won’t let her wear that too-short dress to prom.

Maybe you are struggling with a difficult project at work and can’t figure out how to concentrate during family time.

Whatever you might find challenging you, you need to find a way to brush it all off. When you are most stressed, be sure to find a way to take a moment for you.

Use that big tub that is taking up so much space in your bathroom. Drip some bubbly in the tub for some suds — or take a sip of the other buddly to relax and enjoy some alone time.

Read a book. Yes, this could be seen as something on a to-do list, but it could really take you away (even more than Calgon). Reading a good book can put you in a different location and really lift your mood. And, bonus, it’s something you can keep going back to until you’re finished the entire book. It’ll give you something to look forward to.

Find a series on TV that you enjoy and watch it regularly. OK, so watching TV isn’t the best advice for stress-relief, but it can be another form of escape and something to which you look forward.

Do something you want to do, not anything you have to do.

The point is, that you must find a way to shake the blues, to wipe off the bad and do something good. It could be anything really, as long as you want to do it.

There are many reasons to be jealous of Heather Armstrong of dooce.com. There’s the fact that she makes a living supporting her entire family by writing a blog, or that’s she’s a super talented writer (she would choose better words than super talented!), or how about her amazing photography? Let’s not forget the fact that she can get her dog, Chuck, to keep anything on his head (including a lit candle) and pose for a photograph.

All of that is plenty to promote jealousy, but what I’m envious of is her trip to Washington this week to represent women and mothers during the White House Forum on Workplace Flexibility. I would love to be there too! How incredible a moment it will be to watch this important forum take place. To see an open discussion about how America needs to embrace flexibility and help create balance for American families.

The White House Web site says,

The President and First Lady will discuss the importance of creating workplace practices that allow America’s working men and women to meet the demands of their jobs without sacrificing the needs of their families.”

This sounds good. It continues with …

Millions of women and men across the country struggle to balance the demands of their jobs and the needs of their families. Too often, caring for a child or an aging parent can strain a career– sometimes to the point of job loss,” said President Obama.”

Good. Good. Good.

I may not be there, but I suspect Heather Armstrong and the others who have been invited will do a great job representing the rest of us. The forum takes place March 31 and you bet I’ll be following it. You can too — go to BlogHer at 2:30 EDT to see it streaming.

Related:

• Read Armstrong’s story about her trip at dooce.com.
• BlogHer interview with Heather Armstrong about her trip to Washington.

Katherine Heigl, who plays Izzy Stephens on “Grey’s Anatomy,” is leaving the show (getting out of her contract early) so that she doesn’t have to work full-time. Something most mothers can understand. An article from “Entertainment Weekly” discusses her decision:

I started a family and it changed everything for me,” Katherine, who took a three-month leave from “Grey’s” this year to spend more time with her newly-adopted daughter, explained. “It changed my desire to work full-time.”

Something most mothers can understand

Heigl’s desire to spend more time with her new daughter is something that I think all mothers go through.  The new baby arrives home for the first time and you just can’t imagine parting. Even mothers who have strong desires to return to work after having a child, must still have this feeling of wanting to spend every minute with that precious being. Yes, many choose to, and some, have to, return to work.

Although one could argue that Heigl doesn’t need to work because she’s got the fame and she must have the money. Although, I’d say that it was probably a difficult decision to leave behind a role that got her noticed. She won an Emmy for playing Izzy and has garnered several leading roles in films as a result of the show. Leaving this behind right now must have been a difficult decision — even if the outcome is spending more time with her family.

It just goes to show that motherhood changes you. It makes you contemplate every decision. No matter if you decide to stay home or to work, what once seemed important may no longer be as high on the list.

What do you think about her decision to leave the show?

Let’s just say I’d rather be sleeping right now. It doesn’t matter what time of day you are reading this — if you are, and I’m awake, I’d rather be sleeping.

I’m a sleep-deprived mom of two younguns (one is still a baby at a wee 7 months) who keep me busy these days. I realized the other day how much I love sleeping. It is the best feeling in the world to me these days. I’d take it over a box of Godiva chocolates, over front row U2 tickets, pretty much anything right now. I have to work every day so I don’t get a chance for naps. “Getting lucky,” these days means my husband is going to stay up with the kids while I take a nap on the weekend.

People who don’t have kids have no idea what I’m talking about. Long gone are the days of the keg parties (I got invited to one last week and had to laugh), happy hours that turn into happy nights, taking in a 10:00 p.m. movie — heck, even staying up to watch a movie on TV. I’d rather sleep.

I’d better stop writing this … it’s infringing on my sleep time.

Photo courtesy stock.xchng.