Do you ever look at someone and think, “how do they fit that all in?” Maybe you think, “I bet that mom who trains for a marathon, works a full time job and has three kids never sleeps,” or maybe “that mom who runs her own business, makes a healthy dinner for her family every night and practices yoga religiously must have a magic wand.” I am not advocating that we compare ourselves to other moms because lets face it, we don’t have a behind the scenes look at another’s life, but it is natural to notice what other moms have going on. The truth is every mom juggles multiple balls and wears many different hats, but often the excuse to not take care of ourselves is that we are just too busy. Why is it that some moms seem to have more time for self-care? I don’t believe that it is because only a certain few know a secret the rest don’t, I believe it is because the moms who make time for self-care prioritize and value this time as much as other things on their long list of tasks and that they have gotten creative on how to achieve their desires for themselves. What if there is a way to accomplish what we need to do while also fitting in some of the things we want to do without losing our sanity or sleep or our family feeling as if we have abandoned them?
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The ultimate goal for many of us is to slow down and be present for every moment of our lives, but for all the other days that your to do list seems longer than normal here are 3 practical tips you can implement starting today that will help you manage all the things going on in your life.
- Break tasks into 10 minute increments: Think about a time in your day when you had 10 minutes, what all did you accomplish? I am chuckling and you might be as well because moms are notoriously good at this. Give a mom 10 minutes and we can change the laundry, unload the dishwasher, curl our hair and pack you child’s lunch. I mean seriously, if you know you only have 10 minutes all of a sudden you get hyper focused and strategic and you get 5 things off your to-dos. I want you to think about other tasks. Do you have a work project coming up, are you wanting to increase your fitness so you lose some winter weight or maybe you are trying to re-organize a closet? Most of us don’t always have an hour to dedicate to certain things on a regular basis, but 10 minutes in between other tasks can help accomplish a goal without the guilt or stress associated with blocking long periods of time in your schedule. Make a list of things you need to get done that day, can you get your exercise in by doing a full body workout in 3 – 10 minute blocks of time throughout the day? Can that big work project be broken down into smaller 10 minute tasks that will get you closer to the overall big project?
- Get up 20 minutes earlier: I know, I know you’ve heard it before, but I am telling you I am not the only one who buys into this concept. Many self-help books, world leaders, successful entreprenuers and moms all around the country find getting up earlier provides quiet time and creates a special space to focus on yourself. Setting aside these 20 minutes even just a couple days a week allows for exercise, prayer, meditation, planning, prep, all without a child or husband needing something from you. Think about what you could do with 20 minutes in a quiet house…try to refrain from scrolling Facebook or checking email. If you don’t believe me, try this and experience first hand what getting up just a little earlier can mean for your overall sanity in the day.
- Couple Activities: Often we think we have to do things exclusive of another task and while I believe you do need to take time to focus and be present, combining activities that make sense can help take stress off of fitting it all in. Think of your physical activity goals. Can any of these be done while working (sitting on a fitness ball while you type or walking during a phone call). Are you training for an running race? Ask your kids to ride their bikes(if old enough) while you run or have them do exercises with you. I love the Sworkit app for getting in a workout and including my kids. Need to make dinner, give your child an age appropriate task so that they can help, this creates a great time to bond and dinner gets on the table. What other activities can you combine that help meet two goals?
Grab Free 3 day meal planner now!
Not every day will be perfect, but if you are like so many other moms that feel exhausted and stretched thin because of a never-ending to do list, implement a few of the strategies mentioned and change your perspective on how you handle your life.
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