All stay at home moms know what this is so I'll just get right into it!
1. Wake Up Before the Kids
This is a no-brainer but it isn't always easy to do. Especially if your kids are older and don't need you right away. A little time in the morning to sit by myself, have my tea and wake up makes a world of difference for me...
2. Keep A Planner
This is new for me, the only reason I even have a planner is to track bills but apparently you can use them for all sorts of things! While you're keeping a planner keep a to do list too! Daily & Weekly.
3. Tackle Your Least Favorite Chores First
The very last thing I want to do when I wake up is fold clothes or wash dishes. If I do it and get it out of the way in the morning I create more time for fun things later on...
4. Encourage Independence
Gemma can pick up her toys, put away clothes, put her shoes on and take them off and get herself a snack all without any help from me. It's so nice to have a little help and it'll be really nice when I'm doing things for two little people.
5. Do Something For Yourself
Even if it's only once a week, do something alone that you love. And try not to obsess about the kids while you're doing it!
6. Read an Uplifting Devotional
It helps to focus your thoughts on positive and uplifting things, especially when it seems like the odds are against you in any area of life. I'm reading this one and this one.
7. Consider an Outing
There are tons of free activities for kids in my area, I try to get the kids out of the house for something that is purely fun at least once a week. It's work in the beginning but if you plan accordingly and have lots of patience you'll probably have some much needed fun too!
8. Stay On Top of Tedious Tasks
It is sometimes so hard to find the will to wash yet another load of soaked Peppa Pig panties but somehow staying ahead of the work is incredibly liberating. For me it clears up a lot of mental space that is otherwise used for guilt! lol, but really...
9. Be Realistic, Be Yourself
Last week I made a to-do list and it was two pages long. I worked through a quarter of it before I realized I'd been way too ambitious. At the playground or Chick Fil A, it really seems like all of those moms in their eternal fancy yoga pants really have their shit together. They don't, I promise you. It's about priorities. There are VERY few days that my hair and makeup take priority over anything to do with the kids. That's only because I like the kid stuff more than the hair and make up. Everybody is different. Be true to yourself!
10. Ask for Help
A few weeks ago my best friend and I had a manicure date which hasn't happened in years. Literally. She offered to keep Gemma for me if I ever want a spontaneous manicure or feel like a kid free grocery shopping experience and I was like whoa... I've literally never done that with Gemma. When she was born we lived away from friends and family. I guess when we moved back I forgot there were people here to help, I was just used to doing it all. With a husband who works away a lot that's not super smart. I still haven't taken advantage of that offer but just the thought that I can is so AWESOME!
11. Stay Social
I am a complete introvert. My Myers-Briggs personality type is ISFP. Which means I could quite successfully live in a hole if I had a rock to take care of... It takes a ridiculous amount of effort for me to be social unless it's with those that are super close to me. This has been one of my goals for a little while and happily I'm getting better. It never hurts to remind yourself that there are people out there who love you a whole lot. It also never hurts to spend time talking to someone who pronounces things correctly and doesn't have a thumb in their mouth... Just saying.
XOXO
Miranda
P.S. Take your Meyers-Briggs test here!
1. Wake Up Before the Kids
This is a no-brainer but it isn't always easy to do. Especially if your kids are older and don't need you right away. A little time in the morning to sit by myself, have my tea and wake up makes a world of difference for me...
2. Keep A Planner
This is new for me, the only reason I even have a planner is to track bills but apparently you can use them for all sorts of things! While you're keeping a planner keep a to do list too! Daily & Weekly.
3. Tackle Your Least Favorite Chores First
The very last thing I want to do when I wake up is fold clothes or wash dishes. If I do it and get it out of the way in the morning I create more time for fun things later on...
4. Encourage Independence
Gemma can pick up her toys, put away clothes, put her shoes on and take them off and get herself a snack all without any help from me. It's so nice to have a little help and it'll be really nice when I'm doing things for two little people.
5. Do Something For Yourself
Even if it's only once a week, do something alone that you love. And try not to obsess about the kids while you're doing it!
6. Read an Uplifting Devotional
It helps to focus your thoughts on positive and uplifting things, especially when it seems like the odds are against you in any area of life. I'm reading this one and this one.
7. Consider an Outing
There are tons of free activities for kids in my area, I try to get the kids out of the house for something that is purely fun at least once a week. It's work in the beginning but if you plan accordingly and have lots of patience you'll probably have some much needed fun too!
8. Stay On Top of Tedious Tasks
It is sometimes so hard to find the will to wash yet another load of soaked Peppa Pig panties but somehow staying ahead of the work is incredibly liberating. For me it clears up a lot of mental space that is otherwise used for guilt! lol, but really...
9. Be Realistic, Be Yourself
Last week I made a to-do list and it was two pages long. I worked through a quarter of it before I realized I'd been way too ambitious. At the playground or Chick Fil A, it really seems like all of those moms in their eternal fancy yoga pants really have their shit together. They don't, I promise you. It's about priorities. There are VERY few days that my hair and makeup take priority over anything to do with the kids. That's only because I like the kid stuff more than the hair and make up. Everybody is different. Be true to yourself!
10. Ask for Help
A few weeks ago my best friend and I had a manicure date which hasn't happened in years. Literally. She offered to keep Gemma for me if I ever want a spontaneous manicure or feel like a kid free grocery shopping experience and I was like whoa... I've literally never done that with Gemma. When she was born we lived away from friends and family. I guess when we moved back I forgot there were people here to help, I was just used to doing it all. With a husband who works away a lot that's not super smart. I still haven't taken advantage of that offer but just the thought that I can is so AWESOME!
11. Stay Social
I am a complete introvert. My Myers-Briggs personality type is ISFP. Which means I could quite successfully live in a hole if I had a rock to take care of... It takes a ridiculous amount of effort for me to be social unless it's with those that are super close to me. This has been one of my goals for a little while and happily I'm getting better. It never hurts to remind yourself that there are people out there who love you a whole lot. It also never hurts to spend time talking to someone who pronounces things correctly and doesn't have a thumb in their mouth... Just saying.
XOXO
Miranda
P.S. Take your Meyers-Briggs test here!
No comments :
Post a Comment