In this day and age it seems that each day brings more and more things we have to do. And, after time, we realize that we just can not do it all. After all, we are human.
Some times you might find you have to stay late at work which means no housework being done. What about all of the kids games and trying to fit in time for yourself? Forget about it. There are just not enough hours in the day!! Or, are there?
I’ve had people ask me before “How do you do it all?” Honestly — I don’t. I don’t even try to be honest. That is just unrealistic for me. If I tried to, I would drive myself insane sooner than later. I’m sure you can relate.
That being said, there are things I do every single day, which help me stay on track and keep me grounded …. and most importantly happy. What I find is that when I feel better about myself, it trickles down to my kids and my husband. We all feel better and enjoy life so much more. When we are harried, that just does not work.
There are things I do every single day that keep me sane and happy. While these may not work for you, take a look at what you need to do and get your own daily list going.
Also See: A Mom’s Guide To Self Care
1. Wake early and spend some time in my bed alone catching up on email and social media. When I do this, I feel like I know which direction my day needs to go. I may need to pick up a card for friend. I may find out that it is going to be cooler so I can help the kids dress accordingly. I also get a little quiet time – to myself – before everyone wakes up. I usually spend no more than 20 – 30 minutes doing this, but it really starts my day off on the right note.
This also gives me time to clean out my inbox and determine which emails I need to respond to that day, which can wait and which just can go into the trash. That way, when I sit down to work, my inbox has already been taken care of and I can focus on the tasks at hand.
2. Morning hugs. This was something I started with my daughter many years ago. I told her that we could not have a good day if we didn’t start it off with a hug for one another. That little squeeze my kids give to me each day just warms my heart and makes anything negative melt away. It reminds me of why I am here on this earth – to be a mother.
3. Get dressed. This may sound simple, but if you are a work or stay at home mom, you know how simple it can be to just stay in the PJs all day long. Just by simply taking a shower, fixing my hair and even putting on makeup – I feel better. It actually motivates me to have a good day. I feel better about myself, which sets the tone for the rest of the day.
4. Pick up the house (including making the bed). Once we have breakfast and are ready to start our day, we spend a moment to do the dishes and put things away. It gives us the chance to start the day fresh and ready to go.
5. Light a candle. This is all about me. I love the smell of my favorite scent wafting through the house. It puts me in a good mood and just makes my house feel warm and inviting, which in turn just puts me in a great mood.
6. Check my to do list. I keep a list by my computer of the things I need to do for the day. I usually do NOT add to the current day’s list. Instead, I add things I need to work on to the next day or sometimes even next week’s to do list. That way, I don’t get too overwhelmed with so much to try to accomplish.
I always try start with the most difficult, tedious or dreadful item first….as I have the most energy first thing in the morning. Then, as I do each item, I mark it off as done. I do this for my blog posts, errands – just about anything I need to do on that day.
7. Say a prayer. Every day I say a prayer. It is very rarely to ask for anything, but more to say THANK YOU for what the Lord has given to me. I have been blessed in so many ways that I want to thank him for that. I don’t take it for granted and this helps keep me grounded and always remember that.
8. Exercise. I use to not do this, but started recently. I will admit that it is not always easy to do, but when I finish, I feel invigorated and so much better about myself. It not only gets me going, but when I spend that time taking care of myself, I think twice about the food I put into my mouth. It helps me to focus on eating healthy, which in turn is reflected in the meals I feed my family.
9. Don’t stress the small things. Every day there is something that is not going to go my way. I may drop a glass on the floor. My kids my fight me about what they want to wear to school or the store.
I always pick my battles. Does it matter that my son wants to wear a long sleeve shirt and tie when it is 95 outside? No, it doesn’t. However, does it matter if he wants to eat just junkfood for dinner and skip the veggies. Yes, it does.
Life is too short for me to stress about the things that do not matter. I know that my day will be full of these and I try to remind myself every morning not to allow them to pull me down.
10. Kiss my husband goodbye (and hello). Too often, we get caught up in life and forget about the things that matter. My husband matters to me. We have a beautiful family and I love him with all of my heart.
I will admit that many times in the summer this doesn’t happen, as I may be sleeping in after a busy day outside with the kids. However, he always bends down and kisses my forehead before he leaves. During the school year, when we are both up, we always kiss one another goodbye in the morning (and to say hello in the evening).
I do this for me because it reminds me of the great love of my life, but our kids see this too. They know that it is good to show that you love another person be it a hug, kiss or even just a smile.
What do you do everyday to ensure you stay happy, healthy and focused?