Before reading any further stop and brainstorm a list. Come up with a list of everything that makes you feel good…
Moms don’t have a problem getting everything done day to day. We are constantly doing things that need to get done and most often those things are being done for other people. Marissa Lonic, founder of the company Moma Work It: Slay the Day, says that when moms focus primarily on their families and not leaving time for themselves it leads to exhaustion, resentment and burn out.
Prioritizing self-care is necessary and doesn’t have to mean spending a day at the spa once a week or always having a perfect mani/pedi. Self-care can also look like spending five minutes a day doing something from the list of things that make you happy that you brainstormed before reading this blog. A list of things that make a person happy can include things like exercise, taking a walk, enjoying a hot cup of coffee or organizing a closet. Lonic encourages moms to keep a running list of everything that makes them happy so they can quickly refer to the list in the moment when they can take five minutes to themselves to do something.
Many moms feel guilty taking time out of their day to do something for themselves. Lonic offers one on one coaching where they work on guilt management. What is guilt management? Modeling for our families how to take care of ourselves so we can be happy and not resentful of what we choose to give up. The example she gives is going out on a Friday night with girlfriends. If you say no because you feel guilty for missing the kid's routine will the resentment build? Sacrificing your happiness out of guilt leads to bitterness and resentment. It’s more important to teach your children how to live a happy and fulfilled life by modeling the type of life you want them to lead.
During the holidays the tasks to be completed can seem insurmountable. Lonic gives advice that can be used during the holidays and throughout the year. One of the most important pieces of advice is for moms to delegate and set boundaries. There is no reason why moms have to do everything on the list. Delegate responsibilities to your spouse or children if they're old enough to help. It’s also important to get comfortable with saying the word no. We have the power to make choices and are able to choose to say no. If there is something or someone that isn’t making us feel good, then we have every right to say no without apologizing. In this instance quality over quantity plays a huge role. Focusing and going all in on the few things that are truly important to you will have the biggest impact on your family and friends.
Moms don’t have a problem getting everything done day to day. We are constantly doing things that need to get done and most often those things are being done for other people. Marissa Lonic, founder of the company Moma Work It: Slay the Day, says that when moms focus primarily on their families and not leaving time for themselves it leads to exhaustion, resentment and burn out.
Prioritizing self-care is necessary and doesn’t have to mean spending a day at the spa once a week or always having a perfect mani/pedi. Self-care can also look like spending five minutes a day doing something from the list of things that make you happy that you brainstormed before reading this blog. A list of things that make a person happy can include things like exercise, taking a walk, enjoying a hot cup of coffee or organizing a closet. Lonic encourages moms to keep a running list of everything that makes them happy so they can quickly refer to the list in the moment when they can take five minutes to themselves to do something.
Many moms feel guilty taking time out of their day to do something for themselves. Lonic offers one on one coaching where they work on guilt management. What is guilt management? Modeling for our families how to take care of ourselves so we can be happy and not resentful of what we choose to give up. The example she gives is going out on a Friday night with girlfriends. If you say no because you feel guilty for missing the kid's routine will the resentment build? Sacrificing your happiness out of guilt leads to bitterness and resentment. It’s more important to teach your children how to live a happy and fulfilled life by modeling the type of life you want them to lead.
During the holidays the tasks to be completed can seem insurmountable. Lonic gives advice that can be used during the holidays and throughout the year. One of the most important pieces of advice is for moms to delegate and set boundaries. There is no reason why moms have to do everything on the list. Delegate responsibilities to your spouse or children if they're old enough to help. It’s also important to get comfortable with saying the word no. We have the power to make choices and are able to choose to say no. If there is something or someone that isn’t making us feel good, then we have every right to say no without apologizing. In this instance quality over quantity plays a huge role. Focusing and going all in on the few things that are truly important to you will have the biggest impact on your family and friends.
So how do you cut down on your to do list but still get it all done? Here are a few suggestions Lonic has for us especially during the holiday season:
Lonic has authored two books. One is called Time Momanagement and she has a workbook to help you drill down to the nitty gritty called Word to your Mother. Check out her website at www.mommaworkit.com and listen to episode 34 Mindful multitasking tips and time management tools to help the busy mom over at Raising_HealthyHumans.
And head to our Form Fit Mom Community to discuss further.
- Have a batch party - set a date and time to get the task done. You can invite friends or family along or even set up a time to catch up with an old friend over the phone while you do your task.
- Mindful multitasking - multitask the mindless, easy tasks that won’t be affected if you don’t do them perfectly. Think folding laundry, packing lunches, doing the dishes etc. Whatever task you don’t want or need to be fully present in you can multitask. Save the focus for the things you really need to zero in on.
- Get tasks out of your head - whatever system works for you - paper, whiteboard, online calendar, phone notes - write them down. Each day pick 3 tasks to focus on and work on checking those off the list.
Lonic has authored two books. One is called Time Momanagement and she has a workbook to help you drill down to the nitty gritty called Word to your Mother. Check out her website at www.mommaworkit.com and listen to episode 34 Mindful multitasking tips and time management tools to help the busy mom over at Raising_HealthyHumans.
And head to our Form Fit Mom Community to discuss further.