| How many of you feel that you have so many | | | | much better mother and wife when I was able to put |
| different responsibilities in your life, that you cannot | | | | things in perspective and live more in the moment. The |
| possibly make it all work. You may be focusing on | | | | laundry eventually got done. My family was always |
| work obligations while trying to keep your household up | | | | fed healthy meals, whether home cooked or brought |
| and running. All of this running around creates a feeling | | | | in. The world didn't come to an end if I didn't clean the |
| of hopelessness. I have seen it countless times with | | | | bathroom spotless every week. So, my wish for you |
| clients that try to do it all with enormous to-do lists, and | | | | this week is to cut yourself some slack and look at the |
| in the end they feel like a failure. Sometimes I just need | | | | larger picture. |
| to remind them of the larger picture. When all is said | | | | ACTION TIPS FOR THE WEEK: |
| and done, do you really think anyone is going to care | | | | 1. Does it really matter? |
| that your home is spotless? Rather, what they will | | | | This week when you find yourself stressing about |
| remember is how they felt in your presence, the | | | | getting everything done, just take a step back. Does |
| memories you shared. Individuals are under an | | | | what you are doing really matter all that much? Can |
| extreme amount of stress, with work, financial | | | | you delegate to someone else? Can you ask for |
| concerns, children, and the many responsibilities that | | | | help? Can you put it off to a later date? Give yourself |
| we take on. | | | | permission to take a breath and let some things go. |
| I think the first step is to realize that you cannot | | | | 2. Superheroes don't exist |
| possibly do everything for everyone. Sometimes you | | | | Sometimes we feel like we need to be superwoman |
| need to be willing to ask for help. Bring on a cleaning | | | | or superman. We see other people doing it all and feel |
| service. Order take out every now and then. Ask a | | | | compelled to keep up with the Jones's. Let me be |
| friend to swap for childcare. Ask your spouse to plan | | | | very clear. You do not need or cannot be |
| a meal once a week or take the kids while you tidy up. | | | | superwoman and maintain it all. Something will give, and |
| I think it is also important to lower our expectations | | | | most likely it will be your health and happiness. Do your |
| every now and then. Cooking a healthy home cooked | | | | best and let some things go this week. |
| meal every single night is a huge task in and of itself. | | | | 3. Take a break |
| This of course comes after a full day of work or | | | | When you feel caught up in doing everything for |
| activities around the children. I admit that I used to fall | | | | everyone, try to be aware enough to slow down and |
| into this trap when my kids were younger. I felt guilty if | | | | take a break. I used to feel guilty every time I would sit |
| I didn't plan every meal, sign them up for extracurricular | | | | down and read a good book for 10 minutes. I would |
| activities, host playgroups, clean the home, and | | | | jump right up and get back to work. Now I realize the |
| manage my own life on the side. After trial and error | | | | importance of taking some down time. It is a necessity |
| and a lot of inner searching, I realized it was absolutely | | | | not a moment of pampering. |
| ok to let the guilt go and just do my best. I was a | | | | |