This month's Mama Moment is all about finding balance! Thanks to Jennifer House for contributing this month.
The life of a mother is full of
multi-tasking! Whether you stay at home with the kids full time, work out of
the house full time, or a bit of both, it’s tough to keep track of schedules and
to-do lists. I have a 6-year-old boy, 3-year-old girl, am pregnant with baby
#3, and run a part-time private practice as a dietitian. I’m honored that Erica
has asked me to blog for momstown, on how I manage it all! Here are some other
tips that have helped me out in the past:
1. Meal plan and keep food
organized. This is something I preach to all of my clients - it will save you
time, money, health and that all-day stress of “what’s for dinner…..what’s for
dinner?!”
2. Outsource
tasks that are time consuming and that you don’t enjoy. For the home, I have time
and stress relief once I hired a house cleaner to come every other week.
Whether this gives me more time (to work to pay for the cleaner!), play with
the kids or catch a nap, it’s helped so much. For work, instead of figuring out
computer technology and detailed website stuff, I hire a Virtual Assistant. I
found her through ODesk.com and she charges $10/hour and can complete tasks
waaaay faster than I can.
3. Take time for yourself. I
honestly feel no guilt about sitting my daughter in front of the tv for an hour
while I nap in the afternoon. I’m pregnant, I deserve it J My kids have also been fine to join in or play around me during
at-home workouts. Exercise makes you feel better about yourself and gives you
more energy!
4. Say
no when needed. Rather than piling on tasks until you finally crack – learn to
say no. Or “Not right now, but I can help you next week instead.” During the
first trimester of pregnancy, I got a lot of practice at this!
5. Having
the ability to create my own job and hours has helped tremendously. I don’ t
have to start work too early, and can be there to pick my son up from after
school. I realize these are luxuries, but there are more and more flexible jobs
out there that can work around your schedule, rather than the other way around.
Be creative!
Now I will be challenging my
time-management skills once our third child arrives!
What do you do to keep
organized at home or work?
- Jennifer House, First Step Nutrition
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