Doing good is vital! It feels good to take a break, but it’s not always easy when you’re a mom. Here are our tips and tricks for planning and saving time… to take care of yourself and live in zen.
1. I anticipate
I don’t want to let events lead me by the nose! The secret of organized mothers? They are always one step ahead. At home, they often have a nice calendar on the fridge, on which personal obligations and various family appointments are noted. Daycare or school parties, weekends at the grandparents’, school vacations… On Sunday evening, why not list the week’s requirements and the obligations they bring? Birthday (a present to find), friends for dinner (plan a cake), swimming pool outing (get out the swimsuits)… All in all, ten minutes taken out of the weekend are worth their weight in gold!
2. I assert myself!
It’s good for your authority! I use simple, positive and brief sentences: “Stay here”, “give me your hand”, rather than long explanatory speeches. These phrases can be said in a calm, firm tone, without being shouty and authoritarian. And I don’t justify myself every time I set boundaries. That’s my job!
3. I put my foot down
I’m never in the moment. While I’m running the kids’ bath, I’m already thinking about dinner… It’s said: I slow down my movements, literally. I choose an activity that I do mechanically, for example taking a shower: I slow down each of my movements to the extreme, as if I were weightless. I concentrate on my muscles, my breathing, the glove I am holding. I will become aware of a lot of details that usually escape me, like the feeling of the water on my shoulders, the smell of the shower gel. This exercise allows me to settle down, to appreciate the moment, to learn to listen to myself.
4. Guilt? I forget about it!
Taking time for myself, okay, but for what? Going to the gym, licking the windows with my girlfriends, that’s fine. But I can also simply do nothing! I make a habit of stopping for five minutes a day, sitting in a chair and doing absolutely nothing: not reading, not listening to the radio, not watching TV. I let my mind wander and dive into myself, I talk to myself. My brain vitally needs these real moments of disconnection to recharge its batteries. I put these five minutes a day on my calendar, as a must-do.
5. I stay zen in the waiting lines!
Impossible to let myself go in such a context? I calm down and lower my heart rate. Rather than launching into a disaster scenario, I choose the optimistic version: the people in front of me will hurry up a little, there will be no more worries about the labels and the cashier will go into high gear. In about 15 minutes, my turn should come. After all, this scenario has as much chance of happening as the other one, the one that sees me stuck for an hour! Just looking forward to what’s coming next often helps to relax and let go. Let’s take a deep breath!
6. I laugh
I’ve decided to laugh at everything. Instead of grumbling, I’ll use my zygomatic at the slightest opportunity. First of all, because it makes me look better, more pleasant to myself and maybe to others. And I don’t miss an opportunity to go see a funny movie and laugh with my friends. Besides, I avoid the complainers, the eternal grumblers who end up damaging my good mood. In short: I know how to surround myself.
7. I avoid time-consuming savings
Running to the other end of town in search of the best fifteen-grain bread or the cheapest dry cleaner ends up costing me time and energy. I give priority to what is close to home: activities, appointments… We often save time (and money!) by walking.
8. I put my older children to work!
Depending on their age and preferences, I give them specific tasks: setting the table, clearing their plate, sweeping up after the meal… If necessary, I draw up a weekly responsibility chart to avoid the endless “it’s their turn” or “it’s always my turn”.
9. I don’t let things get to me
Once a month, I sort, I put away… and I throw away! This big empty house cleaning saves a lot of time during the whole year (no more ransacking the house to find the last bill in the garage) and saves space. To reduce the pile of mail, I sort it without delay by throwing away useless advertising and mail as soon as I receive it. By managing my bank accounts directly on the Internet and opting for direct debit, I also limit my paperwork.
10. I set the breakfast table the night before
In the evening, I set the table for the next day’s breakfast. If I haven’t opted for pods, I buy a programmable electric coffee maker that will allow me to wake up smelling coffee. Very efficient to help me get up!
11. I freeze
When I prepare complete dishes (gratins, shepherd’s pie…), I don’t hesitate to make more and I freeze what I have in excess. These trays will help me out the day I don’t have time to prepare the meal. And for my toddler, when I make soups and purées, I freeze mini-portions.
12. I keep a change of clothes in the car at all times
By always having a towel, wipes and a change of diaper on hand, I can change my baby on the spot without having to make a U-turn.
13. I prepare clothes the night before
Negotiating the evening after listening to the weather forecast saves precious minutes in the morning. I will feel it even more if it is a sensitive subject between me and my child who only wants “spinning” skirts or persists in asking for his flip-flops in the middle of winter. I will also avoid the sock hunt, five minutes before leaving. And once it’s decided in the evening, we stick to it!
