4 Tips For Balancing Life and Work
Ok it’s 9:56 pm PST and I am on my bed writing you this note after a fun but long evening at the skating rink for my oldest daughters Ringette practice. Baby Vinlee (who is a year now….can you believe it?) drunk walked and crawled his way to all kinds of gross things on floor while I attempted to have a visit with fellow adults as we cheered our kids on. OK. That’s a lie. I wasn’t really watching my kid on the ice at all. But in my defence I was managing crazy baby and eating concession french fries.
LIFE IS A BALL OF CHAOS AND CRAZY. At least for me it is and from what I hear from so many of you it is much the same in your household too.
I actually get asked OFTEN this question, “How do you do everything you do with 4 kids? How do you do the work life balance thing?” The question makes me internally giggle because truly I am in SHOCK that I look like I have my shit together.
My kids teachers would disagree…sooooo many handwritten sticky notes come home with papers that need to be signed and reminders about deadlines missed. However instead of feeling shame for my lack of organization I have chosen to regard those handwritten messages as love notes. Kinda like they are tenderly saying, “Hey busy Momma! I think you might have missed this so I am taking time out of my teaching job to remind you (again) to sign this form….much love to you….BTW you are doing a great job almost keeping up! xoxo”.
Hahaha. Right?
So tonight I am, off the cuff, offering you 4 tips for balancing life, work and the other 1000 million demands that weigh on your shoulders EVERY SINGLE DAY. I hope they help you. Here it goes.
#1. BALANCE SCHMALANCE. It’s bull shit.
There is no balance. Some days I rock my biz. Some days I am on top of groceries, laundry and cleaning baseboards in the bathrooms. Some days I feel reallllly connected to my kiddos and we get to have wonderful chats while making cookies. Some days I am a sex kitten for my husband and maybe I even get waxed. Some days I eat so clean I can feel my body screaming YES! as I stretch after an invigorating workout. Some days are not everyday. I do what I can when I can. My focus and energy is abundant but it can not be in more than one or two places at a time. SO. Balance is not my thing. I don’t balance. I bounce.
#2. ONE SIMPLE MEAL A DAY
Almost every lunch I eat oatmeal with raisons and my favourite vanilla protein powder. It keeps me regular. I like it. And I don’t have to think about what is for lunch. I just eat my oatmeal. This makes my life easier. Gives me more time to bounce
#3. I FOLD ALL MY LAUNDRY ONE DAY A WEEK
You know what is stressful? Trying to keep up with laundry. I have 6 dirty people in my house. It adds up quick. I use to loathe laundry to the point that it caused me deep resentment. I know it sounds dramatic but the fact that laundry is never done really pissed me off. Like I would get angry. So one day I decided to NOT fold the laundry when it was dry. Crazy right? Yap loads and loads of piled high laundry got all kinds of bat-shit crazy wrinkled and you know what? I decided that I didn’t care. And it was a day of freedom reckoning. Sorry Mom. Actually not sorry. It was my own grown-up ass decision to let my laundry get wrinkled and I am going to own it with confidence and charisma. Now I fold laundry once a week while I enjoy some good tunes or a sleezy talk show. Hey laundry. I won.
#4. THE GRIND IS A PRIVILEGE
This is one of the most powerful mindset shifts that has helped me be more effective in business, as a mother and partner and as a 39 year old woman still learning her way through this complicated thing called life. Everyday that I get to wake up in my home, help my 4 babies get ready for school, grab my favourite drink from a coffee shop, eat lunch, grow my business, work with clients, manage my household chores, nurture my marriage, connect with friends…..every single thing I get to do everyday is a nothing short of a privilege. With this perspective the weight of my to do’s instantly becomes lighter. My biggest stresses are challenges that I get to face. I don’t know about you but reminding myself that my daily grind is a gift helps me to feel responsible for enjoying the ride a little more. Keeps me grounded in gratitude.
So there you have it! My off the cuff 4 tips for UNBALANCING. If there are grammar and spelling mistakes please embrace them. I am doing something I rarely do. I am hitting send immediately after writing something!
Cheers to enjoying the journey.
