Taking Time for Mom

There are so many demands on a mom's time these days. And if you work outside of the home in a large city that requires a lengthy commute, it's almost, strike that, it IS impossible to get it all done. 

My current status: moving houses, working on a $1Bn offshore project with intense deadlines, starting a mommy blog, adjusting to a new blended family, chasing after a toddler and an almost-crawling-definitely-rolling baby, briefly checking in with friends and family to say hey, remember me?

As other moms before me have said, you feel like you are always dropping the ball on something.

As a reminder to myself and my other mommies out there on this beautiful WEEKEND in celebration of moms, here are some ways to slow down, smell the roses, and recharge...

1. PHONES. I'm not going to say put down your phone because, well, it's one of my favorite outlets too and it's attached to me at most times. However, it can eat up some time. Put it away for a few uninterrupted moments with your family, when taking a stroll down the street or a few minutes in the evening for some tech-free time. Make those moments  happen. They will recharge YOUR battery.

2. LISTS. Lists calm me. They keep some order to the FAST pace of life. Keep a random thought list that captures the million things that pop in your head at inopportune times. Organize these random thoughts on a Sunday evening or whenever you have time to tackle it. I organize my to do lists by hard deadlines first and then work according to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People method. What are you most committed to and what speaks to you? Ensure you schedule time for these in your week FIRST. Everything else is a time suck and doesn't feed your soul. Of course, we all have our errands or tasks to do that we don't want to do. Check out my mommy tools for an example of how I organize my top priorities and my to do lists.

3. TOUCH THE EARTH. In some traditions and religions, it is so important to stay connected to the Earth. It grounds you. When your mind is "in the clouds", touch the Earth. Dig in some dirt. Literally. Garden or take a walk in the woods or play mud pies with kids or just sit on a blanket and look at the sky. It is healing.

And finally...

4. REACH OUT TO SOMEONE WHO LOVES YOU. You are loved. It's easy to forget in this fast paced world that the ONLY thing that really matters at the end of the day is love. Everything else is noise. Say hello to someone in your life with no agenda but simply to say thanks for being in my life, you mean so much to me. It may feel awkward if you aren't the lovey dovey type like me, but THIS is what life is about.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there.