Just say no. If you're not sure about the question, whether it's a commitment, a new activity, a request for help, an expense... if you have that little nagging feeling of uncertainty, just say no. Wait. You can always change your mind and say yes later, but once you've committed it's hard to undo. I've been saved many a mistake by saying no, stepping back, and considering.”
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Okay, so, I hate cleaning the bathroom but with a potty training kid it has to be done frequently. Now I keep a spray bottle of pepperminty cleaner and a box of baby wipes under the sink; when I'm bathing the kids, I grab a wipe and spray down the sink and counter, wipe, and throw away. I repeat with the toilet area. It takes 2 minutes, I'm in the bathroom anyway, the peppermint makes it smell good, and the wipes are cheaper than "special" cleaning wipes. Win!
Quit planning out menus every week and start a rotating meal schedule: Monday is pasta night, Tuesday is casserole night, Wednesday is on-the-grill night... etc. Make sure you have an "eat out" night or another easy option (like leftovers or sandwiches) at least once a week.
If you're a work-at-home-mom, make sure you make at least one day per week your "day off." You have to have downtime in order to get recharged. Sure, you still have to do the Mom stuff (we know that never ends) but you can keep it to a minimum and put work stuff aside. Trust me. You'll be more productive the next day if you take a day off with no guilt.
I practice meditation especially "healing meditation". It works fine for me as a mom of two kids. When we find free time , Merlin (my husband), does Reiki for me and I go to sleep. I recommend everyone to meditate for few minutes a day at early morn, at noon and evening. If you have the chance as well to experience a natural healing energy, then this is great for you and for your family as well.
Every day something stressful happens. That's the way it is when you have five kids. Every day is a challenge just to cope. And every day I stop and think, in my most hurried times, my most stressful times, of just how lucky I am. Today my children are alive and healthy. Today I am alive and healthy. Yesterday at the end of my driveway while holding a yard sale to which not many buyers came, a friend stopped to say hello. She mentioned her son had just graduated last week. I remembered what she told me 7 years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "I just want to see my son graduate from high school." "Hey, you got your wish," I said. We hugged. Every day something stressful happens and I think I just can cope, and then I remember the day late in August when my good friend called to tell me her father had died. My throat tightened and I couldn't speak. And she knew from my silence that something else was wrong. She probed, through her own tears, until I finally said I just learned from my doctor today that I have breast cancer. Through all the worries, all the stress, all the little and big troubles, I am grateful, every day, for each day I have to enjoy my life and my family.
Just say no. If you're not sure about the question, whether it's a commitment, a new activity, a request for help, an expense... if you have that little nagging feeling of uncertainty, just say no. Wait. You can always change your mind and say yes later, but once you've committed it's hard to undo. I've been saved many a mistake by saying no, stepping back, and considering.
Combine fitness and family time: instead of trying to squeeze in a trip to the gym after the kids go to bed and before I collapse, we spend our evenings outside doing something active. We walk in the park, play ball, play tag, whatever... It's family time for Dad & kids, it's relaxing (no mess in the house), it gets the kids ready for bed, and it gets us burning calories. Plus our kids are learning that it's more fun to be active & playing than to be sitting in front of the tv.
I have two diaper bags: one is always in the car, packed with the essentials, and one is always at the ready in the kids' room. When I use up the stuff in the car-bag, I switch the bags. The bag that's ready & waiting inside goes in the car, and Car-bag goes inside for a refill, where it waits until needed.
I bought one of those 3 part laundry sorters from Target. I taught my 9 yr old how to sort the laundry and she watches as my 2 yr old puts the clothes in the washer. They think it's fun and it's one less thing I have to do.
