Finding Energy to Balance it All
As a busy mom, finding energy to do it all is hard, and I often need a boost to get me through the day, which is why I joined in on the #V8EnergyBoost campaign, sponsored by #CollectiveBias Inc. and its advertiser. I wanted to share with you the delicious, natural energy drink, powered by green tea, vegetables, and yummy fruit that I’ve recently fallen in love with.
A few months ago I was asked to talk to a group of women bloggers about finding balance in their lives. No problem… I can speak about lots of topics, and chatting with women who blog like I do about fitting it all in seemed like a no-brainer.
And then everything spiraled out of control.
I had deadlines – crazy ones, multiple due dates at once, research-based speeches and articles to plan – and, on top of work stuff, my kids got sick. We battled high, inexplicable fevers, vomiting, and just general ickiness. And I got no sleep.
The talk about balance kept getting pushed off. Further and further, I procrastinated on it {as I was insanely busy and completely – and ironically – out of balance} until I sat at the computer late, late, late on the night before the conference. And I stared at my slides.
Both of them. The only two things I’d managed to pull together after hours of staring at the screen. I realized something at that moment…
There is no such thing as balance for a busy mom. It’s an impossible thing to achieve because there are always things that need done. Whether you work from home, work outside the home, or raise your children and make a home exclusively, there are always more things you could be doing. And there are always things you need to let go of.
I often tell people when they ask me how I get it all done, that I don’t. I make a conscious choice about which balls I’m going to drop that day, almost as soon as I wake up. I just pray that the balls I drop are not the ones that will shatter on impact.
There are things you can do, busy moms, to help you through your insanely crazy days. While you won’t achieve the elusive balance ideal, you’ll find the beauty in the chaos instead. And you’ll manage to keep the most important balls in the air.
Prioritize
The first thing you need to do is prioritize. Figure out what is the most important part of each day.
Be honest, though. It’s almost reflexive to say that your family is the most important part of your day, and while that’s true on the one hand, if you have to bring in an income to pay the bills, then work becomes pretty important, too. It’s okay to say that other things are important, too. You just need to know that if you’re working, cleaning, cooking, and caring for kids, that it won’t all get done well.
You need to pick the one or two most important things every day that come first, and put most of your energy into those, then use the leftover for the rest. As a work-from-home homeschooling mom, I tend to do two things well a day, so I pick accordingly.
Work, meals, house, kids… I try to make sure the kids are always one of the two things I do well each day, though there are times when deadlines loom and they have Netflix marathons while I heat up frozen pizza for lunch and dinner. It’s okay.
Take Time for Yourself
I don’t know about you, but I’m no use to the little people who rely on me all day if I’m tired, overstimulated, and stressed. I need breaks to recharge and get my energy back throughout the day. I’m loving the new V8 V-Fusion+Energy Drinks that are nutritious with a combined serving of fruits and vegetables. I grab them when I’m at Walmart doing my shopping. My favorite is the pomegranate blueberry – yummy!
The kids need quiet time everyday…and so do I. When they’re taking theirs, I’m usually hiding out in my room or in the backyard with Pandora playing in my earbuds, my journal and colorful pens, and a delicious tasting V8 V-Fusion+Energy Drink.
Focus on One Task At a Time
I know that there’s something to be said for multitasking, but the truth is that when you multitask, you divide your attention too much, and neither thing gets done well. Throw yourself wholeheartedly into the task or activity you’re doing at that moment, and do it well. Then move onto the next thing.
You won’t drop the important balls if you focus completely on what you’re doing.
Pay Attention to Your Schedule
Don’t overschedule yourself if you can avoid it. There will always be times when everything seems to happen at once, but when you keep track of your schedule and routines, that’s less likely to happen regularly.
Spread things out, and leave white space on the calendar so that you take advantage of opportunities that pop up like tagging along with Dad on his next business trip, or an impromptu park play date because the weather is beautiful.
Above all, remember what’s important. You can’t balance everything, so don’t try. Just be the best you can be at whatever you are doing at the moment, take care of yourself with great energy boosts like V8 V-Fusion+Energy, and love on those kiddos.
What are your favorite afternoon pick-me-ups? Tell me about them in the comments, then head over and enter to win in the #V8EnergyBoost Sweepstakes!