We made it through January! By far the longest month of every year, it seems. With the new year, many people resolve to simplify or better themselves one way or another, but around March, those resolutions are sometimes long forgotten. I used to be one of those people who made big resolutions. I had a go-big-or-go-home mindset that made me feel defeated if I wasn’t successful. Then, I had children and resolutions seemed to go by the wayside as I was just trying to survive. But the thought of adding (or taking away) something that would better myself or my life and those around me was still there, and I decided to figure out what small changes I could make in my daily routine to make this my best year yet. With three toddlers all ages 3 and under, it was time to simplify each day and get back to basics. Whether you are a clear-out-all-the-clutter person (both in your mind and home), or one who takes baby steps to tidy up your life and routine, there is no right or wrong way to do this! You know your life and what works and what doesn’t, so if a complete closet cleanout or a schedule makeover isn’t for you, don’t stress! Let’s just simplify things!
Over time, life has seemed to have gotten more and more complicated. We, as mothers, have started to take on more and more with the demands that the world throws at us. It was on a whirlwind vacation alone with my husband that I sat looking out into the ocean, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I have been so busy looking for clarity that I was missing what was right in front of me. It is time to simplify and find clarity in things rather than glorifying the busy.
Simplify in Simple Ways
– Sit down for 30 minutes and write down everything you accomplished last year. You will probably be surprised at all the things you and your family did that made you proud. But if there are things you didn’t quite get to, let them go. You can either move them to 2020, or if they truly aren’t as important as you once thought, take them off your list!
– All those stressful, redundant tasks that have to be done (but you dread and push off all into one day) like paying bills, mopping the kitchen, cleaning bathrooms, etc., assign them a day per week. I got so tired of continually feeling behind on all things house related that I gave each task a day and wrote it down on my calendar for each week. Sunday is always “sheet washing Sunday” around here. This divides all those tasks up and is way less daunting. I have tested this theory, and it is working for us!
– We get so tied up with adding things to our plate that it’s hard to see that there’s a plate underneath all of the “stuff” we keep piling on. Say no to something, anything! There are all kinds of ways to tell people, or even yourself, no. Sometimes it is just more of a matter of shifting your plate around and seeing if all of the stuff in your life can fit together better in another way. I was so tired of worrying if we continuously had diapers stocked. So I asked my husband to handle it, and magically, we always have cases on hand: such a small task, but it makes a world of a difference.
– Look at your typical week. Sit down and see what you do and don’t “need” to get done week to week and then prioritize each task. You may find that there are some things you do every week that just aren’t that important anymore, but you are doing them out of habit.
– Finally, set a timer on your Facebook and Instagram accounts. I love social media as much as the next person, but if you are more aware of the time you are spending scrolling aimlessly, you will be SHOCKED at how much time you can free up and how much more clearly you may start to see your own life and what is in front of YOU!
You are the pro at your life, your relationships, and your children, and by knowing and owning that, you will find that the comparison game of watching others can magically feel less and less relevant.
