This is Your Year- Part 2

Warning: This post makes references to Disney princesses and vampires!

Welcome back!

Quick reminder from yesterday:

THIS IS YOUR YEAR!

Because we say so.

And we are going to make it happen by doing 3 things:

Finding Our Thing (review of part 1)

Yesterday we talked about how, as moms, it is easy to let our “thing” get pushed to the back burner. We talked about Mommy Guilt and how she is really a nasty frienemy we need to drop.

We brainstormed just what we want our thing to be, that thing that would help us feel more fulfilled and present in our own lives.

If you missed the action yesterday, be sure to jump over there and read yesterday’s post. And if you are having trouble deciding what your thing should be. I hope you’ll join me for a free call on Jan 15^th (12pm pst), where we will “Find Your Thing” in 30 minutes or less!

So, just when we get our “thing” all figured out and we’re excited to get started, we realize that Mommy Guilt has another roadblock for us.

We have no time.

Find The Time and Our Wicked Stepmother

Remember how Cinderella’s stepmother told her she could go to the ball if she finished all her chores first? And then she piled an insurmountable amount of chores on her plate, ensuring she would not be able to get to the ball.

I think Mommy Guilt also plays the role of our wicked stepmother. She tells us, if we finish engaging our children in developmentally appropriate play, clean the house, finish the tasks for the preschool fundraiser, shop for organic food, and send adorable photos to the in-laws…then we can participate in our “thing.” But let’s face it, even with a scurry of mice to help us, we never get it all done or we are too tired after the fact to do anything else.

Wasn’t that the stepmother’s goal all along, not to actually say no, but make it impossible for Cinderella to get to the ball, and make it her own fault in the process.

Cinderella could have gone to the ball if only she would have worked harder, been smarter, or picked a different committee for the preschool fundraiser.

Now, I am not saying we should not do those things above, every mother, of course, values her family’s health, happiness and wellbeing. What I am reminding you is that our “thing” has to have equal weight.

If we want to have time to do it, we have to put it on the playing field. If you read last weeks post about the plate spinner at the circus, your “thing” has to be one of the plates you spin. Not one you hope to pick up one day.

Quantity over Quality

After 17 years in the fitness industry (side note: how is that possible…), I have seen my fare share of New Years Resolutioners each January. Any time I have a client trying to get into or back into a fitness routine, I always give them the same advice.

For the first month, it is about quantity not quality. Wait, what? Did I get that backwards? Nope. I want my clients to get into the habit of working out, so I coach my clients to rack up as many workouts as they can, without worrying about the “quality” of the session. So 10 squats before bed count as a workout. Walking to the store for a gallon of milk, check! 20 minutes of Yoga on demand, gold star.

My challenge for you is to put your “thing” on the schedule, even if it is in 10 or 20 minute pieces. Rack up as many gold stars as you can towards doing your “thing”

Slay Your Time Vampires

We all have what I love to refer as “time vampires” in our lives. You know, those things that just suck time for no apparent reason. Think about your time vampires. Do you have to run to the store multiple times a week to pick up the groceries for that nights meal? Do you spend 15 minutes cleaning off your desk or the table before you can sit down to work at your computer? Do you take time before each outing to pack up all the supplies your family needs for the day?

Each of these Time Vampires are sucking precious minutes that you could be spending on “your thing.”

If you spent some time meal planning your week and made one big trip to the store, you would free up time to practice your harmonica. If you purge and organize your workspace, your desk will stay clear and you can immediately start to work on that book proposal the minute your baby falls asleep. Keep the bag for the park packed and ready to go and you can do that 20-minute yoga workout instead.

SO, To Find The Time you must:

Decide to make time for your thing
Do it any way you can, even if it is not much or not pretty
Cut out or streamline other things that are sucking time away from your thing

In the comments below, give me one example of how you are going to Find More Time for your thing.

Find Your Thing Free Call

If you still need help figuring out your thing and what you need to do to make it part of your life. Call in to my FREE call January 15th at 12pm (pst)- Finding Your Thing- Click here to register.

Nap It Out Program

If you are ready to get serious about getting that first big project DONE (maybe one of your time vampires?) Join my 14 day time management and accountability program for busy moms- Nap It Out. We start January 21st.

Megan Flatt