Do It All and Still Stay Sane

As a stay at home, work at home, homeschooling mom of three active boys, I tend to stay fairly busy. To add to the chaos, my husband is a pack rat who hates clutter. Over the last seven years, I’ve been struggling to find ways to meet all the demands that I face without losing my mind in the process. Here are the top five things I’ve discovered.

5. Make a list. Whatever works for you is fine – by the minute, hour, day, or week. It’s important that you know the tasks you need to accomplish so that you have something to aim for.

4. Stay on task. If you are working in the living room, then stay in the living room. Going into the kitchen will just distract you and make you want to clean in there. Finish one task before you begin the next one.

3. Know your strong time and plan around it. Morning is my best creative time. I try to do most of my writing before the sun is too far up in the sky. In the afternoon, my energy starts to fade, so I try to do something fun and energy boosting at this time (play ball with the kids or go for a walk). After dinner, I usually have a few more minutes of go power (while my husband is getting the kids ready for bed). I use this time to do some straightening (or to wash dishes).

I can write at night – when I absolutely have to – but it doesn’t flow as easy for me. Others that I know ONLY write at night. You can’t determine your schedule based on someone else’s personality. Make it your own.

2. Delegate, delegate, delegate and then allow them to do it their own way. If you want your kids to make the beds, let them. Don’t go in behind them and “do it right.” The job you pass on may not be done to your perfection, but it will be one less thing you have to do. Eventually, they should get better.

Assign tasks according to likes and skills – my oldest child enjoys organizing things, while my middle child is more active (I have him picking up or doing things outside most of the time).

1. Prioritize. In a perfect world, the day would have enough hours for you to complete everything on your list and nothing would stand in the way. In this world, life happens. If you know what MUST be done and what could be done and what needs to be done at some time, it makes letting things go a little easier. Does the floor HAVE to be mopped again this week? Does the refrigerator HAVE to be cleaned out today? Learn to let it go. In the end, even if you don’t check off any of your to-dos, things will still get done.

Life can be hectic. By following these few, simple guidelines it becomes more tolerable. Peace isn’t something you gain by doing it all, it’s something you learn to find in the midst of the doing.