10 Habits for a Sane Married Working Mother

courtesy of beyondbathtime.com

We all have our mini melt downs from time to time, right?  Sometimes, the daily grind becomes too much.  You feel overwhelmed, tired, and just plain ole burnt out.

And rightfully so!  We have lots to do and limited time to do it in.

I've come up with some habits that I've picked up since school opened.  Some of these habits may feel like a chore itself but nonetheless they work.  They will get you from Monday to Friday and keep you sane! 

1.  Wake up early.  If you're like me, you like to sleep.  This one kinda sucks but it really is a wonderful thing.  There are so many benefits for waking up early. I am up at 5:00 a.m., an hour before my children.  This allows me to not only have quiet time to myself but to get a jump start on everything.  I put on the kettle for a cup of tea and I sit in silence in the living room and meditate for a few minutes.  I have a shower and get ready even before my children are awake.  Once I am ready everything falls into place. 

This leads me to habit number 2.

2. Prepare the night before.  This is definitely a must!  As much as I want to sit down and hang out when I get home from work I try not to.  Once the children are settled into bed, (around 8:30 p.m.) I start preparing for the next day.  Filling the water bottles, cutting and packaging the fruits, etc. Anything I know I can do in the evenings to avoid doing them in the morning, I do! This assists tremendously and frees up so much of your time in the morning.  You are able to have that quiet time to yourself without having to scramble around to pack school and lunch bags.


3. Go to bed early.  Easier said than done, I know. But if I am waking up at 5:00 a.m. I know I need to be in bed by 9:30 p.m. That's 8 hours of much needed sleep.  You wake up well rested and not looking totally busted.


4.  Meal Planning. This takes a little more work and of course a lot more planning.  I do most of my grocery shopping on Sundays. I purchase meat in bulk (can Married Working Mothers please get a tailored fit Phil's package!) on Saturdays.  I'm sure most of you have pinterest accounts, right?!  If not, GET ONE! I "pin" recipes that my family would enjoy and are easy enough to do in the evenings.  I choose 4 or 5 for the week and when I'm at the store pick up the ingredients for each recipe.  Season all the meat you will use for the week on Sunday and package them.  Voila!

courtesy of toddnjennifermoss.com

5.  Organization.  Having an unorganized house is one of my biggest pet peeves!  It's hard to do anything without having your house working like a well oiled machine.  Everything has to have a place.  Junk is the enemy.  It will creep into your life and take a hold of it.  You have to be able to find things when you need them AND you have to have a place for them when you are finished with them.

6.  Get your children involved.  Let's not spoil our children.  If they make a mess before bedtime, they need to clean it up.  Toys in the living room, in the bedroom, crayons spilled all over the table, etc.  Give them some responsibilities.  If your child is old enough, let them lay out their uniform, socks, and shoes the night before.  It will save you time!

7.  It is Okay to say "NO".  Just as the title says, it's okay to tell others you are unable to do the favour, or attend a function, or whatever the request is. It's Okay! The days when you are feeling overwhelmed, just say NO to requests that really aren't high on your priority list AND don't feel guilty about it.

8.  Do smaller chores.  Don't let things pile up.  If you do washing on a certain day that allows for clothes to mount.  If you have enough for a load, and I know you do on a daily basis, throw in  one load of clothes.  Get it out of the way.  Wipe down, straighten, and freshen up the bathroom. Do a quick sweep of key areas and you're good to go.

courtesy of theguardian.com

9.  Have a glass of wine.  My favourite of course.  Don't be scared to pour yourself a lovely cup of Merlot, Pinot Noir or Grigio, whatever you like!  It will certainly take the "edge" off.








10. Create "ME" Time.  Last but not least, make time for YOU!  I've started boxing and training for the half marathon coming up in January.  This is my time.  My daughter asked me the other day if she could come to the gym with me.  My instinct was to say "yes baby", but I paused.  I paused because going to the gym and going jogging is for me.  It's a time where I am away from everything else and it gives me an opportunity to quiet my mind. It rejuvenates me.  Find something that does not include your husband and children.  Something you enjoy so you want to keep doing it.  It can be anything!  Art classes, exercising, dancing, joining a book club, etc. ANYTHING!

These habits should assist you in becoming a calm and organized MWM.  You may still have the occasional melt down (which is okay by the way) but you won't ALWAYS feel overwhelmed.

Pick one or two habits and keep at them for a while until they become second nature. When you feel comfortable with them add another one.  Take things one day at a time!

Which habits will you work on first?

Signed, 
a sane Candilaria