Being a mom is a full time job. Launching a business is a full time job. Doing both at once is a bit overwhelming.
The only way I manage to keep it all together is to have a detailed to-do list. But it is so easy to become slave to my list. The never ending list.
Tonight I gave myself the night off. Coconut chai and triple ginger snaps and an episode of Grey's Anatomy over a new sweater project for my girl. The list will still be there in the morning.
When I find myself in a period of focused drive like this, I have to remind myself to prioritize self care. Self care doesn't always feel "productive." Spending time taking care of myself doesn't show measurable progress toward my goals. But it is so necessary.
It may sound strange, but I added a "self-care" section on that to-do list. Putting tasks on my list means I do them, and putting self-care on my list brings it up to the level of importance equal to the business and household tasks that it sits beside. Tonight I took a few minutes to add some things to it: journal time, sleep in one morning this week, finish the blanket project.
But the list is long and I know I will still spend more time on the "work" tasks than the "fun" ones. So this week I'm going to try a new iPhone app as a way to remind myself to pay attention to myself. Bloom, by the company MindBloom, is an offshoot of their online Life Game. The app allows users to set up "Blooms," or reminders, to do various things. For example, I can schedule a Bloom with an inspiring quote, a reminder to drink a glass of water, or just to take a big deep breath. Used together with the MindBloom online tool, or even a Life Plan like Michael Hyatt writes about, Bloom could be a powerful tool to create change in one's life.
But right now I'm just interested in reminding myself to breathe, slow down for a minute, take a mini rest.
Have you used Bloom, or MindBloom online? Do you put self-care on your to-do list?
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