You know that feeling you get, when you’re stretched too thin, and you know something has to give – but you’re putting off making that “what to cut” decision?
Yep, that’s what we’re talking about today.
‘Cause work-at-home moms need super clear blinders on what’s working, what has to get done, and what’s just a want to – an if I have energy.
Because sometimes, you just don’t have the energy. And you need to know what to do next.
Quit even the good things
Guess what – I quit things too.
In fact, you want to know the last thing I quit?
It was a women’s small group. From church, women that I knew. Liked. Wanted to be around.
But I knew myself – my best times of day, my calendar, my amount of schedule flex – and said no.
And this is why.
- The end time was an hour after my own bedtime.
- After that, I still had to drive home and unwind. (You know, that introvert party hangover/buzz thing? That.)
- I wouldn’t be able to change my alarm time the next morning – so I’d have to survive on 1.5-2 hours less sleep. (Not happening!)
Now, you know your own schedule.
- Maybe you could have slept in the next day.
- Maybe you’re a night owl, so getting home at 9:30pm would be totally fine.
- Maybe you’d have taken coffee along, so that you could stay up long enough to talk coherently with all your friends!
Whatever the circumstances, I want you to remember this.
You choose your own life.
You set the boundaries.
And once you know them, cling to them fiercely.
You choose your own life. You set the boundaries.
Set the boundaries you need
Sometimes you have to say no to the good to protect yourself, save yourself, for the best.
In this case?
My best was living life within my natural rhythms, including proper amounts of sleep.
I knew I’d need a small group with an end time of 8pm, or I wouldn’t get through the drive home + introvert hangover before bedtime.
So that’s what I stuck to. I was open to any opportunity that fell within my predetermined boundaries.
Boundaries that *I* chose for my health, sanity, and optimum enjoyment.
And if this idea of boundaries around your personal time (heck, even your sleep!) sounds great-but-undoable, I want to invite you to the biggest brain shift of your life: #momlife can be easy.
Yes, really. And I’m showing you how, every step of the way. It’s time to watch your #momlife transform!
You’re in the driver’s seat
You know what to do now – decide ahead of time what suits you. What fits into your life.
And then, when those opportunities come along, that playdate or coffee meetup, respond yes or no based on your pre-determined boundaries.
No scrambling in the moment, trying to make something work, and regretting every second of the drive there and back for how it’s wrecking your day (or night).
Just peace, calm, and a rock of certainty up front.
Yes, you’ll have to say no.
(You’ll get used to it. They will too.)
But the happier, calmer, more present life that you set? That’s worth it.
A hundred times over.
What time boundaries do you need to set? How do you function at your best?
And how are you going to respond next time someone invites you to a fun thing that doesn’t fall within your choices?
