As a Mompreneur, Do you feel like during every season you have to be “on” all the time?
Do you feel like there’s no difference in your life between the different seasons?
Maybe every day feels like the movie Groundhog Day.
Each day repeats the last.
Or do you feel like you’re constantly on the go, going from one task to another, moving from the business tasks to family tasks to house tasks, & just on constant repeat?
And feeling this way doesn’t mean you don’t love your life, your family, or your business, it’s just exhausting!
Not only do moms have a lot to manage & do, but we have to be able & ready to do whatever comes at us at any moment, All. The. Time.
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But Momma, there are supposed to be seasons of rest in your life!
There is a natural rhythm that that I believe our bodies do better when follow & honor that rhythm.
Let’s look at nature, shall we?
There are 4 seasons.
Some seasons are seasons when plants & animals rest & recharge. While other seasons are for blooming & doing things.
You know, Spring is when all the flowers & trees bloom & explode in beauty, animals typically have their babies in spring & summer. Summer & fall are typically when animals are preparing for winter, gathering food & fat! Winter is a time for resting, surviving, & reaping the rewards from the busy summer/fall. Winter is nature’s Season of Rest!
What happens when the soil doesn’t have time to rest? Its produce isn’t as nutrient rich or plentiful. When given rest, soil nurtures & produces more than when it’s not given a rest.
Bears hibernate for goodness’s sake! 😊 And no one dares call them lazy, they’re just operating in the way that they were made & honoring their season of rest.
So, please explain to me why we, as women & a society, expect humans to have only seasons of productivity & not seasons of rest as well?
I know for myself, when I don’t take rest, my body will force me to rest, either by getting sick or by getting so worn down that I can’t operate at the level that I’m used to & that I need!
My brain doesn’t function as quickly when I’m tired. Physically things take longer, & I just feel blah!
For most of us, Fall seems to be the kick-off for the crazy season of back to school & activities. We have to wake up earlier, we’re busy in the evenings & weekends, schedules fill up, & the demands on us as moms increase while the work demands either increase as well or stay consistent.
It’s a season, but it typically is a busy season after the busy summer season. And Fall is followed by the busy holiday season that kicks off Winter!
See where I’m going with this? If not, just hang with me for a minute.
If your life is anything like mine, that season of rest isn’t going to just happen, unless you get sick & are forced to take some downtime.
BUT, WHAT IF WE CREATE SEASONS OF REST IN OUR LIVES?
BEFORE WE are FORCED TO DO SO?
How would that benefit yourself & your house?
If we don’t honor that our bodies & minds need rest, we’ll find that we’re running straight towards a breakdown, whether it be mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. And it most likely won’t happen when it’s convenient for you, your schedule, your family, or your business.
But here’s the million-dollar question: How do we give ourselves rest while still getting everything that needs to be done completed?
It’s all in the details and the planning, my dear Momma!
We’re proficient at planning, right? So let’s plan some rest for ourselves into our schedules & see how it affects our lives.
My Breathing Weeks – Regular Seasons of Rest
I’ve recently started doing something that I’m seeing wonderful results from & am so thankful I started it! I’ve started scheduling in what I call my “breathing week.” It’s a week in my main business where I don’t schedule client meetings, or at least I try very hard not to!
I block that week off on my calendar & I take that week to focus on projects that take a bit more mental space, to focus on house projects I’ve been putting off, to focus on doing fun things with my kids, to take naps & rest rather than pushing through the day!
My schedule is more relaxed, and my body & brain can recharge.
AND GUESS WHAT I’VE DISCOVERED HAPPENS DURING THESE WEEKS OF BREATHING ROOM?
Not only am I able to make memories with the kids & am just more relaxed in general, but my creativity has soared & I’ve gotten some things done that I never planned or dreamed of doing.
I’ve found that my brain needs the break so I can be creative, so that I can be fully Mom, so that I can have a break from the working/family tight rope walk that happens the other 3 weeks a month.
My blogs are typically written during my breathing week. Most of my content is written during my breathing week. I started a second business during one of my breathing weeks. The kitchen gets deep cleaned during breathing week. Clothing gets switched out for the seasons during breathing week. Extra snuggles happen & more movies get watching during breathing week.
Honestly, it’s glorious!
But as glorious as it is, taking a full week off each month didn’t happen overnight.
I had to slowly transition my client’s reoccurring meetings to different weeks of the month. And mentally I had to really work to honor that week & not schedule in last-minute client or new client meetings. Once I experienced how wonderful having a week with no appointments was, now I work very hard to honor my boundaries & just tell people I’m unavailable for meetings that week but they’re more than welcome to schedule something during the following week!
And guess what? I haven’t heard any complaints, from clients or my family!
It’s not like I don’t turn on my computer. I still answer emails, I still do my daily work. But during my breathing week, I might not set my alarm because I know I can do my daily work in the afternoon, after school is finished for the day, because I don’t have client meetings. Or I do set my alarm, but once my daily work is finished, my computer gets turned off & the rest of my day is fully focused on the kids or projects. We’re able to run to the lake in the afternoon (while the weather is warm) & be spontaneous because I don’t have meetings already scheduled.
Now, what if you can’t take a full week off to recharge?
I highly recommend working towards that breathing week goal, but if you can’t, there are still things you can do to give yourself some breathing room.
Here are 10 tips for you to create breathing room, as you work towards a breathing week!
1. Make sure you’re utilizing a schedule.
2. Are you a night owl or morning lark? Honor your body’s natural cycle & work during your most productive time.
3. Delegate! (I do believe I’ve said this before 😊 you can check out the blog post here.)
4. Make a space near your work area for your kids to be creative or work on homework.
5. Give yourself dedicated unplugged time for all things electronic (unless it’s family time electronics) so your brain can rest. (I love this electronic charger where you can store all your handheld electronics.)
6. Make sure you’re taking some time for you, whether it’s only 15 minutes to read or to do something that recharges you, schedule it in and honor that time block!
7. Embrace flexibility!
8 Learn & practice saying no. Every yes is a no to something else, make sure those no’s are worth the yes’s!
9. Look for the wins every day, no matter how large or small, & celebrate them.
10. Plan together as a family. Make sure everyone is on the same page & you’re all working towards the same goals.
As we’re heading back into the crazy season of fall & holidays, how are you going to honor your boundaries?
How can you protect yourself during this season?
And which of these 10 tips do you think will you utilize?
Drop a comment, I’d love to hear your feedback!
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