Just Re-group
I was reading last night in a book by Dr. Oz (and some other doctors I can’t remember), called “You: The Manual”. It is a fascinating book that I borrowed from my dad. The doctors tell you all kinds of wonderful facts about your body, from your head to your feet and everything in between and then give you ways to better yourself, get healthy, live longer, etc. Last night I was reading about our brain. One of the most powerful ways to exercise and strengthen our brain is to change up our routine regularly. Nothing complicated, just simple things. Like, for example, if you normally get to the office, pour your coffee, turn on your computer, check your messages, file papers… just do those same things in a different order! File your papers first, then turn on your computer and while your computer is booting, go get your coffee, etc…you get the picture. It’s as simple as that.
One of the ways I’m trying to change up my routine, is to do all of my housework while my children are sleeping (except for folding clothes, because they help me with that). If I discipline myself to wake up with my husband at 6am, I have about two hours to do PLENTY of things around the house before the kids wake up. Also, my children go to bed at night between 7:30 and 8:00. That gives me another two to three hours to do what needs to be done around the house or on the computer. I think it will help my brain (and my heart) immensely, to simply allow myself to have fun and play with my children all day rather than constantly setting my kitchen timer so Mommy can do her housework while the kids beg me to play a game with them or fix them a snack. This will likely lend itself to huge differences in my childrens’ behaviour as I show them that Mommy cares about them and values their time. Most of all, this will benefit me mentally and emotionally as I let go of the weight I’ve put over my own shoulders by trying to do it all at the same time and always falling short, leaving me feeling like a mediocre mom and a lousy housewife.
See, all we have to do is re-group once in a while. You’d be surprised at the many areas you find room for improvement. Whether it’s in your budget, the way you eat, time to exercise, or your schedule as a whole, there is always room for improvement and better efficiency. Where do you need to re-group?
~audrey