Thriving professionally with a happy family during a pandemic
These are guidelines will help you accomplish more than you can imagine.
These guidelines work well in a pandemic when you have to isolate and be in your house with your family for a prolonged duration, but they also work well for a daily routine when you are living your best life and social isolation is a distant memory.
Implement one new guideline each week and in 5 weeks you will notice a significant change in your family dynamic and structure. You will also notice a difference in your attitude as well with interactions with your husband and your children.
The key to these guidelines is remaining consistent.
So as you add something new, don’t forget to continue with the previous one.
Consistency is key in any life change and in success in all areas of your life.
These guidelines do not always relate directly to your professional growth; however making gains in areas of personal and family will have a direct effect on your professional abilities.
When you gain balance in one area of your life, the other areas of your life are affected positively. As you gain control in one area, you can then focus in another area that may be more challenging for you.
Don’t quit on yourself! You are in control of getting to your next level!
5 weeks= 35 days; small amount of time for a lifetime of results.
1. Get dressed everyday
Good morning! Waking up with a morning routine that includes getting dressed is paramount.
Like do this each week day. Take a break on the weekend if you like.
Sometimes sweats and a t-shirt are fine. They fit directly into the activities for the day; however khakis and a blouse can work also. Or put on that favorite outfit that really makes you feel like a boss.
When you are going to be at home, there is no reason that you don’t utilize that new outfit you have in your closet.
Putting on your clothes each morning signals to your body and mind that this is a new day and you are putting your best foot forward.
Dressing provides a line between that good night’s sleep and the day. You signal to yourself that it is time to get things done.
Getting dressed allows you to be ready for that mailman delivery or that unexpected zoom meeting.
You never know when work or school is going to require a Zoom meeting, so being dressed allows you to be prepared for whatever the day may unexpectedly bring.
What also makes dressing for the day fun is that you get to change back into that favorite pair of yoga pants after you have completed your tasks!
2. Have a daily schedule and plan
Planning out your routine and to- do list each day makes you more productive.
Having a visual representation of what you will accomplish each day allows you to remain focused on each task.
When you utilize blocks of time for an activity or several activities, you can focus on what you are doing in the present moment. Be present!
There is nothing like the feeling you get when you are able to cross off, check off, mark off, highlight something on your list. Such a feeling of accomplishment. It is a natural releaser of endorphins and provides you with reinforcement for getting things done.
Own your day and make that daily schedule!
3. Set monthly goals
Make sure to set some goals for your month.
These can be in a variety of areas to include your professional life and personal life.
Goals provide you with something to reach for from the present day into the future. Monthly goals give you enough time to change behaviors for the better and make strides towards another level.
Professional monthly goals can address what courses or books you want to study this month. It is never a bad thing to investigate another area in your profession or further your knowledge in an area.
Making yourself marketable is never a bad thing. If you are in a service industry or care industry, bettering yourself allows you to be able to serve your clients better, which should be your ultimate goal.
These monthly goals should build up to helping you meet your yearly goals.
Looking at your house or living space each month will allow you to make small improvements that will create large gains. These goals will address your present living situation and ways to improve it for your family.
A good place to start is on organization: closet organization, bathroom organization, toy organization.
Organizing is a way to regain some time on the back end. With everything in its place, you can spend time doing things that need your attention.
4. Meal plan
You can meal plan for a few days at a time; weeks at a time; or for the whole month if you are brave. Set aside some time when you are making your monthly goals to also meal plan.
Having a meal plan will allow you to remain focused when you go to the store, which is beneficial for your budgeting practices.
Meal planning also takes the guess work out of another daily task. You know your children and husband are going to want to eat every day. Changing their mind about this activity in not possible.
You already know your children will snack all day if you let them. Meals are no question.
Plan for easy meals or meals that can go together for several days. If you buy ground meat, you can make baked ziti, tacos, meat and potatoes out of the same pack.
Use mom friendly and time saver appliances like a crock pot or an Instapot. There are cook books that go with these appliances and are easy to use.
Nothing is better than working all day and helping your children with their school work, then having an already complete meal ready to go. Or at least having the idea of what you are going to make. It is a huge time saver and also helps decrease your stress level throughout the day because you are not wondering what everyone is going to eat.
The family will to look to you by default even if you are not the primary cook in the family because you are mom. Mom knows everything and makes the family work. Mom sets the tone for all things. This includes meals. Take the frustration out of meal preparation for yourself and meal plan!
5. Set aside time for family activities
Make this a priority in order to return some of your focus back to your family.
During a pandemic, you are with your family a lot.
ALOT.
This does not mean all of this time is quality time. Other household chores still have to be done, as well as school and work.
Priority should be placed on fun activities that everyone in the house can enjoy. Does your family enjoy a good movie? Do you all like to play games together? How about reading a chapter book that everyone could get into? What about making arts and crafts? How about some physical activities outside like bike riding? The possibilities are endless.
Schedule these opportunities so the time spent together does not get overlooked or pushed aside. Depending on the age of your children, they may like spending time in their room; however they will be grateful for that time spent together as a family. Your suggestions may be met with some hesitation at first, but it will be time they look forward to scheduled activities together even if they have to act like they don’t.
What is fun is if you can carve out individual times throughout the month that you can spend with each child. Who doesn’t like feeling special and that you are thought enough of for time alone with mom?
Comment below on what guideline you are going to start doing today!
Why has it been hard for you to accomplish this in the past?
I am currently working on setting aside time for family activities on a weekly basis. We are together ALOT so I always think that we are having a good time, enjoying each other.
I have to be intentional with fun time that is out of our routine, so we can make memories for everyone.
Remember to be you, be well, be focused!
Find Your Flourish!
|Shanna|
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