Posts tagged Tendency
Time Management for Busy Moms – 4 Tips for Effective Time Management
Sep 15th
There is no doubt that Moms are one of the busiest people around and with everything that they have to keep up with, finding the time to do it all can be a challenge.
When a Mom has too much on her mind, the tendency to forget important things like picking up more milk at the grocery store or a meeting with her child’s teacher, can increase.
By implementing a few simple time management tips, a busy Mom can effectively get everything done and even have time left for herself.
Tip#1 – Use a Planner
The first important thing to do when you are a very busy Mom is to use a daily or weekly planner. Find one that fits into your hand bag so you can carry it with you at all times, that way if you need to schedule an appointment at the last moment you can quickly pull it out to see what day and time you have available. When you first obtain a planner, be sure to block out all important dates such as birthdays, school events and appointments before you use it to book new commitments.
Tip#2 – Use a Monthly Calendar
Keep a monthly calendar in a main room or kitchen in your home where all family members can be reminded of important dates. It is important that the calendar be located in a central area where it is easily viewed when passing by. Be sure to transfer any events or appointments from your planner to the monthly calendar as well.
Tip#3 – Use a To-Do List
Keep a to-do list posted on your fridge or tucked in your planner at all times. As you think of another task or project that needs to be done, write it down immediately. Cross each task off as it is completed, this will not only serve as a reminder of what still needs to be done but also as a motivator when you see what has been accomplished so far. Also keep a grocery list with a pen near by in the kitchen, that way when you run out of something while preparing a meal you can write it down right away.
Tip#4 – Use an Organizer
Always keep bills, receipts and important documents such as medical records, insurance papers, warranties and bank statements in one central location. Use either an accordion style folder or separate folders properly labeled and stored in a cabinet or desk drawer. You never know when something springs up at the last moment like when your appliance breaks down and it is still covered under warranty, have everything centrally organized and located so you can quickly find what you need rather than fumbling through stacks of papers in a shoe box.
By simply implementing the use of a planner, you will free your mind up from having to remember every detail in your life which will help you to stay more focused on the tasks that need to be done. Remember, good time management habits are the key to helping you be more efficient, better organized and less stressed in your life.
Taking a “Processing” Break
Sep 3rd
Processing can become a habit of the mind that drains our energy. It takes us away from the present moment where our creative selves live. Our happiness suffers as well as our peace of mind when we get caught up in the stories (assumptions) that we make up about life, ourselves, and others. When we are processing, we are focussed less on what’s real and more on what is an illusion.
It’s the same for all of us.
As human processors, we often have a favourite road that we take which is usually fueled by anxiety. For instance, after years of exploring personal growth both individually and in groups, I had learned to be an expert at analysis.
It has been a wonderful lesson for me to let go of trying to figure out the dynamics of a relationship or why I am emotionally triggered. When I processed and processed and processed, I realized that I often was in someone else’s business instead of my own. I was ‘over there’, wishing things were different and figuring out why ‘they’ behaved as they did. There was little accountability as I often found excuses for my own behaviour. My mind went in circles, and I was not connected to my heart nor the feelings that showed up physiologically in my body. I used a lot of words and distanced those to whom I really wanted to be close.
When I practice what I have learned about handling a tendency to want to stay in my head and process, there is a significant difference in my relationship with myself and others. The calmness that envelopes me is reflected back to me. I get to see that nothing is really as important as it seems to my mind. In the present moment, I feel a trust that life will take care of itself. I focus on what is right about my life instead of fixing what my mind perceives as wrong. When I accept feelings that come and go, I am tender with myself and, therefore, with others. I deeply know that they are simply feelings to be experienced as a human being on this planet. They are not my identity nor are they the identity of those around me.
When you notice yourself processing, the following are effective ways to support a different choice:
Take a time-out (a silent pause or break). For those of you who have the tendency to want to process out loud, stay with your inner experience. The timing isn’t right for you to use words when you are in the midst of turmoil. Simply be with what’s happening at a body-sensate level. Feelings have a physiological component as well as their own frequency. Even if you can’t label the feeling, simply noticing the intensity of the frequency and where it is present in your body is very beneficial. Welcoming the feeling without judging it as negative or positive opens the door for it to be felt fully – without ‘trying’ to get rid of it. The result is freedom. Practice mindful breathing – following each inhale and exhale of your breath so that you naturally breathe into your belly. Notice your surroundings and get in touch with your senses to keep bringing you back to the present moment. Connecting with nature is particularly helpful. If your thoughts are very active, write them down so that you can see them. Then ask yourself – is this true? Would everyone on this planet agree with me? If not, it is simply an opinion – a story made up by the mind. Write a letter to yourself during a time of being clear and grounded in your wise self. Address your over-and-over tendencies in this letter, adding loving, wise words that touch your heart. Save it in a special place to be read when the processing habit feels painful. This measure of being a true friend to yourself will help quiet your mind. Remind yourself that whatever is happening is perfect. All will unfold. You will know what to do – step by step. Embracing all of your experiences will lead you to a place of stillness. Feelings, thoughts, body sensations – all come and go. It is our core, Infinity itself, that endures, nourishes us, and provides us with the freedom to be who we are…really.
