1) You can NOT do it all.
Stop killing yourself trying. You need to prioritize. You do what matters and leave the rest. What?! Did I just say that?! Yes. Me, Type A person has just spent a year and a half in bed and this is what I have learnt. You do what you value, what you need to, what you must do, what makes you money and you leave the rest.
I was happing being a workaholic and perfectionist, I loved my success and my perfect house… but my body could not keep up after 17 years of this. I wish I had known this when I was 18. It is simple but not easy if you are like me, but it can be done. It takes a load off if you do it right. Following a schedule drastically reduces stress, and accomplishing only what matters gives a sense of, well, accomplishment!
2) You can not have it all.
You read that right. The whole career woman and mom thing; nope. It is a lie. I can tell you why. You can not give your all to 2 things. It is not possible. You can give your good, you can give your best, you can give a lot and it will be enough, but you can not excel, be excellent at both. Do not panic. There is a way around it and I will explain. Stay with me. This is not a guilt trip.
The fact is you can not do both at the same time. You can do one after the other in your life, eh, you have 60 years. Or, you can learn to compartmentalize and schedule and with focus do both well. This means you live by your day timer, you have strict work and home hours, you hire help around the house when you need it so you have time to spend with your children, and you are home when your home and working when you’re at work. Your present with your kids, and your all in when you’re at your job, no guilt that you should be someplace else. You will run yourself over trying to do both at once. Our minds are not built like that.
If you want excellence in both places you must be in one place at one time.
Simplified Cheat Check List to start:
1) Prioritise:
- What do you value? What do you need to do? What must you do? What pays bills? 2)Schedule: - - Get a planner and start filling it out. I created a separate worksheet for this, on my blog called the Black & White Planner guide. It is a Free Printable.
- Who can help you out? Nanny? Teenager across the road? Maid? Mom in law?
-After 2 years I asked for help and finally had a clear kitchen counter! (Photo of my kitchen below).