How To Survive Motherhood

“Motherhood.  Powered by love. Fuelled by coffee.  Sustained by wine.”

How do you keep your sanity in motherhood? It is a topic that I personally struggle with on a day-to-day basis.  Some days are great, while others, I feel like pulling my hair out. I just need a BREAK!  I asked my friends on Facebook to help me with this one and I was overwhelmed by all the comments that I received (thank you!!).  Let’s be honest, most mothers run the household.  It just wouldn’t work without us!  We keep track of absolutely everything, it’s like we have a giant daily schedule stapled to our foreheads. But how much time do we actually take for ourselves?  Those minutes of “me time” are like gold to moms, so I’ve put together a checklist of ten things that you can do for yourself each week.

How To Survive Motherhood

This year I decided to stop being such a martyr for motherhood and to start taking more time for myself.  Time to unwind and recollect so that I am a better wife and a better mother.  It may be next to impossible to check all of these things off your list each week but even choosing a couple that you can do is a good accomplishment.

Ten Things Every Mother Should Do Once a Week

1. Exercise.

   Number one on almost everyone’s list has to be a stress reliever.  Physical activity reduces stress levels, increases your energy, releases endorphins, and helps to tone and loose weight.  Do I need to go on?  If you can’t make it to the gym, go for a run or pop in a yoga dvd.

2. Adult time.

   I literally went back to work part-time because I was starving for adult conversation (read the story here).  Being at home for twelve hours a day is a long time with two toddlers in tow. It’s NON-STOP.  Plan a night out with your girlfriends or go out for dinner with your husband.  If you can’t ditch the kids, arrange a play date so that you can have some solid catch-up time with your bestie.  It’s just good to talk and be heard.

3. Treat Yourself.

   Buy something small but something for you. A book, a new lipstick, flowers, a coffee mug… okay, this is totally my list but you get my drift.  Even a Starbucks coffee can be a little thank you to yourself.  You deserve it!

   

4. Sleep-in.

   An amazing idea that was suggested to me on Facebook and I am going to try and implement this in my household.  Have one sleep-in day per weekend.  Ask your significant other to be the one to get out of bed with the kids and make breakfast, while you sleep-in, read or spend time scrolling Instagram.  You can always repay that favour the next morning. Genius!

5. Read a book.

   Or maybe an Us Weekly magazine or this blog! Losing yourself in a book is a great way to escape the present and relax.  If you are looking for a new great read, see my previous blog post here.

   

6. Go out.

   Like go out without screaming children in your back seat.  Leave the house for an hour or two and go to your happy place.  Stroll aimlessly in the aisles of Chapters, Winners or even the grocery store.  Just don’t look at your watch and enjoy yourself!

7. Listen to music.

   Turn up the tunes and dance!  Music is a huge mood lifter.  Belt it out in the shower, crank it up in the car, have a dance party with your kids.  When I’m just about at my witt’s end every day at 4 o’clock, I turn on Drake or The Arkells and dance around in my kitchen with my boys.  It’ll at least make you smile and forget about cooking dinner for a few minutes.

8. Take a bath.

   The ultimate in relaxation has to be a bubble bath.  Add a book or some music and you’ve checked another one off your weekly checklist!  Even if you have to stay up late or wake up early to avoid having your kids interrupt you, it’s worth it.
   

9. Get dressed up.

   You should know how I feel about this by now.  If you don’t, have a look back at my previous post on The Importance of Looking Your Best.  Take a shower, curl your hair, put on that new shade of lipstick that you bought for yourself, and dress up in something other than sweatpants.  You may be surprised at how good it makes you feel both physically AND mentally.

10. Chill.

Record your favourite shows, turn on Netlfix, sit on the porch with a glass of wine, and CHILL.  Forget about that load of laundry that needs to be done and the toilet that needs to be scrubbed.  It can wait!  It’s time to do something for yourself… for a change.

Wear your heart on your tee with these awesome shirts from Ford + Wyatt (“Raising Boys”) and West + Wind (“Parenting”).

Lots of love,

Kiki

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