The balance of life. The struggle is REAL.

There is work, kids, family, friends, keeping the house clean, laundry, working out, eating healthy, self-care, and sleep. How do we manage to fit it all in? As a very busy mom, I have realized there will never be a true balance in life. The last thing you want to do is be at burnout. Finding the time for everything you HAVE to do and also for the things you WANT to do is nearly impossible. As moms, we have to take some time for ourselves in this crazy life. There will always be days that you feel like you can’t keep up and that you are failing as a wife, mom, friend, sister, daughter, or employee. Life is never going to be perfect…and that is ok!

Here are some things that I have learned over the years that have helped me to become a little less stressed and a happier mama.

1. Learn to say NO!

Set boundaries. Prioritize what is important to you. Set your work hours and stick with them. Say no to things that you do not have the time for. Say no to things that you don’t want to do. Say no to everything that is not essential and that doesn’t add value to your life. You can’t be everything to everyone. That isn’t your job.

2. Find a job that you LOVE.

I love the quote “If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.” It is SO true. If you have no passion for what you do for work, it will eventually take a toll on you. Find something that you LOVE doing!

3. Unplug.

When you are with your family or need a break, be ok with turning off your phone and fully disconnecting. Both of my jobs include networking and messaging people on social media. It is VERY hard for me to put my phone down. My family deserves to have my undivided attention and for me to be fully present.

4. Schedule girl time and stick with it!

I make it a priority to see at least one of my friends in a week. Put it on your calendar, even if it’s just a quick cup of coffee or going for a walk. Time with friends is good for the soul!

5. Spend time with extended family.

This could be dinner as a family, cousin playdates, or meeting up at the park. Seeing family is so important!

6. Self-care.

Do ONE THING per day that is for you. Take a bubble bath, journal, read a book outside, paint your nails, or do some yoga. I get up at least an hour before my husband and daughter get up. I get to drink a hot cup of coffee in peace. I then head to the gym or write in my gratitude journal or read. It is totally worth getting up earlier to have some time to myself. You can also take a little time to yourself at night. We can’t continue to pour from an empty cup!

7. Make a cleaning schedule.

I try to make a cleaning schedule so I don’t get overwhelmed doing everything in one day on my one day off on the weekend. I vacuum and run the dishwasher daily. And I do one load of laundry per day to try to keep up with that. Everything else has a set day. An example schedule might look like dusting on Mondays, mopping on Wednesdays, washing the bedding on Saturdays, etc.

8. Prioritize your health.

When I eat healthy, work out regularly, and get good sleep, I feel SO much better overall. I want to be around for a long time for my little girl. Making my health a priority is super important to me, but if I want a cheeseburger and fries or pizza, you better believe I will eat it. Life is all about balance. Try to move daily. Make exercise FUN! Play outside with your kids, go for a run, circuit train, or do a dance video. Do something you ENJOY doing!

9. Minimize negativity.

Negativity is DRAINING and truly brings you down. You can’t always cut people out of your life that are negative, but try to limit the time you spend with those people. That includes people that are chronic complainers, talk bad about others, or just have a bad attitude. When you surround yourself with positive, uplifting, and supportive people, it can change your world and your outlook in life.

10. Have some FUN!

Life is too short to not enjoy it! Take that vacation. Go to a concert and dance your butt off. Jump on a trampoline with your kids. Laugh until you cry with your friends. You have to let loose every once in a while. Do things that make you smile!

There will never be a true “balance” in life.

There are some weeks that I don’t work out and eat way too much fast food. There are also weeks that I barely sleep and drink ALL the coffee, but that is real life. Give yourself some grace, Mama. You are doing the best you can, and that is more than enough.