The original article can be found here: http://www.workitmom.com/articlep0-955
How many of us run around, day after day, doing all of the things that HAVE to be done for fear that the delicately stacked tower of life will come crashing down? In addition to the 40+ hour work day, laundry has to be done, bathrooms cleaned, kids bathed and food purchased and prepared. No wonder we are exhausted!
This weekend I took a step back and really took stock of my weekday/weekend time and how it is used and discovered a few things:
- Baking rejuvenates the soul. Even when I am successful at work and make great strides, it just doesn’t compare to the perfectly baked cookie! (This time I made oatmeal cookies with dried cranberries instead of raisins! Yum!)
- Working outside the home keeps me sane. Being able to have a structure that gets me out of the house and allows me to completely immerse myself into a different world makes me happy – even on the stressful days! (It helps that I enjoy those that I work with!)
- On weekends, all I really want to do is spend time with my son and my husband. Together. All of us. Easier said than done with the number of errands that need to be completed in the 48 hour window. We are finding ways to make these trips fun and functional by combining the not so fun tasks with the more fun tasks: Get the oil changed and then go grocery shopping! (My son is a great grocery shopper and it’s one of my favorite things so this works for us!)
- Alone time is underrated. We all need time alone with our thoughts and to just sit and breathe. It helps us sort through the craziness and acknowledge the great things! Craving this prompts me to go to bed earlier so I have at least 15 minutes to myself.
- We need date night! My husband and I have only been out alone maybe 3 times since our son was born a year and a half ago. Even if it’s just watching tv or a movie together on the couch, we decided to make the effort to reconnect weekly instead of ‘later when we have more time’ (because it never happens)
Often we feel as though we are running from one thing to the next because we have to and not because we want to. There is a big difference! I want to go to work and enjoy my time there and the contributions I make. I want to go home and spend time with my family. I want my house clean and presentable for the next millionth campaign person to come knocking on my door unannounced. A lot of the time these wants can be in conflict, but when they come together and balance, it is a rare and beautiful thing!
Once in a while you have to rethink the design of your tower and make some adjustments and changes. Today, I have decided to want to do things instead of feeling like I have to do them. By focusing on the outcome of what I want and not the feeling of having to do the task to get there, magically the tasks no longer seems so insurmountable. No surprise that I am happier and more fulfilled today because I am doing exactly what I want to do!
Give it a shot, what is the thing you dread that might benefit from a change in attitude? Do you find more of your ‘have to dos’ are at work or at home? Can you change them to wants by focusing on the outcome instead of the task?
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Comments: 7
In all, I have to say you are so right about the attitude affecting everything you do and how you feel accomplished with the smallest and biggest projects.