How many of you out there experience the post-holiday slump? I always feel like the first few weeks of January are depressing. The glow and excitement of the holidays are over. The weather is usually cold and gloomy. My house is in shambles from all-over toys, and I am crabby from trying to cut back on sweets.
This year, though, I am working on continuing the joyful spirit and not allowing myself to get down in the dumps. I have found some techniques to help keep me on track that I am excited to share.
1. Make a routine and stick to it. This can be applied in almost every area of life but is especially useful in balancing work and home life. For some people, this may sound like torture, but my type A personality thrives on a schedule and organization. My routine revolves around efficiency. When I wake up, I shower and get the kids' breakfast ready. Then I wake them up so they can get dressed while I do my hair. When they are dressed, I do their hair while they brush their teeth. After that, they head downstairs for breakfast while I finish getting ready. After school, the first thing we do is empty backpacks, work on homework, and re-pack the bag for tomorrow. While the kids are doing that, or reading and playing if they have no homework, I plan out dinner. Somedays, they also have dance or basketball practice and we might not get home until 5:30. We eat dinner together and the kids get more playtime or tv time as I do the dishes and pick up the kitchen. After that, they pick up their messes, and next are baths and stories. While they bathe, I lay out their clothes for the next day and tidy up the rest of the house. Finally, we head to bed to start the routine the next day. Of course, there are always interpreters and things that don't go quite right but sticking to this routine as often as possible helps me keep my sanity.
2. Get the family involved. I think it is entirely too stressful to keep up with everything on my own while also working full-time. Luckily, my kids are super-helpful but sometimes they need a little extra motivation. We utilize what I have seen on Pinterest in various forms and adapted to work for our needs called Behavior Beads. The girls (and Bubs when he is old enough will) each have a dedicated mason jar. They "earn" beads by accomplishing tasks and helping out. For example, they can earn 2 beads for eating all of their dinner and putting their plate in the sink, 2 beads for feeding the pets, 10 beads for cleaning the bathroom, etc. They are still responsible for cleaning their own rooms and helping with other mandatory chores, but this activity gives them more choice. They can then "spend" their beads to earn rewards such as dessert (10), watching a movie in bed (50), or going out for ice-cream (100). While this system may not work for everyone, the incentives really encourage my girls to go above and beyond with helping around the house.
3. Make health a priority. I actually cannot believe I am writing this because three years ago, I would have never even considered how this would impact me. I have never (ever, ever ever) been one for committing to my health in terms of exercise or eating healthy. The best effort I ever gave was my senior year of college when I worked out a few times a week for five months max. However, about two years ago, my dear friend Trisha Herman opened a gym in our community. I was super intimidated (as I had just had Bubs a month before) but also motivated to lose my baby weight once and for all. I started small, going to ride the exercise bike while the baby was sleeping. Then I started taking a 5:30 am yoga class. As I felt my body changing, I pushed myself and took a spin class. I almost died (not really, but it was TOUGH!). I committed to the two 5:30 am classes (spin and yoga). Eventually, I added in a Wednesday class of workout videos, and that was almost two years ago. For nearly two years, I have been committed to going to the gym three days a week. Have I lost weight? Sure, just the baby weight I had carried since Bah. But you know what is even better? I FEEL better, stronger, healthier. This November, our family got hit hard with a stomach virus. All five of us had it, and Bubs and Boo each had it twice. Someone was literally sick (with a few days of break in between) from November 16th until December 16th. It was awful. During that time, I was hardly working out because the kids were extra clingy and I didn't feel well. After just that month, I could tell the toll (physically but especially psychologically) not working out had on me. Attending classes (as much as I hate my 5:00 am alarm) is my "me" time. Since I have made it two years without quitting, I want to put extra focus this year on my eating. My sweet little community is so awesome and health-minded that they create different challenges. The first is called Healthier Weigh and focuses on reducing body fat by increasing activity and eating healthier. Participants log their miles for 12 weeks, complete nutrition activities, and offer each other support. There are awesome prizes and such, too, but the best part is seeing the results of living healthier after 12 weeks. The second challenge is a mini-triathlon challenge where participants log their walking, biking, and swimming miles over the course of the competition. In the end, teams or individuals can also complete a one-day mini-triathlon challenge. Both challenges are a great way to stay in check and keep motivated. I cannot wait to start the Healthier Weigh challenge next week.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help. If it sounds like we are busy, it is because we are. A farm, teaching, three kids, a dog, two turtles, and a pig keep us on our toes. For as long as I can remember, Saturday has been my "cleaning day" when I top to bottom clean the house - dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, laundry, toilets, bathtubs, etc. It usually takes me a good three hours but has just been more manageable for me than trying to squeeze things in during the week. However, as the kids get older, it is starting to get more difficult because Saturdays are for sporting events. I could clean on Sunday, but I really like to reserve Sunday as a family day where we attend church, spend time together, have a nice family dinner, and spend the evening watching a movie together. I don't want the stress of cleaning to interrupt that. So, for my birthday, I have asked my husband (and parents if they need to go in on it) to hire me a year-long, bi-monthly cleaning service. My birthday isn't until January 21st, but I know this is a gift that I will enjoy. I can already imagine the reduced stress of "well, Bah has a basketball game Saturday out of town at 10:00 am, so I will either have to clean when we get back or on Sunday..." or "no, we can't go swimming today because mommy needs to clean the house." While I already mentioned in #2 that the kids are helpful, I still want to be able to enjoy a *truly* clean house. This technique is WAY out of my comfort zone, but I finally decided to bite the bullet, ask for the help, and just enjoy it.
5. Treasure the simple moments. After the big production of Christmas with fun parties, twinkling lights, and presents galore, it is easy to get lost in the dullness of regular life. However, we have to remember to appreciate the everyday "magic." The moment when you get an unexpected text, message, letter, or call from an old friend. The moment when you get home after a long day to find your husband in the kitchen cooking dinner. The moment when your kids ask for just please one more story before bed. The moment when your child is beaming with joy because she aced her spelling test. The moment when you crushed a project ahead of your boss' schedule. The moment (however brief it is) that all of the laundry other than what you are wearing is clean. The moment you find a candy bar hiding in the back of the cupboard. The moment when everything feels like it is falling apart, you have no energy or patience left, the kids won't stop fighting, life is piling up, and you think you might be drowning, and your kid snuggles up to you and says "Momma hold you," "Momma I love you."
Are these fail-proof ways to survive the after-glow of Christmas? Of course not! But they are ways I help keep my sanity and the feeling of the holidays all throughout the year, and hopefully they will inspire some of you as well.
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