Find your Constant in the Time of Chaos

I am going to keep this simple and to the point. We are living through an unprecedented time. While I am leaving science and research and general talk of the Corona Virus out of this post, my goal is to impart upon you some tips for what YOU can do to keep yourself sane. Many of us have enforced our own social distancing lockdown measures. Many of us have come to grips with the fact that we won’t have contact with other families and friends for a few weeks. Many of us are already about to rip out our hair because in addition to our jobs where we are doing our best to work from home, we are now also stay at home moms and home school teachers.

Note: If you are out there still working because you either have no choice or because your job description is helping us in this time of need — then thank YOU. No other words. I hear you. I see you. I thank you. I get that not all of these will apply to you. My 2 cents? Follow Tip 1. It will set your head straight each morning.

The question remains – how do we do it? How do we maintain our sanity?

We find a constant in the time of chaos. We find something we can hold onto. All of the studies say kiddos thrive on structure. Guess what? We do too. Your goal will be to find a constant. Something that stays the same day in and day out. What does that mean for you? This is what it means for me.

1.Start every single morning the exact same way.

Wake up before your kids. Make a cup of coffee. Journal for just 5 minutes about what you are GRATEFUL for. Ideally, use some of this “quiet time” to read a book you have always wanted to read. Pour into you. Waking up early is not a chore. It is a gift.

2.Start a New Workout Program.

You know me. I like to sweat. We all know that working out is good for you. What is even better? Waking up every single day and being told EXACTLY what to do to maximize your workout time. The good news? TODAY we launched our brand new program – 10 Rounds. This is the PERFECT day to start. No gym. No one else’s germs. A kickass program with cardio and weights. A new beginning. Something to be excited about. Want to learn more? Click here. Once you fill out that form, I will get in touch with you and we can BOX, cardio, and LIFT our way out of any funk. If that is not your style, no worries, we can find a different program for you — click here so I can get in touch with you!

But the point is — Start. A. Program. Hang that calendar on the darn wall and check off each day. Give yourself that serotonin boost. Gift yourself that structure. This is what I am starting TODAY!

3.Don’t set unrealistic expectations.

I am seeing a lot of people with some amazing and fancy schedules they are posting for themselves and their family. Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t made one yet. You are not alone if those schedules are giving you anxiety or if you are purposefully avoiding Pinterest. Do your freaking best.

If you have made a beautiful schedule, don’t beat yourself up if your family will not follow it. You ARE going to have good beautiful gorgeous almost perfect days when you and your kids are literally living your own musical . . . and then you are going to have days where you are curled up in a ball hiding in your closet. Know that now. Be ready for that now. Be ready for both of those things to occur in the same damn day.

Remember back when you were on maternity leave? When you quickly realized that no, you weren’t going to get your whole house organized and that really your only mission was to keep your family alive. Same story. When kiddo 2 was born, a good friend told me that this was “life in the trenches.” This is the same. You do what you need to do to get by. If there is a time everyone needs to eat ice-cream for dinner – fine.

4.Try to Live in the Moment and Enjoy your Family

We have been given a strange gift. (You know me, I am a silver lining finder). We are usually so darn busy with school, projects, deadlines, sports, dance, music lessons, the list goes on. Too often family dinner goes by the wayside. Take this time and get into the habit of family dinner (heck maybe even family lunch too). Talk to your loved ones. Get to know them. Play “High-Low” where you share the best and worst part of your day.

Here’s a little tip too (for when you JUST NEED TO GET SOME WORK DONE ALREADY) . . . and the kiddos are begging you to play. Step away from your desk and play. It never will last as long as you may think and once they have had your attention, you can then get back to work. I have found that when I “give in” and play extra hard with my kiddos for awhile, they eventually get annoyed with me and then will spend triple that time on their own. Everyone wins.

5.Find ONE Project.

Okay – this may seem counterintuitive to Point 3. Here is the thing though . . . as your kiddos get older, you WILL have some more time and you WILL be able to get some more done. Decide on ONE project. Once that project is done, THEN move to the next one. Finish the first one in its entirety before you move on to Project 2. Start small. Feel good about what you accomplish. My list? Currently, it is:

1. Clean out the junk drawer.
2. Clean out the kitchen desk area.
3. Go through my closet. Label clothes in bags to take to Goodwill once this is over. Lug down to basement and line up neatly.
4. Go through Kiddo 1 and then Kiddo 2 closet. Label clothes in bags to pass down to friends. Lug down to basement and line up neatly.
5. Rearrange the basement. Figure out a better workout space down there and make it pretty! Find stuff to donate and add to the pile from Items 3 and 4.
6. Paint Dining Room Table (chalk paint style).
7. Paint Dining Room chairs.

Note – I will not move on to the next project unless and until I have FINISHED all steps from the one before it.

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So – talk to me folks. What is your constant going to be? What is the one thing you do have control over? That can look the same every day? What will your lifeline be?