One of the things that helps me navigate my day is setting clear priorities. This approach keeps me more present, more focused on the task at hand, and less guilty at the end of the day for not getting "everything" done.
Each day, my top two priorities are my daughter’s and my own physical and emotional needs. We come first. Next, I decide what needs to be done for home life—cleaning, errands, laundry, etc. I don’t prioritize based on the most demanding task or the biggest mess. Instead, I organize my to-do list based on logistical, practical needs. For example, if I’m out of clean underwear or Sophia is out of pajamas, then laundry becomes a priority for the day. If we’re planning to cook dinner, the dishwasher needs to be emptied, and the kitchen counters cleared off by 5 PM to get that started. When I add things to my task list I think about what needs to be done, as well as when.
I only pick a couple of tasks to put on my to-do list each day. This approach leaves room for flexibility, getting out of the house, and enjoying lots of snuggles from our velcro toddler. She’s so helpful and almost always willing to assist with chores, but she’s still young and has her limits. If I’m trying to fold laundry with her, but she has too much energy and needs time outside, then we go outside. Her needs always come first, and I make sure to leave plenty of time throughout my day to tend to them.
I prefer keeping track of tasks by writing them down in my planner. On Sunday or Monday morning, I take inventory of what needs to be done—when laundry needs to be done, which spaces need tidying up, or what day would be good for running errands—and lay out my to-do list for the week. This method is great because it allows me to see that there’s time for everything to get done, as well as time for fun and time to rest.
Prioritizing my days and planning out the week accordingly has been a great way to minimize stress while taking care of our family and home.
Comments