Have you ever felt like you just didn’t have “it” together some days? At one point or another, all women feel that way. It’s that moment when you throw on a pair of pajama pants and an old sweatshirt, push your hair up into a messy bun, and drive violently to the school to get your kids. Only then do you see Mrs “What’s-Her-Face” looking brilliant and here you are resembling a wet dishrag that’s been hung up wet and laid out all night.
We all have those days. We all have those moments when we think nothing goes right. You’re a mom, and sometimes mothers think there is nothing they can do to stop these things from happening, but they’re wrong. There are many things you can do to make sure your life doesn’t run away from you. There are ways you can make the most out of every day and here are five strategies you can use to feel great about yourself and keep it together.
#1 – Plan Your Day
Being a mom can be difficult at times and it’s important to have structure and organization. Especially if you have little ones running around. Scientific studies have proven that women feel better mentally when they have a consistent schedule. The reason behind this study is because of the many things moms like you are responsible for. You take care of the kids, perhaps you have another job away from home and you still fix dinner, wash the dishes, and do the laundry. You wear many hats and it can be tiring on your part to continue a hectic routine like this without some sort of planning.
No one can predict what is going to happen in their day, however, it is crucial to create opportunities for these chaotic moments so you can adjust your plan and keep moving forward with whatever you have going on that day. In order to fill more fulfilled and make yourself feel like you’ve got some things done, a planner is essential in your life.
#2 – Spend Time With Your Girlfriends
Every mother and working woman feels stretched thin. There is probably not a moment in your day when you feel responsible for other people in your life. You are a giving person and that’s the best part about you, however, you must always realize that you have needs too. One of the needs that should be met in your life at least twice a month is a girls date with your friends. This type of meeting has deep connotations for you. While some women may roll their eyes at the concept, being with your friends creates positive cognitive improvement and relieves stress.
(unless your friends are the Housewives). Dr. Robin Dunbar, scientific researcher at Oxford states that taking time out to meet with your friends and having a laugh is actually good for your overall health. Doing these little things can have a big impact on the rest of your week and it’s important to carve out time to take in the little things. It can be as grand as a night out on the town or as small as a cup of coffee for 30 minutes. Either way, make sure you’re doing this ritual. It builds relationships and it helps you escape the chaos of your day to wind down.
#3 – Purchase Something For Yourself
This one should be easy for any woman who loves to shop! The best part about this particular topic is that we now have scientific evidence that purchasing something for yourself actually makes you happier! Go tell that to your significant other as you lovingly reach for their debit card.
Psychologists Leaf Van Boven and Thomas Gilovich concluded in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that allowing a purchase of a particular item you desire can relieve stress and anxiety for a period of time and improve your mood. Perhaps you are interested in an online boutique offering modest dresses for women (the new trend), perhaps you are more excited about a new piece of jewelry. Whatever it is, you deserve a little extra so don’t feel bad for spending a little bit on yourself. More often than not you will purchase something that you will be able to use forever, so it compliments your lifestyle.
#4 – Stay Positive
One of the most powerful ways any woman can keep it together and feel good about themselves is to keep your mind in tune. Through all of the distractions and through all of the stress, if you can monitor your thought processes, you can be a step above everyone else.
One of the hardest things to do is to train your mind to be positive. While the human body is wired to be negative about most things, negativity is a learned behaviour that we can change. Exercise your mind as much as you can. Carve out some time every day and learn something new, cook something you’ve never cooked before; whatever it is, make sure you are broadening your horizons. One of the best recommendations we can give you on this is to read The Secret. This book slowly trains you to expect positive things to happen to you and when you do, your entire worldview changes.
#5 – The Power of Love
Do you want to feel empowered? Do you want to feel beautiful, accepted, and treated like the queen you are? Most women want all of these things. If you are one of these women, then you should be looking for the power of love. There is nothing like it and any woman who hasn’t found love yet, has not truly lived. The power of love can overcome just about any emotional state or worry because it doesn’t care about finances, it doesn’t care if your breath smells bad of the morning or how disheveled you look when you come home from picking up the kids. Love will greet you at the door and tell you how hot you are. Life is too short to live without love. There is someone out there who wants to reciprocate true love to you today.
Be Who You Are
Never underestimate yourself. The lady at the school may look put together, but she is just as messed up as the rest of us. Just because we have it together in one area of life doesn’t mean we’ve accomplished success in the other areas. The first thing to remember is that us women are a work in progress and it’s important to be who you were meant to be. Nobody else can do it like you, say it like you, wear it like you, or play it like you. Use that to your advantage. Mrs. “What’s-Her-Face” will be so jealous.
