Feel overwhelmed? It is time take action toward change today.
It’s Autumn already. Where has the year gone? It is mind boggling to think my children are already half way through the Term 1 of the school calendar!
For most of us the new year brings on a lot of changes – possibly a new job, renewed motivations to exercise more, to learn a new skill, to complete unfinished projects or even the desire to improve your work-life balance.
For those of us with children, we also have new school routines, new or altered extra-curricular activities, sports timetables and different homework responsibilities to factor in.
By now it is likely that you have a very good understanding of your new weekly routine.
The days that are going to be challenging, the days that are overly hectic and those which you may actually be able to squeeze in time for a relaxed coffee and cheeky chocolate brownie. You have either worked out your new routine and it is working well for you (bravo!) or you could be beginning to feel overwhelmed – drowning perhaps? For strategies on how to quickly adapt to new routines and beat the overwhelm, click here.
My family routines had a major shake-up this year. Last year, I was very lucky and was able to be at home after school each afternoon with my children. Being home gave me time to share with my children, to help them with their homework, to prepare dinner at a comfortable pace and to be able to have it on the table by 6pm. This year, our routine has changed so that we are not home until around 5.45pm for half of the week. These are major changes for my family and I was quickly feeling like I was losing control and beginning to feel overwhelmed. Our eating habits changed, we were eating quick unhealthy meals and a lot of takeaway, or eating very late which meant our children were getting to bed later than I would have liked. Everyone in our family was beginning to become more tired and grumpier than we had ever been. My children’s homework and reading was being overlooked – we simply didn’t have time. Or so I thought!
My life was controlling me, I was feeling overwhelmed and I needed to change this and quickly.
Here is what I did. It was not an option for me to continue preparing meals the way I had been, so I changed things up. I put in place a meal plan that included very quick and easy meals to prepare for the nights that I wasn’t at home until late, so that I could still have healthy meal on the table around our usual meal times. I found a lot of recipes online. On our busy days, my children squeeze in their readers and homework in wherever we can – often at the pool whilst their sibling is having their swimming lesson and sometimes whilst I’m cooking.
We are still super busy, but with these simple changes I feel control again and I am organised.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and would like support to manage your time or establish some workable routines, please contact me.
