Tag: time for you

Categories
News

May is MY Month

May is a HUGE month, well for my family it is.

It is the one month in the year where it has many birthdays (including mine), including Mother’s Day.

Since this month is hugely popular and is the time of the year we celebrate Mums I thought why not make the whole month of May dedicated to women.

The whole idea is that the month of May is your month. It is for you to do something each day just for you.

I know that many of you are super busy working at being a mum or working at a job or possibly both.  I’ve created a list of 31 things that you can do. Just simply pick one that you wish to do or you might wish to do a couple on the same day, it is up to you. Remember it is up to you and May is your month to do things for you, just make sure to not overwhelm yourself with things on a list that you might not get to.

There are 31 days in May so plenty of time to do a little of something each day.

Simply getting a cup of coffee at a local cafe after dropping kids off at school or care can be a boost for the soul. Or even taking yourself to a movie to finally watch a show that you have been desperate to see.

Some items on the list might not be super fun but after you’ve done them you will be happier. De-cluttering is a bit of work but the outcome of having a tidier and more organised space means less stress and more time for you and the family.

Also getting all the health checks is a bit boring but a must do. I like to make sure I stay on top of things like skin checks, pap smears, and a regular check-up at the doctors once a year to ensure that I am in good health. Having it done at a certain time each year means I don’t have to think about it, I just organise the times and go to the appointments.

You will see some fun things on the list as well.

For those that don’t want to download the graphic here is the whole list of the 31 items for May:

1. Get coffee at a cafe by yourself or with friends (kid free)

2. Go for a walk

3. Go swimming/exercise at the gym

4. Explore a new area

5. Start a course

6. Meet with friends for a night out/lunch out

7. Read a book/finish the book you’re reading

8. Take a trip away by yourself or with family

9. Save for something special or add extra to your retirement savings

10. Watch your shows on TV

11. Get food delivered so that you get time out

12. Take time away from computers/phones/tablets

13. Invest in adventures (experiences) rather than things

14. Watch less TV and work on things that interest you

15. Take up a hobby, sewing, craft  or write that book

16. Get a massage

17. Get all your health checks done

18. Go to the hairdressers and get a fab new do

19. Invest in some quality makeup

20. Purchase some good moisturiser for your face and body

21. Visit family more

22. See more movies at the cinema

23. Get some new clothes

24. Meditate more

25. Relax

26. Spend time with the kids and just be

27. If you paint, draw, or do photography enter a competition or show your work

28. Learn a language/get pedicure & a manicure

29. If a foodie take lessons on how to cook certain styles of food

30. De-clutter to enjoy more free time not having to do housework

31. Prioritise you to be a happier person

Join in my month-long campaign to do more things for me (you)
and share your stories on Instagram and Facebook.

Make sure to share with the hashtag #mayismymonth

Sign up for my newsletter

Stay current with all the things that are happening on Mummy to Twins Plus One. Don’t miss a thing by signing up for my newsletter. This newsletter will list all giveaways and fabulous things that are happening.

Categories
Work

Invest in You

Do you blog?

Do you have a hobby?

Have a small business that you are passionate about?

Would you love to get better and be inspired by others? I know my answer would be big YES!

I love being surrounded by like-minded people that just make you feel energetic, inspired, and think about things in such different ways.

Investing in you is important. Learning from others that have been there and had some of the same experiences is helpful. You can learn what worked for them and what didn’t and of course how to improve things for the better. Maybe they will give you their procedures and techniques, or at least give you some idea how they manage to do it all and do it so well.

This is why I love going to conferences like Problogger. It is a chance to focus on me, my work, and I believe it is an investment. It is corporate training, corporate development but for me, I am the corporation. I am the BIG business although on a much smaller scale. It is nice to think BIG even when you are not.

Me and Barry Du Bois. Yes I did say I know you from TV! @cancercouncil ‪#‎TheLivingRoom‬ @kids_business
Me and Barry Du Bois. Yes I did say I know you from TV! @cancercouncil ‪#‎TheLivingRoom‬ @kids_business

Even if you have been blogging for years and might know a bit already, there might be that one thing that you had no idea about. That one thing might be the difference on how you run your blog/business and it could be the thing that allows you to stand out from the crowd.

Attending conferences like these is also good for networking with other bloggers and creating friendships. As a blogger that is a stay at home mum to three kids now, it is nice to be taken seriously as a blogger rather than just a mum. I know I’m not earning the big bucks but you never know my time will come and that might be the case. Everyone had to start somewhere.

Investing in you as a person is always a good idea. I see that a couple of days away and the costs associated with this trip as minimal in the scheme of things. I don’t get time off as a mum. I don’t get sick leave, I have been going non-stop and think that this is a nice break that will also allow me to focus on my fourth or maybe other baby (my blog)… not sure where it would place in the scheme of things. Maybe it really was third?

It is so easy as a mother not to do things for you. If you don’t do anything for yourself you will get frustrated and annoyed. Taking the time, even if it is a day here or there is much needed.

Do you have a partner or maybe friends that don’t see the value in what you are doing? “Oh that blog, why are you doing it, it is not like you are getting paid”. Well I think they are wrong…it does not matter if you are getting paid for your efforts now. Although heaps of money would be nice and bring it on! You just don’t know where things might lead. You could be blogging away and someone might love your writing and offer you a book deal. The book might become a film and now you are famous and worth a small fortune. Yes I have used some wonderful positive daydreams about how blogging could lead you to a fab job and yes being very wealthy.

It does not have to be sudden fame and wealth, you could just be offered a wonderful job for a magazine or a website. If you were not blogging this job would never have happened, so keep going everyone out there in blogging world. Don’t give up. If it is important to you, then that is the only thing that you need to worry about. Forget about the haters and people that have no idea. Just keep on keeping on and invest in you and things will happen.

I am very lucky this year that I can attend Problogger. The reason is my wonderful mother is able to come and mind the kids. I was hoping that hubby and the kids might make it a family holiday again but that was not to be. Hubby cannot take time off work, so it is just me going again. I am just grateful that I get to go.

Only yesterday I was able to attend Kids Business’ Bloggers Brunch. They were kind enough to offer babysitting and I was very happy and appreciative of this. The babysitting allowed me to walk around and talk without a baby on my hip and to have adult conversations. It was a delightful change from my daily goings ons.

Yesterday I was up at 4am due to baby wanting to be fed. I was going to be up at 5am so thought no point going back to bed. After feeding the baby I gave him a bath (I have never bathed him so early and that was amazing I fitted it all in), changed his clothes and put him to bed until we were all ready to leave. I changed his nappy and then all kids were in the car ready to drop the twins at before school care.

Learning more about the fab brands at the Bloggers Brunch yesterday. Thanks Kids Business it was a great day out.
Learning more about the fab brands at the Bloggers Brunch yesterday. Thanks Kids Business it was a great day out.

I had to get the twins ready for before school care and drop them off as close to 7am as I could. I managed to get the girls to care at about 7.20am. So I thought that was pretty good.

So now kids were at care, the baby and I were in the car for our huge journey to Centennial Park. I enjoyed the journey aside from the couple of times that Alex decided to scream the car out! Yes that was not fun at all. Thank goodness he fell asleep soon after his screaming moments.

I had to be at the Bloggers Brunch for 10am and managed to get there with 30mins to spare. I found a place to park the car. Fed and changed the baby and then got the pram and nappy bag organised and was off to the venue.

It was great to bump into old blogging mates and to meet new ones. I also bumped into a mate’s niece… what a small world.

I must say that yesterday was a HUGE day. I ended up being up for over 14 hours, and oh did I sleep when my head hit the pillow. I am still tired from yesterday as I write this.  A BIG thank you to Steph and the team from Kids Business for a fabulous day and all the lovely brands that made it along to showcase their products.

No matter if you are earning money or not, take every opportunity that comes your way. You never know where it might lead and what you might learn. The people that might be not valuing your time you spend on your hobby/blog or passion will value it when it comes to affect them, for example when it starts earning some money. I am sure they would want to be supportive then. Or if you become famous or well known.

Do it for you.

Do what makes you feel good.

I have heard it all. “Oh that is not a job! You are not earning any money. Oh ….. You are a mother”. Yes but I do much more than just being a mummy.

Invest in you and the Rest will come. This sounds a little zen or spiritual but it is true. It is like dressing for the job that you want rather than the one you have.

Let me know what you have done as an investment in yourself? Is it a course? A conference? Or just a weekend away to have some time out? Or maybe it is a course that you have been desperate to do, learning to paint or say photography.

Whatever it is, it is your time.

Have time to yourself.

Have your space.

Do something that helps you grow that allows you to be you rather than someone’s mum during this period.

You are still you even if you have kids.

 

 

Mummy cuddles before our HUGE drive home. #bluemountains #mums #blogging @kids_business #bloogersbrunch
Mummy cuddles before our HUGE drive home. #bluemountains #mums #blogging @kids_business #bloogersbrunch
Categories
Family

Meditation and Deep Breaths

Kids are now back at school and having a fab time. YES! Thank goodness you hear me say! I think I need another two weeks to be at the same energy and speed I was at before school holidays. Do you find you need some weeks to yourself as your little holiday? I know I do!

Just between you and me, there have been more than a few times that I did deep breathing and relaxation exercises to chill myself out.  Holidays are always full on in my house. Kids want to go at a million miles an hour and never seem to get tired. They wake earlier and carry on till late and then repeat it all again the next day. Exhausting really! Why is it that they can sleep in on school days but not holidays or weekends? If you know let me know!

I did love lazing about at home with no particular thing to do or be at. No school lunches to make and I did not have to race off to pick kids up from anything. This was great, but there was one thing that I missed and dread on school holidays.

It is some quiet time for me!  I do love some time out with no noise, yelling, fighting and carrying on that allows me to just do my thing. I can think, I can just sit with my own thoughts for a while. Being on the go constantly takes its toll. Just having a little time alone is a help. 

Meditating with Body Beyond Birth
Meditating with Body Beyond Birth

So what did I do that helped a bit?

As you know I have participating in the Body Beyond Birth 12 week program. I have struggled with a sore eye and of course then school holidays, but I did manage to do some wonderful meditation videos. These left me feeling much calmer than before I did the mediation and armed to face the rest of my day.

If you have not looked at Body Beyond Birth, why not take a look at their brilliant website and all the great resources there. The program is fun and you can take it with you if you travel.

What allowed you to get through the school holidays calmer? Did you manage to find time for you? Exercise or see a mate that you love to chat to? Let us know.

Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

Categories
Exercise

Fitting Exercise Into Your Day

The last few days I have been a bit lax, yes I started with great intentions to do my stretches but things got out of hand.

Headache,

Kids not getting ready for school,

Headache,

And then helping at school for home reading.

I love helping at the school but it does mean that when I come home, that my wishful early start to the day was not to be.

I know I should get with it, and get up early. I am planning this for next week, so that I can focus on me and have my time without any interruption. Once I have done my exercises I feel great. The stretches from Body Beyond Birth really do make a massive difference to my mood and how my body feels.

Did I mention the headache?….Well I have had one for a few days now, and I find that when I get to that time of month or before, I get bad headaches. Do you suffer from this as well?

I like to get out in the fresh air and to change my environment. A bit of exercise somewhere different can make all the difference. Having kids stay over at relatives for the whole weekend can have the same calming and happy effect. Pity that the latter is not happening although I have been wishing and praying.

I was on a roll and was doing my stretches and exercises online. I charged the iPad and have done them in the garden, the bedroom and the living room. Sounds kinky but it is just me with the iPad doing my exercises. Yes boring but they make me feel amazing and so tall!

I just love this stretch. What is your favourite stretch or exercise to do?
I just love this stretch. What is your favourite stretch or exercise to do?

Having an exercise program that is portable is great for me and other busy people. I would never have been able to do my stretches in my garden if this was not so.

After I have done my walks (on both days I have done well over 10,000 steps thanks to my FitBit for this info) I did some of the meditation videos that are on the Body Beyond Birth’s program. This allowed me to relax, refocus and just be. It helped me feel better.

Do you find that meditation is helpful? I do! It really helps me and makes a massive difference. I feel lighter and just calmer. Very helpful as a parent to two energetic kids or anyone that is feeling stressed or tense.

I will do my stretches tomorrow before I leave the house and have the option to pick a yoga work out or maybe another meditation video.

Feeling relaxed with meditation.
Feeling relaxed with meditation.

Due to hubby and the kids wanting to go to the pancake place for breakfast I might need more than stretches tomorrow. I might have one, yes just one…. I promise!

After they have had their fill with pancakes, I’m off to the shops to get ingredients for some of the yummy recipes that Becky and Jackie have on the site. Once sampled I will showcase them on the blog.

How are you going trying to fit in your exercise into your day? Do you get up early to make sure you don’t miss out? Or do you love doing it in the afternoon? Let us know what is working for you? Send in your comments.

Read Becky’s post about how she fits in exercise into a busy day

Even Jerry Seinfeld loves doing meditation – He does it twice for 20mins a day.

Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

Categories
6 years and beyond

School Holidays The Smart Way

Kids having fun at vacation care. Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Kids having fun at vacation care. Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Do you use vacation care? I only used a day here or there, but the last school holidays I sent the twins three days in a week. It has been a god sent. Yes me time in the holidays. Who would have thought, being relaxed in the school holidays. I was not meaning to have them in for three days in one week, however the vacation care provider has great activities to do during the holidays. One in particular was drumming and music and the other was a craft day that was themed and of course carried over to another day.

Due to the kids love of music and of course creating as much artwork that is humanly possible I thought they would love it. It would be a win for me and them. They would have fun with kids, some their friends from school and new kids. While at care the twins will be taken to excursions or otherwise known as different activities for the day. You don’t have to sign up to these excursions but it is only a little bit extra and it makes the day much more fun for the kids.

I realised that I was much more relaxed due to having more me time and also less stressed. In hindsight I did the last school holidays all wrong. I was run off my feet entertaining the girls. Although I enjoyed it I am only one person with limited resources. A care facility can and does organise so much better events and excursions than I can.

Next school holidays I am doing it smarter and booking the kids into a few days of care.

Other mums commented on how relaxed I looked and it was like I went away on holiday. NO holiday on a fancy island or resort. Just the simple thing of having some time for me. Quiet time to allow me to do whatever I wanted. Sewing, blogging, resting, catching up on TV shows, going to the shops that are far away (yes having the kids in care allows me to travel down the mountain and to go to the shops. Fancy going to a dress shop without the worry of kids touching everything!)

So come the next holidays I am going to do it the right way this time. I cannot afford too many days of care, but a day here and there is a great help and allows me to do my own thing. It is a holiday after all. I find it sad that it seems like it is just a holiday for the kids. When is it my holiday time? Yes I know very rarely, but you have to try and find time for you and your mini holidays.

Do you use vacation care? Has it been as amazing for you? Do your kids love it? I love it, but it is mainly due to me being able to do whatever for a day. A full day rather than a school day. YES!!!! I hear you say, where do I sign up.

Centrelink also gives you a subsidy for care so you pay a certain amount but this depends on the percentage for your rebate. If you are interested you can check with Centrelink.  This does make it cheaper and more accessible for all.

 

Categories
Wednesday Wisdom

Make Time For Your Passion

What are you passionate about? Is it photography, your blog, craft, cooking or something else? I am passionate about my blog, my kids, family, and some other projects that I am working on. Maybe I should have put the kids and family first, they do come first but you know what I mean, it is a list.  So don’t read anything into it.

Have you been finding time for your passions? I have found it difficult of late but I am going to make more time for the things I love. Do you make time and stick to it? Is it an understanding in your house that if mummy/daddy does not get to do what ever you love to do you are a grumpy person? I do find that I am happier when I get to do the thing or project that I am working towards. Even a little bit is a help to make me feel good or better about my project.

Do what you are passionate about and stick with it.
Do what you are passionate about and stick with it. Image found on Pinterest.

It is hard to book things in when hubby and my schedule change so often. Today I am going to make sure to get some more done for me and in the days ahead to book time for myself. What about you? Let us know how you work it out with your partner or situation.

Loved this quote from bloggingontheside.com. It is so true. You have moments where you get discouraged or give up or want to. Success is not something that instantly happens you get there in the end and it takes time.
Loved this quote from bloggingontheside.com. It is so true. You have moments where you get discouraged or give up or want to. Success is not something that instantly happens you get there in the end and it takes time.

Keep plodding away and you will get there in the end. Make time for you, even if it is an hour a day at something that you love doing. Don’t worry if the place is a mess and there are a million and one things to do. If you don’t get some time for you and your passion you will be an angry and unhappy person. Trust me, I have been a bit grumpy of late for these reasons.

And remember you are a star!

You're a star and have a lovely day! Image found on Pinterest.
You’re a star and have a lovely day! Image found on Pinterest.