We sent our kids to summer camp last month. I am very happy to share with you that they survived and I survived them being gone. The week leading up to camp was extremely stressful and jam-packed with activities, swimming and parties. I was in survival mode. The camp posts pictures of your kids while at camp. I noticed my daughter, who is the most joyful and happy girl in the world wasn’t smiling like she usually does. Of course I began over analyzing it and feeling so bad that maybe she was sad at camp. When the kids got home, my daughter mentioned to my husband that I didn’t pack any chapstick and her lips were very chapped and it hurt to smile. I had forgotten how important chapstick is in the mountains. Another point for mom of the year!
Decide When to Let Go
My point with sharing all of this is to stress the importance of recognizing when you have too much on your plate. I had so much going on, that it would have been helpful to pull back a bit and let go of some of the obligations we had planned. I was getting to the point where I was forgetting the basics. Moms, I would love for each one of you to take a look at your own life, see how you are feeling, and decide if you need to take a break or let go of some obligations. Here are the first steps you need to take:
1. Take a Look
The first step is acknowledging what you have going on. Is your life full in a good and healthy way? Or is it a bit overbooked? Are you excited about what you have on your plate or do you need to let something go? Just take a minute to process how you are feeling.
2. Decide What to Let Go
If you have an overbooked schedule, and it is causing you stress, decide what you can let go or delegate. On top of sending the kids to camp and planning and taking a trip to Lake Tahoe, I had a retreat I was hosting the day I picked up the kids from camp. I needed to prepare handouts and luckily my husband offered to take that burden off my shoulders.
3. Be in Action Mode
Now that you have decided what changes need to be made, get in action mode. Ask for help. Delegate. Cancel appointments or obligations. Hire a sitter. Feeling completely overwhelmed and stressed is not healthy in any way, so be proactive in your approach to a solution.
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