The rut. Many of you women know all too well how this feels. The rush in the morning to get the kids off to school, the commute to work that seems to take a lifetime, and knowing that when your day at work is done, your night of work at home is just beginning. Dinner, homework, baths and bedtime. Ensuring to avoid neglect of your spouse. Sports, PTA. Bills and more bills.
image sourceHow do we make it through this day to day routine and keep our sanity? I've lived this lifestyle and know that sometimes its enough to drive you bonkers, and I decided I had to change something. I'm no miracle worker, but here's some thoughts on simple things you can do to lower the stress level of your daily grind, and maybe even give you new insight on the way you envision your life. You aren't stuck in a rut at all, just repeating a beautiful gift you're given every day.
First off, enjoy the world around you. It is hectic in the mornings, I know, with breakfast and kids off to school. But they are under stress too, and as parents its your job to make them comfortable. Don't let the stress that is put on you from the morning rush be taken out on them. I promise if you take a deep breath and do your best to make the morning as peaceful for them as possible, you will feel better about it when its done, and after a couple of weeks it will get easier.
And about that drive to work, don't look at it as a traffic jam. You think I am crazy now? Think about it this way. This is probably the only time you have to be alone with your thoughts all day. Its no spa, but it is a nice time to clear your mind and lighten up a little. I spent a few years working nights just so that I could avoid downtown traffic. Now I never get angry at the gridlock. I use it as time to straighten out my thoughts.
The bills are not going to go away, but if you lighten up your load in other areas, the stress of it all will not seem so overbearing.
Last but not least, keep the love alive. Everyone is happier when they are in love. Set aside a day during the week that you can meet your husband for lunch, or a night that you can stay up late and play the little games that lovers play early on in a relationship. Write him a note (maybe a little naughty) on a napkin and slip it in his lunch bag or his pocket before he goes to work.
The main thing is, just because you have a routine, doesn't mean you have to be stuck in a rut. If your life seems boring, it's up to you to make it fun. Take action and reap the benefits. You'll learn that when you make your life a happier place, the people around you will reflect the same actions.
