Whether you’re a resolution-maker or not, most of us can look upon a new year and think of at least 100 things we would like to do more and do better in the year ahead of us.
There are a few things I think every mom should do a little more in 2016. I need to do them, and I’m pretty confident you do, too!
Can you honestly tell me you don’t need to do any of these things a little more this year?
- Take care of yourself a little more.
Good moms are notorious for taking care of absolutely everyone but themselves.
STOP it. Pay attention to those little problems you’ve been ignoring and make that long-overdue appointment to see a doctor. Get more sleep. (Definitely on my agenda for this year!) Try to eat better and exercise more, not in an effort to look like a supermodel, but so you can feel better and bring back some of that energy that has been so lacking.
- Lay aside the worry a little more.
But we can’t live our lives in the torment of worry. Change the things you have the power to change, but learn to lay the rest in the hands of God. That’s easier said than done, I realize, but we spend so much time fretting over things we cannot change. We worry even more over things that will never come to pass!
- Invest in your marriage a little more.
Moms, it’s easy to get so absorbed in raising our children that we forget about our marriage. It’s a natural thing — we’re nurturers by God’s design — and so we tend to focus most on those who seem to need us most, which doesn’t usually seem to apply to the grown man in our lives!
“Investing in your marriage” doesn’t have to mean fancy date nights or romantic overnight trips. The more children you have and the tighter your budget, the harder those things can become. But never underestimate time together that might seem less than ideal. Sometimes we just have to be more intentional about making time for our husbands, too.
- Play a little more.
Wow, we can be really uptight sometimes! But we need play time, too. And by “play time” I simply mean taking time occasionally to just relax and enjoy our lives and families.
I know you have a lot to do. I know the house is a wreck and you’re behind on the laundry, but it’s therapeutic sometimes to just walk away from it all and enjoy a little time playing a game with the kids or enjoying the great outdoors or burying your nose in a book.
- Downsize a little more.
The older I get, the more I realize how much stress STUFF adds to our lives. The more stuff you have, the more time and energy you have to put into maintaining it. Or cleaning it. Or just finding a place for it!
So eliminating stuff can really mean eliminating stress. Honestly, most of us have tons of stuff we wouldn’t miss for a moment if it was gone.
- Say NO a little more.
If there’s anything most moms are good at, it’s over-commitment. We can have sick kids and sick husbands and sick selves, have broken down washing machines and refrigerators and family vehicles, be stressed to the max with to-do lists a mile long, and still we will find ourselves volunteering for good, (and sometimes even really not-so-good,) causes.
We mean well, but the truth is there is only so much of us to go around. While we are busy doing all sorts of meaningful, charitable things for other people, it often takes a toll on our families. Giving of our time, money, and energy to others is a wonderful thing and it sets a good example for our children, but only as long as it doesn’t take the best of our time and energy away from the ones who should matter to us most.
- Say YES a little more.
We may say YES to every obligation that presents itself, but, boy, are we good at saying NO to our own families!
Remedy that this year. Find ways to say yes, like when the kids want you to stop cleaning to play a game with them, or they ask you to take them to the park, or hubby suggests an impromptu trip out for ice cream. We throw out too many NOs, just because we’re busy or tired or preoccupied. By doing so we often miss out on fun family time and some wonderful memories.
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I just found your blog and I love it! You really speak to my heart about homeschooling and mothering. This is such good advice for all mothers–sometimes it seems to would be easier to be a father! 😉 But alas, that's not what we were designed for and I will definitely be keeping your advice in mind this year!
I may need to refer back to this often throughout the year myself. And I'm so glad you found me, Emily!
You hit the nail on the head for me. I need to do ALL of these things more in 2016!
You're not alone in that, Erin!
So in love this with post! Definitely all things I need to work on this year, especially with another little on the way!
I really wish I had abided by own advice here when mine were little. Unfortunately it has taken me longer to learn my lessons, but at least I'm trying to apply the things I know now!
Thanks for stopping by, Morgan!
Great list Tanya! Thank you for sharing this on the Art of Home-Making Mondays. Sometimes it is the practical things that need the most attention!
I wonder if sometimes the sensible, practical things are the easiest to forget! I'm trying to do better about that. 🙂
Thanks so much for reading!
I definitely need to do all of those things this year. It's tough being a mom- all the things that fall on our shoulders. We find it so difficult to let go a little. Thanks for the much needed reminder to take a step back, breathe, and refresh. I hope your year is full of joy!
Taking that time to BREATHE, as you said, is tough for a mom who feels forever buried in To-Do lists. But I want to do better about it. My kids are growing up too fast for me not to!!
I wish you a joy-filled year as well, Amanda!
Great List!
Thanks. And thank you for reading!
I love this! I think these can apply to anyone, not just moms. But they're certainly great for moms!
You're probably right. We all live such busy, hurried lives. TOO busy and hurried!
Thanks for stopping by, Charlene!
You hit on just about everything that I think most people stuggle with. Finding a nice balance is often difficult, but you put things into a perspective that makes it much more actionable. Excellent post, Tanya.
Thank you for sharing with us at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
Olivia- Co-Hostess
Reinvented Collection
Thanks so much, Olivia. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. I LOVE being a part of the Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Tanya, thanks for linking up your post on the Hip Homeschool Moms Hop last week! 🙂 It is a blessing to have you on the team!!
It's a blessing to be a part of HHM, Wendy! Thank you! 🙂