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by Becky Krueger on 7.31.2012 in Company News 0

Growing up, I never questioned the idea that I could have it all – a satisfying career, a wonderful family and a gigantic closet full of clothes.   It wasn’t until I had most of those things (I’m still waiting for the gigantic closet), that I realized how difficult it is to stay sane!

With two young children, a wonderful husband, two cats, a dog, a mortgage and a full-time career, I have managed to learn a few tips along the way.  I hope these suggestions can help you have it all and still keep your cool!

• Accept that your house will always be messy.  Sure, we all have visions of pristine homes, well-manicured lawns and plates of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies waiting for our children or loved ones to return home.  In reality, who has time for that?  Don’t spend every free moment scrubbing the dishes or fluffing the pillows.  Spend as much time with your family as possible.  Your kids won’t remember the messy house but they will remember the times that you left dishes in the sink to play ball in the backyard.
• Sleep.  Unfortunately we don’t live in a society that allows grownups to take mid-day naps.  Believe me, I wish we did.  Since we don’t, we need to make time for sleep.  It is your body’s best defense for fighting illnesses and energizing your mind.  Don’t make the mistake of staying up late to watch that television program on your DVR or checking your Facebook page.  That brings me to my next point…
• Put the computer/phone/tablet down.  I know it’s hard.  My weakness is Twitter but many people love to surf the internet or play online games.  It’s perfectly fine to allow yourself the joys of modern technology but don’t sacrifice your sleep or precious time with your family.
• Plan ahead.  I have found the best way to keep from losing my mind is to plan ahead.  If I do everything possible the night before, I can get myself and my children out of the house with as little drama as possible.  Picking out clothes for the next day, packing lunches and fishing my keys out of my incredibly cluttered purse all help make our mornings go smoother.
• Breathe.  You are going to have bad days.  You are going to have bad weeks.  How you handle the pressure says a lot about you, and it teaches your children about managing stress.  If things aren’t going the way you hoped, i.e. your child cut a hole in the couch cushion with his kid-friendly scissors, take a deep breath (after you pry the scissors from his hands) and go to your mental happy place.

I know there are a million things in your head each day, especially when you are responsible for other human beings, but trust me, you can have it all, including a great state-of-mind.

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