The hardest thing to overcome is your own self-imposed limitations. I should know, I’ve been trying to overcome mine for about 10 years now.

Baby steps have helped me to get out of my own way.

The past five years have been particularly eventful and stressful for my kids and me. To recap: since 2009 I went through a divorce, a job loss, a business start-up, and a custody battle.

That’s a lot of stuff.

Some of you reading this are completely with me. You’re saying to yourselves “I know! I went through a job loss, or divorce, or a hardship, and massive stress, too!”

Welcome to my world! So glad you’re reading along. (I’d love comments!)

You must know that I don’t feel like a victim. I feel quite strong, and even courageous at times.

I’ve found that I can handle most things most of the time, but I’ll admit that I have moments when it would be so nice to have a champion in my corner. That’s when my sister, friends and occasionally an emotional meltdown help enormously.

I recently had dinner with a friend who is also a business owner, and she was explaining to me how it’s impossible for her to slow down…to relax. I asked her when she took off her superwoman cape? She told me she never does, that it’s not in her DNA to relax.

I’m not wired that way.

I’ve had to do some evaluating and reorganizing of priorities in order to make my world spin on its axis in a sane manner. I’m responsible for my three kids, a black lab, a house, bills, and the daily management and operations of a business. I work late and I work everyday, but I’ve carved out a priority life-rule list that actually works.

It looks like this:
1.     My kids come first. That means I drop what I’m doing whenever a real crisis or dramatic teenage crisis occurs (even if that teenage drama is annoyingly inconvenient).

2.     I wake early in the morning and focus on exercising and getting some of the busy work completed before my house stirs. That’s MY TIME. WOW! What a luxury!

3.     I read for at least an hour later at night. More 'me' time! Yeay!

4.     The hours between waking and late night reading is dedicated to various kid needs and a list of priority items for my business…clients, meetings, calls, lunches, dinners. My calendar has been known to blow up, but I’m able to reorganize when needed.

5.     My house is clean, but not always neat. I’ve learned that my house doesn’t need to be perfect, and that job charts for the kids can and do work.

6.     Kids’ sports schedules are always aligned with car-pooling, and meals are primarily pre-planned. This makes me less weary and more willing to drive to the movies or the mall when requested.

7.     When a pre-planned meal doesn’t happen, there’s nothing like Chipotle to fill the void.

8.     My oldest child began driving, and it really is freeing to send him to the grocery store with a list. Love that freedom!

9.     It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to ask for help.

10.  A glass of red wine is medicinal in all ways.

I’d love to know how you prioritize things in your own filled-to-the-brim days!