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The holidays are finally drawing to a close, a new year and a new work week loom ahead. Although December can bring chaos, January can bring equal amounts of reflection on the year behind, refocusing on the upcoming months. Whether I like it or not, January seems like a time to look ahead. Here are some working mom tips to consider as the new year starts.
1.) Eat a decent breakfast every morning. Studies have shown that for both weight loss and weight maintenance, in fact just to lead a healthy life, eating breakfast is critical. I tend to find a breakfast meal I like and eat only that for weeks, before switching to a new one. And, I pick something that is healthy, but I can make in a hurry if needed. Frequently, on Sunday evenings, I will make up a bowl of egg whites or healthy breakfast tacos ahead of time, so that during the work week, I can quickly microwave something on the way out. Try to avoid fast food breakfasts, or skipping breakfast all together, as both will leave you feeling sluggish.
2.) Plan ahead as much as possible. There is nothing that stresses me out more than being rushed, whether it's a 7 am school meeting the kids forgot about, or I'm running late for work because I can't find the right pants to wear. I've started to take a quick look at my closet the night before, just to make sure that the pants I want to wear are not at the dry cleaners. Because I work from home, if I know I have an early morning meeting, I will pack my workbag and laptop the night before. The way I look at it is, the fewer distractions I have in the morning, the better. The entire house is happier, and everyone starts the day off on the right foot, if mom is not running frantic looking for one lost black pump.
3.) Exercise before work if possible, pack the gym bag ahead of time and take it with you if you're going to exercise after work. Early morning exercise is a great way to start the day off refreshed. There are many mornings when it takes every ounce of energy I have to get up, in the dark, and take the dog on our morning walk. But, almost every morning, I feel awake and energized once we return 45 minutes later. Sure, I would like to sleep in. That's what Saturdays are for, though. On the days when you can't get up and exercise before work, pack your gym bag and take it with you if at all possible. Or, set your workout clothes out on the bed, so that when you arrive home from work, you are ready to take an hour or so for a workout.
4.) Leave work at work as much as possible. Coming from someone who works from home frequently, and is notorious for letting work spill over into the family, I cannot emphasize this one enough. The kids and husband shouldn't pay the price for a cranky boss, any more than the boss should pay the price for a sick baby. Set a mental 'clocking out' time and make every effort to clock out at that time. Your kids are only young once; your boss will be there forever.
5.) Use your commute to your advantage. Depending on where you live, the commute back and forth to work sometimes is more stressful than the job. Going back to #2 above, plan your morning so that you have enough time to allow for morning disasters, lost binkies or shoes, and forgotten teacher meetings. It might mean getting up earlier, but your morning will run smoother. Once you've mastered a good morning routine that is not frazzled, take the time in your car or on your commute and use it for yourself. Listen to your favorite radio station, plug in your I-pod to some relaxing music or an e-book, you can even take the time to meditate or pray. Traffic is traffic, it's not going anywhere. But, if you set up a good morning routine, you can use that 30-60 minute drive to your advantage. It might the only time of day where you are alone and not answering to someone else.
What other working mom resolutions, besides lose weight and stick to a budget, will YOU try to accomplish in 2010?
Happy New Years enjoy the work week ahead!
