If you’re a friend or happen to follow me on Instagram, you may have watched my stories and asked yourself, “Does she ever stop?” It’s a question I get asked often. Along with, “You’re the busiest person I know,” and “I can’t keep up with you.” I’m a mom on the go.
The answer to those questions is no, I don’t stop, and yes, I am incredibly busy. It may be an incredibly unpopular opinion, but I live for the run-around.
When I hear parents complain about the activities they have to drive their kids to or their overwhelming schedule. I can’t relate to those feelings. You may hear me complain about having to spend three hours in my house or not having weekend plans. This may astonish you, but there is a reason I love the busy lifestyle…let me explain.
My children are exponentially better behaved when we are out of the house.
That’s right. My kids listen better, follow directions, and are calmer when we are out and about. Therefore, I fill our summer days with parks, pools, beaches, amusement parks, libraries, zoos, and shows. I much prefer running around and having fun to playing referee over toys. And ultimately, I get to provide my children with a wide variety of experiences. Happy kids, happy mama!
That being said, even though our schedule is jam-packed, I adhere strictly to a sleep schedule. We won’t have chipper and ready-to-go kids if they are not well-rested. Therefore, we head home for naps, and bedtime is non-negotiable.
And while it may seem that the house, laundry, and cooking get put on the back burner when living on a tight schedule, it is actually quite the opposite. I am far more productive when I have much less time.
If I only have an hour to get it all done, you better believe it’s getting done. My time management has always been my strong suit, and I rarely waste a minute. When I wake up, it’s immediate go time, therefore; there are never dishes in my sink, laundry to be folded, or floors to be vacuumed. My husband and I run our house like a machine with many moving parts to keep it all together.
The pandemic took a toll on my mental health and productivity. When the world came to an immediate halt, I lost my purpose. I was forced to slow down and “chill,” something I am not good at. The more time on my hands meant I started procrastinating and letting the daily tasks go. And while most would say it was needed, I disagree. I found myself sad, lazy, and disappointed in myself.
