Working moms, we have a lot on our plates. However during this time of year, the tension and pressure can be AMOUNT TO SO MUCH strain, worry, anxiety, and other negative symptoms.
With the pulling and tugging on our to-do lists FOR HOME AND BUSINESS, work deadlines FOR CLIENTS XMAS ORDERS, helping my daughter through exams, Being present with my family when its such a busy WORK SEASON for us photographers and so on and so forth, it’s a wonder how we get through it.
As a professional business woman and photographer sometimes i do forget that i too have a PERSONAL life and i too need to STOP WHAT I AM DOING and focus on my family and realise that i am human.
This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can leave us feeling drained and worn out. I know i am at BREAKING POINT...
What’s a working mom to do?
You’ve heard —you can’t do it all. Nor should you be expected to. Sometimes the pressure we feel is weight that we’ve put on ourselves. With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays while trying to manage your work and life, it’s a wonder we get through it. But we do. You don’t have to do it with a cup that is overfull. I am learning to realise more than ever how important FAMILY is this time of year and being a busy momtog (owning my own professional photography business) it has been harder each year especially this time of year to focus on my family and clients at the same time. I seem to DROP THE BALL more this time of year than any other time. Trying to PLEASE EVERYONE ALL THE TIME and forgetting about pleasing my own family and of course MYSELF.
I had a read through the internet on some mom blog sites to see how some busy moms cope with the holiday stresses and balancing work and found some interesting comments and i thought i would share some of these with you all.
So here are some tips I found:
"Unless it’s very close family or friends, I say NO to last-minute events that would make me over-extend myself in an unhealthy and unproductive way. I also say NO to any drama, whether it’s coming from family or work, by just not engaging in it. The further I stay away from being over-committed and being entangled in drama, the cooler, calmer and more collected I am during the holidays." - Anonymous Mom
"Give yourself grace and put what works for you and your immediate family first.. " - Anonymous Mom
"During the holidays, what stresses me the most are meeting my own expectations for making everything perfect. Now I focus on the most special holiday rituals that mean the most to me and my family. Not beating myself up for not getting a million Christmas “must-dos” has been very freeing. The holidays are a marathon. What helps me is focusing on the big things that bring us joy " - Anonymous Mom
"Don’t be so hard on yourself, moms! Kids love and adore you no matter the cost of the gift. They only put as much pressure on the holidays as you lead them to. I say NO to overextending myself. I’m good at cooking, decorating and more but I won’t do anything that’ll exhaust me.I’ve learned to use my leadership skills to divide and conquer. Instead of doing everything myself, I’ll split tasks amongst other family members and friends. " - Anonymous Mom
"The best thing I’ve done so far is learned how to step away from it all and spend time with friends. You have to get out of the house alone with nothing on the agenda but sitting around and talking to people who you know will be great company. As I’m pushing through the lengthy checklist that the holiday season turns into I push myself to just make it to whatever event I’ve planned to attend to simply help me think about and do other things than be a mom an employee, or a college student. I can just be ME." - Anonymous Mom
After reading these wonderful ladies’ tips, maybe you can then put them to use in your own life to feel lighter during this hectic time of the year....
So for ME what i am learning this year especially , from recent personal experience, because I want to deliver the absolute best to my clients, i have decided that next year I won’t take on new business during this time. Will that hurt my bottomline? Maybe. But it will definitely keep my sanity and my reputation as a business owner sparkling and intact. Also As moms, we tend to take on way too much and try to do it all.
While we can do it all, we don’t have to do it by ourselves. The holidays are about family and no reason you can’t ask other family members like your partner or older kids to help a little extra during this season. So thats me yes...ASKING FOR HELP MORE! I now know i cannot do it ALL anymore haha...even though i always think i can!!!
I have also learn't that not everyone spreads good cheer...you do get alot of negativity out there, people that want to hurt you emotionally too and for me i am learning that i need to understand i am not there to PLEASE EVERYONE i am there to please those that APPRECIATE ME and those that RESPECT ME and vice versa...
I will no longer focus on the NEGATIVE ENERGY but keep focusing on the POSITIVITY AND SPREADING ONLY THAT!
Having a child with a disability i have never treated her like she has one...but i now know SHE DOES and that i need to focus on helping her more with her day to day tasks!
So next year i will be looking at MY PERSONAL and BUSINESS LIFE and making some BIG AND TOUGH CHANGES as being a MOM IS SO IMPORTANT as well as making my CLIENTS HAPPY!
SO ON THAT NOTE...please spread happiness and remember Christmas is about FAMILY and not about GIVING...and spread love especially with the tough year we have all had! Remember everyone else too has a JOURNEY THEY ARE ON not just YOU!
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