Thanks to Crystal Light for sponsoring this post. To learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight.
In traveling for work this week, I met lots of people who asked me what I do. "I'm a working mom," was my go-to answer, mostly as an excuse for not pressing my slacks or having a rushed, disheveled hairdo. In general, people tend to be more forgiving if they know you have more than one primary focus demanding your time and attention. Marriage, kids and a full time job pretty much fits that bill. Fact.
In an unexpected twist, I became inspired by other moms that I ran into on the road. Moms who had confident smiles and polished, pulled together ensembles. They appeared relaxed and smelled like something other than McDonald's or Play dough. So I asked a few of them how they do it. And I learned that it's certainly no mistake that they look and feel great. They were all dedicated to carving out time for themselves.
So how do you find the time? And what do you do with it once you've got it? Here's what the chic moms I talked with had to say.
1. Make a date with yourself in advance. Get a sitter or your mate to hang with the kids and schedule a mani-pedi or a massage. Treat this timeslot like a non-negotiable event such as a dentist appointment.
2. Get up 30 minutes to an hour earlier than everyone else and squeeze in some yoga and/or mediation. Personally, I go into the TV room, pop in a yoga DVD and get in some light stretching before I simultaneously login to work and get my kids ready for school.
3. Get social! Make plans to go for coffee with a girlfriend. Inviting friends can help you stick to your commitment of getting out and spending quality time among adults.
4. Take a scrapbooking/cake decorating/wine appreciation class. When I take on scrapbooking at home I just end up making a big old mess. Yet when I take a class at a studio, I get the chance to spread out, be creative, drink wine and actually produce something resembling a scrapbook.
5. At the very minimum, lock yourself in the bathroom and soak in the tub. It's strange how escaping to the bathroom for 30 minutes can be such a lifesaver. Heck, I've even climbed into my bathtub fully clothed with a pillow when I really just needed some time to read a good book and be alone. It works!
Last, it's always a good idea to repay the favor to the friends or loved ones who helped you with the kids so you could enjoy those much needed sanity breaks. Now get out there and be fabulous, you. After all, are we mothers or are we mice?
Remember, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors. I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
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