Top tips for balancing date nights, friend meet ups, and time with kids

Mums Tips

Mumpreneurs & Mums at work

Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:05

Last Updated on 20 November 2020

carinalawson

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We all need balance in our lives. Balance between work and family. Friends and partners. Relaxation and intensity. There’s so much advice out there these days about the work/life balance and being mindful about how we approach it. But what happens if we take work out of that equation? How do we balance just the “life” part? There’s still so much demand for our time. There’s no doubt about it- date nights, friend meet ups, and time with kids can be incredibly nourishing and they should be moments we look forward to rather than something we need to balance. They are the important things. Not just another item on your to do list. And most importantly, these are precisely the moments that allow you to recharge and allow you to remember what balance is about. They add to your days rather than take away from the time that you have. Sometimes a busy lifestyle can make you forget what you like to do because it has been so long since you had time to do it. So how do we reach that balance and make sure we’re giving our time in a thoughtful and intentional way to those around us?

Remember why you want balance in the first place. Spending time with your favourite people serve as moments that allow you to feel like yourself again: the loving partner, the sexy wife who gets dolled up for a date, the friend who tells you the best stories, and the mum showing her kids who’s boss at a game of Uno. Also, studies show that spending time with people you love and engaging in activities you enjoy – and yes, even play – is an integral part for your wellbeing. It helps relieve stress, improves brain function, and boosts your creativity. If you need some ideas, here’s a great list of activities you can do with family and friends that will help you recharge those batteries and savour the moments.

Schedule time for these energy-giving activities, first. Make the reservations well in advance. This gives you something to look forward to! More importantly, the more you look forward to the event it naturally helps you guard your time should other things come up. Keeping a list of places to visit and things to try can help you look forward to these events rather than thinking of them as a juggling act. And when writing them down in your diary, write in a different colour or with a star or smiley face next to it. Your brain will automatically interpret with a ‘fun alert’ and you’ll start to give and guard your time accordingly. If you don’t think you have the time, we’ve got some great tips on how to find more time in your schedule.

Ask for help to ensure you can enjoy spending time with the people you love guilt-free. There are going to be times when you just can’t get it all done and maintain your level of quality – or sanity for that matter – and that’s OK! If we’ve learned anything from 2020 is that life is previous and unpredictable. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Bring in an intern, outsource some work or order in dinner so that instead of spending time cooking, you can enjoy extra quality time with your little ones.

We all strive to achieve the ever-important balance in our lives and it can be difficult. But with a bit of planning (and I have the perfect 2021 Ponderlily Planner for that!) and intention, you will be able to give your full, uninterrupted time you want to the people and activities you love.