As a mom, I’m sure you feel this way all the time. How do I put more hours in the day? How is it 5pm already? Or on the flip side, when will it be 7:30pm for these kids to go to bed?

I’m feeling it more and more these days – I know this is the holiday season and that is to be expected but it just feels like I can never get ahead. Do you feel the same?

Well, guess what? You can!

First, I’ve determined that it goes back to attitude. Having a positive attitude is so important – you can do whatever you want if you have the right mindset. But the second you get down on yourself for not getting the thing on the bottom of the list done is when everything else starts to fall apart.

Second, prioritize. You aren’t going to get EVERYTHING done at once. You need to start the day and make a list with what you can realistically accomplish that day.

Third, start small. If you know you have to clean your entire house, instead of writing “Clean Entire House” on your to-do list, try writing “sweep the kitchen” or “clean the toilets.” Check off one section at a time and in a few days it will all be done.

Fourth, set small chunks of time and accomplish what you can during that period. For example, if you need to address holiday cards, dedicate 30 minutes per day until you get them all out. Limit the amount of time you are doing online shopping – set a buzzer or alarm on your phone. Once you hit the time limit, move on to something else.

Lastly, HAVE FUN! If you don’t get to everything on your list it is not the end of the world. Just do the best you can and prioritize what is important. Spending an extra 10 minutes reading to your children at bedtime is worth it more than making sure you have a clean sink. The dishes won’t mind 🙂

If you’re completely exhausted and don’t know how you’re going to keep giving this much of yourself day after day you’re probably a good parent. – Bunmi Laditan