Over on my Instagram, I get this question a lot:
How do I handle work/life balance?
I have a love-hate relationship with this question. On the one hand, it’s an honest question. I work full-time out of the home and I have a family and other stuffs going on that need my attention. How do I manage this someone might wonder. But on the other hand, I know this whole balance phenomenon is really another way to make women feel badly about themselves because we go straight into the comparison game. Because the truth is, what works for one family and one working mother is different than what works for another family. Balance is a myth, an illusion. Because everyone’s balance scale is made differently. How we divide our hours or household duties or parenting responsibilities is completely unique to each family. So now that that’s out of the way, I can tell you what works for me.
I’m always learning and our situation is always changing and our stage of life is ever-evolving, so this is what works for me right now. (Legal disclaimer - I have no idea what I am talking about. Okay, maybe not a legal disclaimer, just my general motherhood motto, ha! *upside down smiley face emoji*)
Get all our stuff ready the night before.
Heading out the door, I’ve got to grab my lunch, the kids’ lunches, pumping parts, purse filled with my planner and wallet and anything I’ll need, jackets, spare diapers, tuition checks, breakfast, etc. I have found that our mornings run much more smoothly when we have things ready the night before. Emma lays out her clothing. The lunches are packed. Bottles are clean. My outfit and accessories are folded nicely in a little pile. That way, I can wake up early, get ready in the bathroom, then wake the kids and feed them breakfast and head out the door. It’s much easier than wondering WHERE THE DANG SHOE WENT. You know what I mean.
Read MoreI promised myself that when I went back to work, I would keep up with regular posting. We’ll see how well I do at keeping that promise. I may just have to type out posts after all the kids go down or, in this case, while Theo is sleeping on my chest and I’m balancing my computer on my lap with pillows. But I’ll cut to the chase so on to the planner!
For my planner spread this week, I used my new sticker book with boss babe themed stickers in honor of my return to work. I’ve been experimenting with my layouts, so I like how this one turned out. Which reminds me, I need to show you my bullet journal spreads too. I’ll add that to my “to blog” list.
Here is this week’s spread! I am all heart eyes for it.
Read MoreHappy Monday friends. This is a melancholy Monday for me because it is my last Monday while on maternity leave. (I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying.) Next Monday, I resume my work outside the home. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues again and treating my wonderful patients, but I will miss this slow and sleepy respite I’ve had at home with Theo. This will be a bittersweet week and if you please could pray for us during this transition, I would much appreciate it.
But, on to why I’m posting — week 2 in my planner! I had a ton of fun with this spread. I used a happy planner sticker book and some colorful washi. While I’ve always used a planner, my new use of various stickers and colors has become a restorative creative outlet. Usually, I’ve purchased run-of-the-mill planners that already have their own colors or themes. But my beautiful Blessed Is She planner is simply perfect. I can personalized it and make it my own each week, while also keeping on top of my schedule, my to-dos, and the liturgical seasons. I cannot rave about it enough. I exclusively used a bullet journal for all my lists and planning needs, but I had a hard time keeping up with the weekly spreads. So now I use my planner and my bullet journal separately and it’s working out nicely. I’ll show you my 2019 bullet journal set-up soon.
Read MoreHappy New Year! 2019 is upon us an of course, so is the obligatory goals and resolutions post. My words of the year are fiat and comfort and I tried to keep that in mind as I planned my goals for the year. I am looking forward to staying accountable this year using my planner and journals. IMMA DO IT.
Read MoreHELLO PLANNER PEOPLE! Raise your hand if you are obsessed with planner-ing!
Wee! It’s a new month in my Blessed Is She planner and I always have a blast setting up my monthly spreads (#planneraddict). I set up January, week one of the year, and my goals spreads before we left for our travels and I have been eager to show you how they turned out. There is something exciting about the start of a new year, especially in the planner world. I have been using an academic year planner because I was a student for so many years, but it feels like a fresh turn of the page come January first. I have been lagging on setting up my bullet journal, but I’ll get to that this week.
The Christmas Octave is a time for celebration and new beginnings and reflecting on the upcoming calendar year. I’ve started writing out my 2019 goals and resolutions and will post them tomorrow. But now for the good stuff — January, week one, and my goals spreads! WEE!
Read More
