June 2008 

When I was single, without children and working for someone else, I used to love long weekends. But now I have my own business, two mighty toddlers and a hubby that works overseas and interstate a lot (yep he did last long weekend too) I really relish the time the kids are at Kindy at the start of the week to take time just for me... to dream, to write, to be.

Mothers Can Play & Dream Too 

The kids go to Kindy to play, create and have fun, and mummy does the same. I use my time to work, to write, to dream. But loosing Monday this June long weekend to the Queen’s Birthday (who lives in England and was born in April – still surprises me Australia celebrates this!) meant I hit the ground running today feeling like I was chasing my tail no matter how many self congratulatory ticks I placed on my to-do list.

Indulge Yourself

So late in the afternoon when I had about an hour to go before picking the kids up I took a large breath in and looked at my to-do list and thought if I power through vigantly I should get most done. But the inner voice within kept saying 'meditate, meditate, meditate... take time to dream'. I chose the later, and I’m so glad I did. An hour of meditating and dreaming for just me me me, feeds my passions and nourishes my soul every single time I do it. Giving me energy, connecting me to my visions and feeding my creative juices for the whole week ahead. Why part of me still doubts taking time out to do this still surprises me.

Taking Time Out Gives You Time 

A mummy friend said to me the other day, 'god I don't know how you ever find time to meditate'. I replied, 'meditating gives you time, it really does'. When you take time out to exhale, to dream and really engage your right brain, you find solutions you didn't know were there, you tap in to energy you didn't know you had, and you just feel soooo good, and hey, that can only be a good thing for you and your family right!

Got a Dream You Want to Fulfil? 

If there is anything that you feel an 'inner pull' towards that you would love to be doing, DO IT. Don’t wait for more time, don’t wait for less things on the to-do list, because you know what, some other activity, chore or task will creep on to your list. TAKE the time, CREATE the time, MAKE the time, to dream, and live for your dreams TODAY.

Happy dreaming mums :)

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SELF / LIFE BALANCE 

May 2008 

I think the term Work/Life Balance has become totally overused and in overusing it (or over achieving it), many of us have lost site of what this actually means, let alone 'feels' like. I mean really, does any modern mum have Work/Life Balance every day of her life?

I much prefer the concept Self / Work Balance, Self / Family Balance, Self / Home Balance, Self / Relationship Balance.

Mums have become so busy, that balancing Work (paid work, mummy work, community work etc) and Life (relationships, house duties, meals, organising our families lives etc) that many of us, infact millions of us, have lost our sense of taking care of ourselves in that whole process of trying to achieve Work/Life Balance.

My message really is simple this week. Instead of thinking of life as a balancing act or the art of staying balanced in 'doing it all', why not start to think of yourself in relationship to each key area of your life. I really encourage all mums reading this column this week to look at how you can take more care of you and your life and how you can get more of your needs met. Because when you do, you will be so much more equipped to nurture and support your family and the community around you.

How to Create Self / Life Balance 

Why not write one action next to each key area of your life about how you can do more for you. Then start taking the action. For example...

Self / Life Balance

This might be a dinner out with another mummy friend sans children and hubbies, a weekend away with the girls (I just had my first weekend away without my children since becoming a mum. It was a weekend with other mummy friends in Byron Bay and I cannot believe the fun and relaxing time I had, this experience will feed by soul for the next month and more).

Self / Work Balance

This could be as simple as starting your day with a cup of tea when you get to work as apposed to hitting the ground running. It could also be taking a 5 minute meditation breather before you pick up the kids from school or finish work for the day.

Self / Home Balance

Think about involving the whole family in a bit of a clean up - put on some tunes, turn up the volume and make it fun for everyone instead of feeling like you have to do it all. It could also be leaving the washing for a day or two (heaven forbid!) and using that extra time to put your feet up on the sofa and read a mag or good book (trust me the washing machine will enjoy the rest as much as your feet!).

Self / Relationship Balance

How bout giving yourself more of what you'd love your partner to give you (but never quite do get from him), or communicating more about what you would love in your relationship, or indeed initiating those new suggestions.

Self / Family Balance

Try spending more time hanging out with the family instead of running around exhausted completing the millions of activities that seem to need doing each week. It could also mean doing more or less things together, so you can appreciate one another more.

The thing is this is your life, you know what you need more and less of, so make sure you claim more Self / Life Balance in this lifetime, starting now! 

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