“Live simple so that others can simply live.” `Mahatma Gandhi
Do you ever get the feeling that all of a sudden your life is on fast forward and you don’t know who has the remote? Moms have to wear so many hats that even the simplest of tasks can become overwhelming, especially when you are juggling 1,000 other things in your mind.
I know how difficult it can be mentally, financially and physically when you first to decide to lose that 50 pounds of baby weight, make sustainable choices for the first time, coupon shop for the first time, rewire a lamp chord the dog chewed, make a gourmet anniversary meal, and afford that much needed vacation.
I have been there. And in some cases I still AM there. I promise you it’s not as difficult as you think. I am going to show you how easy it can be to make small changes that make a large impact on your life and the world around you.
Basic necessities are simple: food, water, clothing and shelter. Plus there are certain things that are important to each of us individually. What is important to you? Is it your children, your friends, your spouse, your career?
For me, it’s my faith in God, my son, my family and friends, giving back, making healthy and green choices when I can and living frugally. That is ‘me’ in a nutshell. All of my daily, weekly and monthly activities support these priorities in one way or another. And those are the topics I want to cover in The Simple Things Series.
If you want to slow down time, move a little slower and downsize your ‘to do’ list to achieve a simpler lifestyle I recommend a few things first.
1. Have a plan.
Make a plan, a list, a schedule, set a reminder or whatever you have to do to help you stay on track with your goals and responsibilities. There’s a quote I’ve read somewhere that says, “Fail to plan and you plan to fail.”
2. Always remember family time.
Having a teenager in the house is a good way to get a look in a mirror for a harsh reality check. As a single mom, I just don’t have time for everything. But what I don’t have time for most, is neglecting my son because of my responsibilities.
3. Never forget to take care of you!
I put an exclamation point after this one because I am preaching to the choir here. I am a serious Type A personality, probably with a little OCD thrown in. I am my own worst nightmare in this department. I figure if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing perfectly…I know, the Lord is still working on me with this one.
Let’s take this next week to think about what is really important to us as moms. I want you to actually make a list of what is important to you and prioritize it if you can. Think about what would be your wish of a simple, fulfilling life. Next week we are going to start with simple steps you can take to start finding your way down the road of simplicity.
The Simple Things series is written by April Patel, contributing writer to TheThriftyMama.com. April is a freelance writer, single mom, homeschooler and pseudo urban homesteader and she blogs at An Apple a Day Wisdom. Like her Facebook page today so you don’t miss any of her daily doses of apple!
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