For me, the
drive to create isn’t optional. Ideas
swim around in my mind, run through my
veins and keep me up at night. I am
driven to express myself through creativity.
I have a creative business
that requires me to work every day.
But even if I didn’t
have a business, I know I would be focusing more creative energy on
decorating, entertaining…something!
So the
question isn’t, ‘Should I create?’ but, ‘How can I
balance my need to create with my need to take care of my family?’ This is an ongoing process for me,
one that I am
sure a lot of moms can relate to. Here are some small tips on what works for me.
Take Breaks
I plan on taking
lots of breaks. I get lots of work
done while the boys are at school or after
they are in bed, but there are times I need to work while they are home and awake. I
try to gear up for interruptions. One
will need juice; another will need a diaper
change. I don’t mind asking
them to wait for a couple minutes, but their needs come first and small interruptions should
be expected!
Stay On Top of Your Workload
I try to stay on
top of my emails and projects. I am
not always successful, but when I fall
behind I find myself more stressed. It
is worth it for me to stay up half an hour later and finish my to-do list for
the day.
Be Realistic
Speaking of
to-do lists, I try to keep mine realistic. I
have begun to realize that the day only holds
24 hours (shocking, I know!) and only so much can be
accomplished. That’s OK, there
is always tomorrow and another set of tasks to
be accomplished.
Make Time for Fun
I find that we
often have to get out of the house to have focused fun time. Even a trip to the grocery store can be a treat! Each child gets to choose a special snack. Stickers
and balloons wait at the check stand.
It’s time to focus on the boys and talk with them. Of course, we also do kid
things like a trip to the park, pumpkin
patch or a play date with friends. We make time for fun every day.
Get Help
I remember
clearly the day when I realized I was in over my head. I had a meltdown and
felt completely overwhelmed. It was a
turning point for us as a family. It
made sense to hire someone to help
with packing and shipping. I was
spending hours every week doing a
task that I could have someone else do. This
freed me up to have more time with my family
and more creative
energy to put into
the business.
Don’t Wish the Time Away
Our kids
are only young once… Soak up the days and enjoy
them. I try to treasure our
moments together and, as much as I can, I
let them be a part of my work.
How
do you find balance
between creativity and family?
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