Life is stressful and some days it is all you can do just to get out of bed, make cereal for the kids, and get them out the door to school. I get it, really, some days I just don’t feel up to life. On other days, I wake up feeling like I could climb the incline, twice before breakfast, finish the laundry, and clean the bathrooms. Courageous, I know. Of course most days I find myself somewhere in between. I’ve learned that if I do these five things, every day, I’ll feel positive about my day and maybe even accomplish a few things. It isn’t the quantity of things you do, but the quality of what you’ve done that will make your day count.
- Make a “To-Do” List — It doesn’t have to be long or intense. It doesn’t have to have every single thing that needs to be done on it. Make a list of the things you really want to get done that day. If it’s one of those heavy days, try getting one load of laundry completed or vacuuming the living areas of your home.
- Take a 15 Minute Break, just for you — Maybe not right after you wake up, but at some point during the day give yourself a break. This could be while the kids are napping or happily watching Sesame Street. You don’t always have to be doing something. Take 15 minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee or read a book. Maybe your 15 minutes is checking in on Facebook. Just take a breather and relax for a few minutes, you deserve it.
- Make Your Bed — I didn’t think this was important until I saw this video. “The little things in life matter.” He has a point, right? If you start with one small task you’ll be encouraged to complete more tasks throughout the day. Honestly, there is a part of me that absolutely loves going to bed at night
- Call, Email, Text, Send a Card to somebody just to say you’re thinking about them. You will be amazed at how this simple act makes you feel. A card in the mail is great, but sometimes a simple text that says, “Hey, I’m thinking of you and hoping you have a great day” can mean the world to someone. Or reach out to friend or family member you haven’t talked with in a while and see what’s new. It’ll encourage them and make you smile.
- Get Enough Sleep — I know it sounds like a pipe dream, but it helps, a lot. Try going to bed a few minutes earlier. I know it may be hard, but keep the computer, tablet, phone, etc. out of reach and off. I recently saw a sleep specialist and he told me that seems to be the most difficult thing for people to do when it comes to building better sleep habits. There are so many tips and tricks to getting enough sleep, the goal is try to find what works for you and do it.
Some days it will be easier to make your day count. Other days it will be a struggle just to get dressed. The bottom line is that you need to take care of yourself. Whatever makes that work for you, go do it! I’d love for you to share the things you do everyday.
