Crossing Off Tasks and Getting Out of Your Own Head
I know I’m not the only mom that says in her head tomorrow I will be more productive. I will finally be able to cross out that task I’ve had on my list for a month. I will make sure this time I do what I said I was going to do yesterday, the day before that and the day before that. I know I am not the only one. I know there are plenty of articles and how to be productive as a stay at home mom blog posts out there. So what makes mine so different? Honestly, I don’t know! And maybe nothing to you…but I just know I need to vent, I need to connect and I need to understand how other moms do it. I think that reassurance is important for moms trying to figure out how to navigate during the ongoing pandemic.
I am very hard on myself so when I feel myself failing at something it irritates me more. It makes me want to understand why I feel that way and what can I do better to change it. During this pandemic that has changed me from a working mom to a stay at home mom I am trying to find my best rhythm that makes me productive at it’s highest capacity. But I don’t know exactly what that is yet. I test out different ways, different days, different thoughts on what can work better. And that is the part I continue to be bothered by. Pre-pandemic being able to take time had more benefits. There were play dates, other moms could take turns to help so the other could get things done. There were relatives that could help out as well. Babysitters were on call to come over when needed. The outside didn’t feel like the scary and unknown, which is how, I feel, a lot of us think of it today. So I guess, from that standpoint, this is where my blog post and my thoughts may differ slightly from the others that I have been reading that were published pre-pandemic.
On top of all the challenges to just get something done with limited access to short term help, we have the mental and emotional thoughts that have come along with the pandemic. We are all, in a sense, stuck together inside, shut out from the world, from socializing, from a sense of normalcy, and that’s not always the best for everyone. That creates an additional layer of challenges to being productive. Sometimes that noise is louder than the calm that we all need during these times. And that noise creates more distractions and interference. And that can create insecurities, doubts, frustration, and other emotions that can trickle down to the rest in the house.
Ways of coping is different for everyone. The way one momma adjusts is not going to be the same for the next momma. I don’t know of any magical unicorn way that’s just going to make it all come together and be perfect. Especially right now during this shut down, with mommas being protective of keeping the household safe and clean, with the uncertainty of what the future holds. The one thing I do know is that sharing stories, thoughts, ideas, emotions and non-judgmental approaches work for me. I hope that in time we can create a community of mommas that make this happen. And then we can cheer each other on as we cross off things we have had on our lists forever!
The Expressive Mom 