My #1 Tip for Achieving a Balanced Lifestyle #moms #parenting
Hi everyone,
When I think about everything I have to fit into my day, I can quickly become overwhelmed- and I know that I am not alone. There is work (we have to pay the bills right?), Max, my relationship with Dave, my relationship with friends and family and of course health and fitness and the elusive “me time”.
So when I was sitting there thinking about how it is that I actually manage to fit all of these elements in and achieve a good work life balance there was one stand out tip that came to mind…
Bedtime. Yep that’s it- that one word is the one that can change your life and see you fitting more into your day. I see so many children that don’t have a set bedtime and they literally just go to sleep when they are tired- usually when mum and dad go to bed. It is no wonder that their parents are exhausted and overwhelmed.
You need to embrace bedtime and set up a routine so that your children understand when it is time to go to sleep. You can even incorporate quality time into the routine by having a cuddle and reading a story together before sleep time. If you can establish a bedtime for your kids you will be amazed what you can achieve in the evenings when you are not at the beck and call of your children (as beautiful as they may be).
Establishing a bedtime may seem difficult at first however it is well worth the effort once it becomes the norm. You can help the process along by making it enjoyable- with stories and other relaxing activities before bed. You may find that children look forward to bedtime as they get to spend some one on one special time with you beforehand. Kids are adaptable and if you can do the same thing each evening (and not give in when they don’t want to) then that can only help.
Max goes to bed at 7.30pm every night. between 6.30pm and 7.30pm is pure Max time and then after that it is mummy and daddy time. This is when we spend time together, catch up on work if we need to, have some down time and catch up with friends and family. I have found that having my friends over for dinner after Max goes to bed is just more pleasant for every one involved. Max gets the attention he deserves before 7.30pm and then my friends get to have an un-interrupted conversation with me whilst he is sleeping soundly.
If your kids don’t have a set bedtime then why not give it a try? It may be the best thing you have ever done 
Rhiannon
