Putting on Your Mask First

I thought I was good at prioritizing pre-Motherhood. I was always balancing between many things that had to get done at work and in my volunteer and personal life. Forever trying new ways to figure out how to elevate the high impact tasks and resist the temptation to only deal with the urgent things before me. My time was a larger sized plate then and I could pile a lot more on.

Now, with my full-time Mom-job, I find prioritizing has taken on a whole new meaning.

I now need to figure out how to fit things I want to get done into 10-15 minute intervals. I frequently have to remind myself that I need to eat when I get caught up in just a couple of minutes of tidying. Previously I would have stretched that small window of time. Being a time optimist and trying to fit too many things into my day. Now I have a hard stop. Stretching that time turns into a tired and/or hungry and/or fussy baby and the realities that come with that.

It’s been hard to break the habit of “oh I’ll just do this one more thing”, which often also puts my own wellness as the one more thing that doesn’t get done. My daughter’s dependence on me is helping to build that muscle. Sleep and nutrition factor into milk production so I’ve had to make sure I make time in the windows I have for these.

One bonus of “Mom-brain” is only the most important tasks rise to the top and get remembered. Many thoughts disappear quickly from my mind as my daughter forces me to be present in the current moment and stop thinking about what’s been or what’s ahead. I think this new skill will help me in the future to focus on the things that matter and minimize the noise of the urgent. Mom-brain for the win!