It is not often as parents of children with special needs that we have any down time, it is actually more common to find ourselves wondering at 11 pm, where the day went and to see our list is still a mile long. I have started writing down everything I have to do and crossing out as I go, no matter how small the “thing” is, I write it down. It really helps me visualize how many things I do get done each day.
But, the question still exists, how do we do it all and not lose our sanity in the process? What can we try to do each day, that is in our control, to help make our days a little brighter? Here are 6 ideas I came up with.
1. Laugh – even if it is at yourself; find the humor in something. Laughter takes the stress away.
2. Appreciate- find something, or someone you appreciative of. I find appreciation in simple things.
3. Accept- know that it is impossible to get it all done – accepting that takes some pressure off
4. Celebrate- whatever you did accomplish, celebrate that. Even if it celebrating the kids making the bus!
5. Breathe- right now, breathe . Make it a deep one. Exhale slowly – that feels good, right?
6. Stop. STOP finding fault in what you did not get done, STOP trying to do it all. STOP and do 1-5 above
These 6 “things” are such simple reminders for us and I hope they help you too.