My number one promise for 2017 is to be kind to myself and that includes is my role of being a half-domestic diva.
Unlike the main character in Sophie Kinsella’s “Undomestic Diva” (if you’ve ever read this super hilarious book, you’ll know what I mean), I actually know how to do a few things. I’m a bomb cook, I can clean, I even bake, but similar to my fellow working superwomen, who got the time? I sure don’t, and I’m not going to beat myself up about what I don’t have the time to do. Instead, I’m gifting myself with things that will keep my household in order, saving time for me to do what I want when I finally get downtime. If I cook my infamous mac ‘n cheese, it’s because I want to, not because I have to. That has to be the difference.
And why shouldn’t our lives be easier? Every super successful woman I’ve ever heard speak about the nonexistent idea of work-life balance says the same thing: they’ve got help. High-powered women have nannies, and cooks, and cleaning folks, and peeps who are combinations of these three in order to keep their home lives straight so that they can run their businesses efficiently and effectively. Why? Because it’s what they love to do. And like one fab CEO told me, they’d probably rather spend their Saturday morning spending quality time with those they care about than wash baseboards. Touche, amazing CEO lady. Touche!
Yeah, “we have the same 24 hours as Beyonce,” but Beyonce got a nanny, some assistants, assistants for her assistants, and a host of other folks that she hires so she doesn’t have to fold laundry. Let’s not get that confused.
I’m obsessed with my career, too, and I’m not afraid to admit my love for what I do, but I’m not quite at the financial point where I have these fine folks at my disposal to help me out on a daily basis or to even get my baseboards in order, although it will be happening one day. In the meantime, though, I have to implement some processes and reorganize some things that will make it all easier, especially as I dive deeper into my 2017 projects and take on more work-related responsibility.
I’m planning meals (and sometimes buying them prepared).
I’m not too lazy to cook. I’m just tired. But, I do love to eat so I have to make sure I have good food on hand, even when I don’t have the time to cook it. I’m doing Weight Watchers this year, which I love because it has the flexibility that I need, teaches me portion control, and lets me eat sweets. (A life just ain’t a life if I can’t have at least a piece of cake every now and then.)
In addition to cooking at least two Weight Watchers meals that I can eat some of, package for meals this week, and freeze the rest for later, I’m also grabbing more of my friend China’s Soulstar Jars. They are mason jars packed with yummy salad options that leave my mouth watering, and most importantly, they’re salads I ain’t gotta make. Boom.
I’m gettin’ paper.
This year, I got paper…everything. All of my everyday plates, bowls, and utensils are paper. I even have liners for my crockpot dishes — meals that are also good for meal prep and for Weight Watchers. Ow!
And there’s no shame in my game. I’ll pull out the nice stuff for guests, but as for me and my house, we shall avoid doing dishes. Period.
I’m living that label life.
During the school year especially, I get up early. I’m the mom of a 10-year-old special needs kiddo who I still need to feed, dress, change — after feeding and dressing my own self — and I usually do it while I’m half asleep and stumbling around in the dark. I need some order. So I bought all these labels, and containers, and extra organizers to redo our whole morning routine. I’m laying out everything in order of how I need them in my kid’s room — medicine, diapers and wipes, school clothes, shoes, and coat — so that I can move more seamlessly and without thinking. Frankly, sometimes, I don’t have the time to use any extra brain cells.
What do you do to improve your domestic routines? Let me know your favorite tips below!
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