Not Every Day Is A 10

Not every day is a 10. Some days aren't even solid 2s. And sometimes we get a series of those bad days strung together and it starts to feel like a whole season.

I am in one of those seasons right now. Hard parenting decisions. Big ranch decisions. The financial stress of expanding a herd. A to-do list where everything feels like it needed done yesterday. All while trying to navigate relationships through it all. It's a lot, all at once.

I'm sure many of you can relate. It is a natural and normal part of the ebb and flow of life. So in case you are in the trenches with me, here is my plan for surviving:

1. I'm doing ONE thing at a time. One chore, one phone call, one spreadsheet, one load of laundry, one email, one task. My mental bandwidth is spread pretty thin, so I am clearing the clutter to one thing at a time.

2. I'm letting people in. I opened up to a friend. I delegated. I am thoroughly communicating with my husband. I hired childcare for my son. I love him, but mama needs to survive or this whole ship is going down.

3. I'm prioritizing healthy habits. Eight hours of sleep per night and eating clean. When I am stressed, my self-discipline goes right out the window. I stay up too late. I eat terribly. Then I am tired and don't feel well. So good sleep, clean eating, and energy it is!

4. I'm giving myself grace. Good enough is still good. Some things are getting less of me right now, and that's okay.

5. I'm intentionally building in moments of joy. A 15 minute swim with the kids. My husband and I got up a few minutes early just to talk. I finally read to my kids again last night. Small things, but they help me keep my priorities in check.

So there it is. My survival plan. I hope it helps someone else out there who is surviving this season, also. Whether it is money, marriage, health, parenting, or all of the above, we all have stressful seasons. And we will get through them.

So hang in there. This may not be your best season, but you're still in the fight.