Do you ever feel like when you’re at work, you’re thinking about home? And you get stressed because when you’re in front of your kids, playing with them, you’ve got work in the back of your head. And when you’re in a big important meeting, you’re thinking about your kids.
Let’s talk about how I went from being distracted and burned out to actually flourishing.
You probably have felt guilt when you can’t focus on the task in front of you. You probably feel like you’re not getting enough done because you’re distracted.
I struggled with being present too, especially when my kids were younger. It showed up at work where I would be thinking about the kids, and then when I was with my kids, I’d be thinking about work.
It strained my relationships. I couldn’t have a straight conversation with my friends or even my husband sometimes. It made me sad. It also prevented me from being productive. Do you feel like any of that’s ever happened to you?
Not being present really ruins your productivity and robs your joy, so I want to tell you a little trick that has worked really well for me to be more present and in the moment, and I get more done and I get it done better.
Not being present really ruins your ability to be productive and robs your joy.
When you’re present, not only do you get more things accomplished, you do them well, you can catch mistakes before they even occur, and have more creativity because you are focused on the task at hand.
When you’re present, you have less guilt because you don’t walk away from a task worried about how you could have done better.
Being present and in the moment is a game changer, and this is my trick:
Taking 3 steps before I start any new task helps me refocus.
Here are the 3 steps I do before I start any new meeting, before I sit down and play with my kids, or before I have a conversation:
Clear your head. Take 10 deep breaths. Ask yourself, “Why am I here?”
Why am I in front of my child? Why am I in front of my boss? Why am I in front of this computer with this sheet open?
“Why am I here?” Answer that question and then visualize a successful outcome. Once you know why you are doing a task, what does that success look like?
If I’m playing with my kids, I just take a few breaths. Focus. “Why am I here? I’m here to bond and engage with my kid. What’s a successful outcome? That they have fun. It’s not even about me having fun, because again, they’re 3 and 5. It’s about them having fun.”
If I’m finishing a presentation (which is a time when I struggle with being focused), I start thinking about other work things. I start thinking about what’s for dinner and a lot of other things.
Being present isn’t easy, but it is necessary for us to thrive.
So I sit down, take a few deep breaths, and remember why I’m here, which is to finish this presentation so that the board can see it and get us the funding that we need and I visualize that happening.
It sets me in the right place frame of mind to deliver for that 30 minutes that I’m in there cranking away on the presentation.
Being present isn’t easy, especially with all the things we have going on as working moms, but it is necessary for us to thrive. It is necessary for us to flourish.
So try these 3 steps if you feel distracted.
Take 10 deep breaths, remember why you are where you are, and visualize that successful outcome.
Perfectionism is holding you back from what it is that you really want in life.
You can do this literally in 15 seconds and it will be a game-changer. It will make a world of difference in your ability to deliver.
If you’d like this conversation, please check out my podcast, The Savvy Working Mom, where we talk all about how you can have more grace, peace, and joy in your life.
Don’t forget to sign up for my free resource library. You’ll get free printable worksheets, workbooks, and checklists to help with goal setting, time management, and self-care for busy moms.
Let’s makeover your routine at How To Get Unstuck.
