Why You Need Sunday Downtime (Not Just Memories with Your Kids)
Because you may be a mom, and a service provider, and a wife slash housekeeper, but you STILL need to keep the family running through the weekend (even though you’re “off” work for the business), and this doesn’t give YOU a proper break.
Routines count on weekends, too
So here’s how to NOT let the household swallow up your entire Saturday or Sunday so that you can ACTUALLY enjoy a weekend break (just like your kids!).
Be sure you’re keeping to your daily routine/schedule on Saturdays and Sundays, too - just because it’s the weekend doesn’t mean your kids don’t need naps or feeding or room pickups at the usual times!
You know how this works - “oh, it’s the weekend, we can flex a little” - and suddenly your 4-year-old is still up and running around the backyard at 8pm at night, while her brothers raid the kitchen at 9pm for “snacks” (that look suspiciously like a full-blown meal), and you haven’t gotten any downtime with your husband without the kids around.
That may be the weekend norm for you - but it absolutely doesn’t have to! (And no wonder you’re not feeling ready to go Monday morning after 2 days of sub-optimal lack-of-routines every night!) You need to keep to YOUR tried and true lunch schedule - breakfast time - afternoon quiet time - evening Bible story and bedtime - if you’re going to have any chance of liking your weekend just as much as your weekday routines.
(‘Cause otherwise, I see why you like your work week better and wish you could just be doing THAT all Saturday!)
Why you still need Saturday downtime
So as much as you can, keep to your ordinary daily schedule on those 2 days. At the very least, stick to normal nap times and bedtimes so you’re still getting your non-kid quiet time.
Okay?
Then, give yourself permission to need down time, too - just like you’d take a break on your client work or podcast recording days - even if the place or type of activity you’re doing varies on the weekends.
Like, if you always take a 30-minute walk by yourself to decompress from your CEO work day, maybe you want to take a walk on Sundays, too - or maybe you don’t need one, because you AREN'T dealing with clients! (In that case, award yourself the usual amount of flop time, but give yourself the choice of a different hobby.)
Where you should be during the kids’ chore time
Oh, and by the way, if your kids’ weekend chore schedule is messing up your preferred downtime routine, all you have to do is flex your room use (since you’re not using it for biz or school on a Saturday) and take your journal or book or yoga mat off to someone ELSE'S room to be out of their way.
You’re still getting your downtime; does it REALLY matter if it’s in a different part of the house than usual?
Let your kids vacuum the living room and clean bathrooms while you hole up in one of THEIR rooms for a change, and tell ‘em they can kick mom out when they’re done with their chores - not a moment sooner.
Or spread out scrapbooking material all over your own bed, on top of a protective sheet, while they get busy deep cleaning the kitchen. Whatever works for you.
Okay?
Your turn….
The key is, you have to give yourself the SAME amount of flop time you’ve found you need every day - whether it starts with “S” or not.
So no mom guilt – not allowed – and head off to your well-earned break. (Because you’ve been busy ALL week, and this is YOUR time to relax!)
You can do what you love in business, AND be successful as a mom. You just need to know what to quit (and when not to).
DM me when you’re ready to close up shop each day, feeling satisfied as the mom AND business owner.
Want the full episode?
It’s right here - along with the client story that inspired it!
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