2238: [Part 2] How To Plan Your Day As a Mom (3 Simple Steps) by Shawna Scafe of Simple on Purpose on Motherhood

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Now before we start, you might want to check out our other podcasts covering topics like personal development and minimalism, money, health, relationships and more.

[00:00:10] [SPEAKER_00]: So to optimize your life in other areas, just search for Optimal Living Daily in your podcast app.

[00:00:15] [SPEAKER_01]: Now onto the show.

[00:00:18] [SPEAKER_01]: This is Optimal Relationships Daily Episode 2238 How To Plan Your Day As a Mom 3 Simple Steps Part 2 by Shawna Scafe of Simple on Purpose.c

[00:00:29] [SPEAKER_01]: Today.

[00:00:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Hello everybody and welcome back to O-R-D for another parenting episode.

[00:00:36] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm your host and narrator Greg Audino.

[00:00:38] [SPEAKER_01]: This time finishing up the longer post I began yesterday.

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_01]: So if you haven't checked that episode out, definitely do so before continuing.

[00:00:46] [SPEAKER_01]: But if you are all caught up then let's hear the rest from Shawna as we optimize your life.

[00:00:54] [SPEAKER_01]: How To Plan Your Day As a Mom 3 Simple Steps Part 2 by Shawna Scafe of SimpleOnPurpose.ca

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Number 3.

[00:01:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Do a Morning Review Every morning I spend some time sitting with my planner and looking over the day.

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't call it the morning review, it's more like standing at the counter looking at my planner while making another peanut butter toast and heating up the coffee.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Morning Review Sounds Better and like I'm wearing pants in a brawl I do it.

[00:01:24] [SPEAKER_01]: So the morning review is vital.

[00:01:28] [SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't have to take long and it helps you set the vision you have for the day.

[00:01:32] [SPEAKER_01]: It's a time to ask yourself questions like, what is your timetable like today?

[00:01:37] [SPEAKER_01]: Where do people have to be and when and what do they need with them?

[00:01:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Where do you fit in things like errands or preparations for coming events?

[00:01:46] [SPEAKER_01]: What is something you want to do with the kids today?

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_01]: What about the things you say you want to do like home projects or exercise or reading?

[00:01:54] [SPEAKER_01]: Before my kids started school and I had three small kids at home, this was my lifeline.

[00:02:00] [SPEAKER_01]: I would plan out an outing we would do in the morning, lunch ideas, a craft or a project for the afternoon and a dinner plan.

[00:02:07] [SPEAKER_01]: This wasn't a Pinterest perfect and it didn't happen every single day.

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_01]: But when it did, I felt like I wasn't just reacting to my day and scrambling to have fun with my kids.

[00:02:17] [SPEAKER_01]: I felt more engaged and relaxed.

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_01]: So give things that are important to you a place in your day so you don't end up spending an hour on the couch scrolling Facebook.

[00:02:27] [SPEAKER_01]: When you could have been reading the next book in the Outlander series or finally decluttering your empty jar collection in your kitchen cupboards,

[00:02:34] [SPEAKER_01]: those are the three steps I used to plan out my day.

[00:02:37] [SPEAKER_01]: But I also want to bring to your attention why it's important.

[00:02:42] [SPEAKER_01]: One word, one thing we're all looking for in our daily life.

[00:02:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Being in control.

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_01]: I can remember how it felt before I decided I wanted to live on purpose.

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_01]: I felt constantly overwhelmed with this sense that there were all these things to do and I was in a constant state of failure because my house was a mess.

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Rooms were full of clutter.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_01]: I didn't know what I would be doing tomorrow, and there was always a high likelihood that we would be having toast and eggs for dinner.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_01]: Again, I mean I did have toddlers so I probably needed a big dose of grace more than anything.

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_01]: But I found that there were small things I could do that would let me gain control without being controlling.

[00:03:22] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's get serious for a minute.

[00:03:24] [SPEAKER_01]: We all want to feel in control, but how we gain control is what makes the big difference.

[00:03:30] [SPEAKER_01]: When I don't have a plan, I feel flustered and anxious.

[00:03:34] [SPEAKER_01]: I try to start things like projects and then get frustrated the kids need me when I should have just been sitting with them playing Legos and asking about their day.

[00:03:42] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm forgetting dance bags, I'm missing out on the cupcake sale in town.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_01]: I have no clue what we're doing for dinner, the house is a mess.

[00:03:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Then I feel lazy and unproductive.

[00:03:53] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean a constant state of trying to gain control over my day, I become controlling.

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's say that again in a slow and menacing voice.

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Controlling.

[00:04:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Nobody likes how I get when I'm controlling.

[00:04:06] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't like how I get.

[00:04:08] [SPEAKER_01]: However, when I plan my day, I am in control.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_01]: In control is relaxed, ready and a lot more fun.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Instead of feeling restless, I have a focus.

[00:04:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Instead of feeling anxious, I have a plan.

[00:04:23] [SPEAKER_01]: I feel relaxed because I know there will be space for things in the scheme of the day or the week.

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER_01]: We sure not all the things, but the most important things.

[00:04:32] [SPEAKER_01]: And oddly enough, my kids especially my oldest love to know the plan.

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_01]: When I can list off what we'll do today, they give their two cents and maybe if I'm feeling as fun as dad,

[00:04:44] [SPEAKER_01]: I will say yes to slushies and hot-gloing popsicle sticks into swords and going for walks.

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_01]: They are part of it. It is there plan too.

[00:04:54] [SPEAKER_01]: So when I nag you all about planning your day, writing things down and setting a vision for your year month, week and day.

[00:05:02] [SPEAKER_01]: It's because I want to empower you to be in control of your life rather than constantly grasping for control.

[00:05:11] [SPEAKER_01]: I nag because I care.

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Says every mom ever.

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_01]: You just listened to part two of the post titled, How to Plan Your Day as a Mom, three simple steps by Shawna Schaif of SimpleOnPurpose.ca.

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_01]: And stick around for my commentary coming up right after this.

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, and thanks to Shawna.

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_01]: They really great post which we have now heard in its entirety.

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER_01]: I appreciate how she ended it, bringing all her ideas together and emphasizing one larger theme of being in control.

[00:05:46] [SPEAKER_01]: And while she's definitely offered a lot of great tips for developing a sense of control,

[00:05:51] [SPEAKER_01]: be advised that probably the best thing you can do for your desire to control your life is to acknowledge that doing so will never be entirely 100% possible.

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_01]: I love the tactics she's talked about and other similar ones that are extraordinarily helpful.

[00:06:07] [SPEAKER_01]: But the truth remains that things can always go haywire,

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_01]: and should we get too attached to the idea of control,

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_01]: we're often left unprepared when things start to go unplanned.

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Even worse, sometimes our desire for control is so strong that these setbacks can cause us to give up all together,

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_01]: rather than taking the bad days and stride and just getting back on the horse the next day.

[00:06:31] [SPEAKER_01]: That's really when control starts to slip away because we've convinced ourselves that our efforts to stay productive are for not.

[00:06:39] [SPEAKER_01]: But they aren't useless, they just aren't bulletproof, and that's more than fine.

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER_01]: So something to think about.

[00:06:46] [SPEAKER_01]: I will leave it there for today, everyone.

[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for being here and listening all the way through.

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER_01]: Have a great rest of your Friday, and I'll see you again over the weekend,

[00:06:54] [SPEAKER_01]: where you're optimal life awaits.