What Don't You Like to do...

Last post I mentioned writing a list of all the things that make you happy and that you enjoy to do. Today, I am writing a list of all the things I really don't like to do or let me be frank, I'm not very good at doing. This is a list of my weaknesses and the things that cause me stress and anxiety.
So grab a pen and paper, (or your computer) set your timer and let's go. Right now!

Things I Don't Like To Do/ My Weaknesses:
Cooking
Cleaning (especially the bathrooms)
Ironing
Over Scheduling
Not Having a Plan
Never Finishing a Project
Being Late
A Messy Home
Disorganization
Being Home All Day (need to get outside)
Going to Events at Night (too tired and not super social)
Budgeting and Financing
Grocery shopping (especially with kids)

Ok, so this is my list. Not many things I enjoy doing in the home. hahaha. Glad I am a Stay-at-home mom were that actually is my job! What can I do if I "HAVE" to do these items. Someone has to cook? clean? etc...

First question is,  can I delegate or delete anything from this list? For example, cleaning.
I can delete this task from my list. (partially anyway) For me it is worth the payment to have someone come and clean my house. Because it is expensive I have the cleaning service come 2x month (with hopes in the future of them coming weekly, YES!) This had made a huge difference in my life. I can spend more time with my children and less time cleaning the house. Plus they do a way better job!
On a side note: I do have a Maintenance Cleaning Schedule that is quick and easy which I can share in another post. (I work best with easy quick systems)  I try to find systems to pretty much any task I have to do. It takes the thinking and guess work out which can drive me crazy...

So is there anything on your list that you can Delegate or Delete? Ironing, I just don't do it. My husband has wrinkle-free dress shirts or he brings his clothes to the dry cleaners.... You have to do what works for you. If you are on a budget, maybe you can't afford at this time a cleaning service or dry cleaning. But you can delegate these tasks to older children, your husband, your mom, a neighbor, a friend etc... Some people actually do enjoy doing these things. Crazy!

So my assignment for all of us is to look at our list and try to find ways to delegate or delete each task. I like the sound of that. How about you?

What Makes You Happy....

Disclaimer: I had a plan (if you see my first post to write often on this blog) as you may notice that was over a month ago! But you know what, it's never too late to pick up and start again. I had mentioned writing down all the things that make me happy. I often think when you become a mom you change. And in many ways this is good.  You learn to love and sacrifice especially in those early months with nightly feeds and what seems like days of endless crying... You press on because let's be honest you have to. But along the way of motherhood, "You" become lost. You forget who you are and what you like to do because you are so busy taking care of others. I often catch myself saying, "I used to be fun..." or "I used to love doing that..." or even hear my kids say, "But Mom you like to stay home and clean and do the laundry... Is that what they think? No I really don't.  I do like a clean and organized home but the actual act of creating that is really not that fun. Does anyone really like cleaning the bathrooms? Truly my least favorite thing to do. 

 So I wanted to write down a list of all the things I love to do and that make me happy. So join me, right now, and grab a pen and paper or open up a screen on your computer. Let's take a few minutes (I am setting a timer for 2 minutes) and write down anything that comes to your mind. Ready. Set. Go!

What make me happy:
Waking up early to prayer/write/read the bible
Exercising
Reading
Organizing
Spending quality time with my kids (doing fun activities)
Date night with my husband, quality time together (long chats about our dreams and our girls)
Decorating the house
Clean home
Reading fun blogs
Being outside
Going for walks
Listening to great podcasts/audio books
(Needed more time-reset my timer for 2 more minutes)
Teaching my girls (seeing them learn and grow)
Playing the piano
Service work
Talking/spending time with friends
Being healthy (eating healthy foods, moving and being active)
Getting projects done
Going on vacation and traveling with my family
Going on Power of Moms' retreat and learning how to be a better mom

These are a just a few things that came to mind for me. As a look at them, they are all pretty doable. So on my next post I want to write down all the things I don't like to do. My plan as I do this is to find ways to spend more time doing the things I love and enjoy and spending less time doing the things I don't love and enjoy (by delegating or deleting them from my list) We only have one life and it is pasting bye quickly. I don't want to think or say anymore, "one day when the kids are older,  I'll have time to do this or that..." (though that may be true at certain times) ever stage of motherhood has it's challenges and time is really our most valuable resource. Let's live today rather waiting for a "maybe" tomorrow. Let's have fun and enjoy this amazing life that God had given us!