Work-Life Balance for Parentsናሙና

It is only 8:38 am and I am already stressed. I rushed my son to preschool at 7:25 am so I could then bike, in the snow, to work. My husband has to take the morning off because our daughter is in quarantine for having contact with a kid with Covid-19. I left my dress shoes at home. And we are in a lockdown with two weeks left until Christmas.

My tendency, on such days, is to continue on this plane of stress until I crash into bed at night. I also choose unhealthy food for dinner because I don’t have time to cook (Chicken Nuggets and Tater Tots, anyone?). I let the kids watch one more episode of a show than they are usually allowed because I want the quiet. Then I watch one, or three more episodes than I should before nodding off and falling into bed. All of these habits do nothing to alleviate stress; in a way, they just escalate it.

As Christians, we can stop and we can pray for God to give us the moment we need to slow down, calm down, and make decisions that help us relax inside. We can remind ourselves that “everything works for the good of those who love him” and that he has a purpose for our lives far beyond these small, stressful moments. When we have rare occasions of less busyness, we can evaluate what we are doing with our lives that cause more stress and how to form healthier habits to decrease it.

Today, for me, is a perfect example to decrease stress when it is already mounting so high and so early. I can include a vegetable and a salad at dinner. I can read books with my kids instead of allowing them another 15 minutes of television. I can play a game with my husband or read a book instead of binge-watching a new show. I can discuss with my kids what cookies we should bake on Saturday. It goes on and on. Regardless of how busy a day is, we can choose healthy habits and joy-filled decisions to make the stress more bearable.

I already feel joy and excitement for the evening before me just thinking about these ideas. It makes my entire workday less stressful and much happier. Take a 7-minute break tomorrow and enjoy thinking of small ways to decrease stress in your day, enjoy the feeling of peace it provides.

To find out more about how to take effective breaks, visit seveminutesolution.com. For more information and tips about working with purpose, read the new book, The 7-Minute Productivity Solution.