What To Do On Exhausting Days

There are some days as Mums where you are just not feeling it. You wake up grumpy, you have a broken night of sleep, you just feel off for no real reason.

Your default is likely to start thinking, “What is wrong with me?” or “I don’t want to feel like this” – this is totally normal, but not the nicest way to be speaking to yourself all day, especially while you have a toddler at your heels.

My client Kim for example had a vision of herself waking up each morning to do 10 minutes of stretching alone. She saw herself taking a 30 minute lunch break to sit outside and have a nourishing meal while her son watched the iPad, and she wanted to go to bed on time (before 10.30pm) having laid out her clothes for the next day.

BUT days could get hard. Her son often came into wake her up before she got a chance to stretch, she often felt pressure to not take a break in the middle of the day, and after bedtime felt like the only time to herself to have fun and binge watch a show she liked (aka stay up late).

I gave her these questions to manage the less than ideal days and you can use them too.

Questions for rough days

1. What are the most important things I can do today (FOR MYSELF?)

Yes, we’re asking what you can do for you first. No one is benefiting if you are exhausted and driven into the ground.

Maybe the answers are using TV more today, maybe it’s napping when they nap instead of doing the dishes.

Make a list of how you can support yourself on a rough day.

2. What do I have to do today?

When the day stretches out ahead of you, it can seem mega daunting.

You’ll count the hours to nap time, then to the time your partner gets home, then to bedtime.

But what do you HAVE to do today?

Likely, feed your child (maybe 30-60 mins of your day), shower (10 minutes), what else?

Then reflect – OK, I only have to do 70 minutes of stuff today. I can handle that in a 10 hour day. How do I want to spend the rest of the time? (see question 1!)

This will calm your brain down and let it know you don’t have hours of adult responsibilities, but instead a few things to do to keep things running.

3. Who could I ask for help?

Can you ask your partner to come home early? Can you meet a friend? Can you go to a local play group? Can the iPad be your best friend today?

Again, we’re focusing on you and what you need mum!

Your homework is to use your answers to these questions, and create a checklist in your phone or on paper somewhere so you can easily tap into it on those tougher days!

I’d love you to DM me @georgiebryantcoaching with your checklist or you can listen to the podcast episode on this topic here.