This has been something I have wanted to write about for awhile, but once we got back from the beach, it really hit home. Since having Mirella, I’ve been struggling to find a healthy balance between blogging, reading other blogs, keeping up with social media, running my training business and just being a mom. I don’t know how other women do it, especially those who work full time outside of the home. Things are super busy as it is!
Don’t get me wrong, I love blogging and following other blogs, but when I take a break from it, it feels so refreshing because I have more time to tend to my family, house and me. Since Keenan doesn’t nap these days, my blogging time is very limited. Instead of writing posts and reading other blogs during his two hour nap time, I’m scrambling to prep dinner, start a blog post and edit photos in less than a hour while he has “quiet time” in his room and Mirella naps. By evening time, I’m exhausted (especially after waking up at 4:45 am to train clients and do my own workout) and all I want to do is spend time with my husband, cuddle up in bed and read after the kids are asleep.
It seems like society is constantly traveling full speed ahead, and everything has to be done instantly, not allowing any room for slowing down, taking things one at a time and truly enjoying the present.
One of my goals for this year (and every year!) is to forget about the ever-growing to-do list, live in the present, cherish each moment and soak up every minute with my family. Often times, I find myself thinking about what else needs to be done while I’m playing with Keenan and Mirella. My mind tends to wander, thinking about finishing that last load of laundry, thawing out meat to cook for dinner, or writing the next day’s bog post, and it makes me feel guilty. I have to make a conscious effort to let go of all of those “to-dos” in my head and just enjoy the here and now. It’s difficult, but the more I focus on the present, the easier it becomes.
Living in the present, balancing life, family, work (whether inside or outside the home), health, me-time…how does one do it? I’m still trying to find the answer, but what I do know is prioritizing what is most important in my life right now. The most important thing to me is my family and being present for my kids.
Take this afternoon for example. On our walk/bike ride (Keenan riding his bike, me with Mirella in the Ergo Carrier while walking with both dogs on the leash), Keenan yelled “STOP” every time we came across a dandelion in peoples’ front yards. He wanted to pick them for me. He was “picking beautiful flowers for me to put in a vase.” I had tears in my eyes when he said that. THESE are the moments I live for. It makes the challenging times so worth it and so much easier to manage.
I just wish we all could take a step back and slow down for a minute. Why do we need to rush? Why do we need to know what everyone is doing at this very minute? In the grand scheme of things, who really cares?? What happened to simplicity and a digital-free world? When Keenan asks us something that my husband and I don’t quite know the answer to, our automatic reaction is to “just Google it” and when we were kids, I remember my mom getting the old encyclopedias out or going to the library to check out a book about it. Our poor kids will never know what a non-digital world is. They are growing up in a world where information is always at their fingertips and they can find out what anyone is doing at anytime. It kind of saddens me more than anything.
If I had it my way, I would take a digital-free, simple life any day, which is actually one of the reasons why my husband and I chose to move back to my hometown, a small farming community. We wanted our kids to grow up in the country like we did, be submersed in agriculture, be apart of 4-H and take care of livestock, to learn the true essence of life. Regardless of our fast paced world, they can at least learn to appreciate simplicity and not be so caught up in our ever-demanding digital society.
Ok, enough of my rant. What does this all mean? Deep down inside, I know it means that I want to take a step back and focus on connecting with you–my readers and clients–in ways that are meaningful, but maybe not quite as often as I have. I don’t know how other bloggers balance it all so well, but I feel like I’m dropping the ball in other areas of my life when I concentrate on keeping a strict blogging schedule. I need to find a balance that works for me, and that might mean three posts in a week, or it might mean one! It all depends on what’s happening in my world. That said, you can always catch glimpses of what’s happening with deliciously FIT on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
After all, leading a deliciously FIT lifestyle is all about balance, right?
I’m off to work in Keenan’s preschool today. Have a great weekend!
Questions:
How do you balance it all?
If you are a blogger, how do you find time to blog and keep up with everything?
Couldn’t have said it better! I’ve ben struggling with it too lately, mainly with trying to read other blogs, comment, reply to comments etc. I always feel like I’m obligated to and finally realized, that’s so silly! I’m now only spending time reading those I really love or that stick out to me in my blog feed. If I don’t have time, oh well! It feels refreshing to have more time to get things done around the house or spend with my family 🙂
I have felt the same way and you are right, it is silly feeling obligated. It definitely is refreshing to have more time to get things done and more family time when not worrying about blogging!
It is a constant struggle – I try to do my blogging in a small window while the boys are at school – some days I work all day and can’t blog during the day so I have to let it go because family time is always the priority!!!
I agree, family time is always the priority!
Wonderful post. So honest and I know you are speaking into the lives of a lot of women! I have yet to meet someone who does have this “life balance” thing figured out.
Every day is a struggle to find balance – I agree with that for sure! As for blogging, I try to post 2 times a week now but I know that once my son gives up his nap, that plan is out the window! When our second baby arrives in a couple months, my goal is to write a post once a week… or maybe even take a blogging break for a week or so.
Both my husband and I grew up on farms as well and that is really something that we desire for our kids, too. Life was much more simple and felt a little “slower” in the digital-free world. There is always work to do on the farm but I felt more at peace and present compared to the busy-ness in life now!
Being present and living in the moment is always something I’m shooting for. Some days I’m better at it than others!
Thank you. It’s great to know that you only post a couple of times a week. I’ve been beating myself up about posting less, but it’s silly, really! It’s my blog, so why should it matter?! I took a blogging break for a couple of weeks after I had Mirella and it was so nice. Once I got back into the swing of things, I got my “blogging rhythm” back.
Yes, I agree with you about life feeling a little “slower” when growing up on a farm. My husband and I felt that way, too. Farming is a 24 hour operation, but there is something more present and raw about it than the craziness of everyday life.
okay, now I am really glad I found your blog.
I love this post! it is from the heart and SO true. When I first started blogging, it was at a bad time and I wasn’t able to post much, and felt guilty. now I;ve found a nice medium but know that school is my priority. I LOVE that you’re moving back to raise your kids! I;e always wanted to live in a small town, because I love to grow my own food and cook in that relaxed atmosphere. BUR, I also love city life… going out with friends, restaurants, haha.
I enjoyed living in a big city prior to having kids, but now that I have a family, I’m so glad I’m able to raise them in a small, farming town. But, I do miss date nights with my hubby at wonderful restaurants in the city!