Does it feel unrealistic to work towards personal goals, while you are putting all your time and energy into being a mom?
Being a single mom can be exhausting, stressful, and overwhelming. And it’s hard enough to keep up with the major task of parenting little ones, let alone set aside time to work towards personal ambitions.
In fact, when personal time does appear - a Saturday morning while your child sleeps in, or a few minutes before you pick up your youngster from school; there seem to be thousands of unfinished tasks just waiting for your attention. And most of those have nothing to do with those big life goals you dream about.
And yet, meeting your goals is essential. Meeting goals is how you build a better life for yourself, and a better life for your child.
Let’s look at some ways you can work toward - and achieve - your personal goals, while still being an amazing mom.
Set Aside Personal Time
Set aside just a little personal time that’s dedicated to meeting your specific goals. Maybe it’s half an hour while your child is in dance class. Maybe it’s a precious fifteen minutes on a weekday morning, before everyone gets up for school. Put this time on the calendar.
By prioritizing even a little time for yourself - you’ll be able to create some headspace, focus on your vision, and make real progress towards your goals.
Take Your Kid Along
Whenever possible, take your child with you while you work on your goals. If you’re writing a novel, set up a desk where your child can work on his or her own book too. If you’re a budding choreographer, take your child to the studio with you. If you’re working towards a college degree, do your homework together.
Children benefit from observing your hard work and commitment. Kids learn by example, and you are their guide. Show your child how it’s done by making them a part of your goal-achieving world.
Connect
Connect with others who share your same aspirations. Find a mentor who believes in your potential, and meet regularly. Join a community or mastermind group. Find a friend or colleague who is working towards similar goals.
By connecting with others, you’ll be held accountable, get inspired by and empowered, and benefit from cheerleaders who can see your potential - even when you can’t.
This is Just the Beginning...
Learning how to meet your personal goals while juggling the major task of motherhood is challenging - and remember, it’s a learning process, just like anything else.
Prioritizing your dreams though, can be game-changing, and the joy of accomplishment will seep into every area of your life; from your relationship with your child, to your outlook each day.
Summary of Part I: In part one of this series, we took a look at how to set your intentions, the importance of deadlines, and why you should celebrate every failure.
