I have to say, I feel like today’s episode on why you shouldn't follow a schedule is going to be a bit of a take it or leave it episode. I am not naive enough to think that what works for me will wo...
I have to say, I feel like today’s episode on why you shouldn't follow a schedule is going to be a bit of a take it or leave it episode. I am not naive enough to think that what works for me will work for every mom on the planet. If you’re super type A and you couldn’t imagine your life without your baby or your kids being on a SUPER strict schedule, than this may not be your jam. That’s totally fine! However if you’re one of those moms like I was who felt like your children NEEDED to be on some sort of, super down-to-the-minute eat, play, sleep or die schedule because all the experts said so, but you found it difficult and frustrating to stick to it, than allow me to be your sigh of relief.
And -- if this episode speaks to you, be sure to listen until the end where I give YOU a freebie to help you create your own routines that work for you.
As a disclaimer here: I’m really big on time management and figuring out systems to accomplish the most things in the least amount of time. Efficiency is my love language. But -- personally I don’t think schedules are the best way to accomplish things. And I would consider myself a type A person. But I have tried setting up schedules for all sorts of things.. a schedule for my kids eat/sleep habits, a schedule for my cleaning habits, a schedule for workout, scheduling my meal plan. But no matter what I tried, they just never worked for me. They always sounded great in theory but when I tried to apply them to my life it never worked – because inevitably, life ALWAYS happens.. something always changes, something *always* comes up. There’s no such thing as a normal week. So then what happens is your schedule gets thrown off and then you have to readjust this and do that at this time instead and blah blah blah STRESSFUL. And then what happens? You feel guilty because you “got off schedule” and confused because now you have to pick which items gets removed or rearranged so you can get back on the wagon.
I tried this with my first child. And I mean I really tried it. I didn’t like do it half way and then claim it didn’t work. I tried Babywise, I tried MomsOnCall, I tried this schedule and that schedule and Lord-please-help-my-baby-sleep-more-because-I’m-gonna-die-if-I-have-to-rearrange-my-life-one-more-time schedule. Nothing changed.
Before I go on let me be clear – I’m talking about a particular KIND of schedule. I’m not saying I don’t believe in SCHEDULING anything. Obviously there has to be set times for things like appointments and meetings and the time something starts and ends. That DOES work. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m not even talking about naptime being at the same time every day. That’s fine! Not what I’m saying either. Also, often I’ll say “schedule” when I’m talking about a “calendar”. As in, “my schedule is busy today or next week or this month”. Again, not what I mean. The “schedule” I’m talking about today a regimented list of things that you need to do IN ORDER at THE EXACT SAME TIME every single day. As in… my child eats lunch at 12:16 and if it’s 12:43 they haven’t eaten yet they will most certainly throw the tantrum of tantrums and the earth will quake and buildings will crumble. And then my child naps at 1:37pm and if it’s 2:00 then basically the earth will stop spinning, the sun will fall out of the sky and we’re all doomed and OH MY GOSH WE CAN’T GET OFF SCHEDULE…… GUYS. THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE. Because when not if you miss a certain time slot, because life happens, traffic happens, long appointments happen, blow outs happen, losing your keys happens... your heart starts to race and you feel unsettled and anxious that your schedule is getting thrown off. No thank you.
Schedules are a very controversial topic in motherhood. So if tight schedules are your thing and you love it and you think it’s working for you, AWESOME. You do you. But for all the moms out there who are just doing it because no one came in and gave them another option… this is ...
view more