Having It All Series – Part 1

July 17, 2012 By 13 Comments

Having It All – Welcome To the Series

Having It AllHave you considered buying a Swiffer Wet-Jet, Clorox Wipes, or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to save time on housecleaning?  Do you have Pocket, Cozi, and Dragon installed on your iPhone to make sure you are multi-tasking efficiently and managing your family’s calendar?  Do you have a board on Pinterest that includes “52 meals in 12 minutes or less” and “100 Easy Dinner Ideas?”

You are a woman on the treadmill of life; juggling a career and a family.  You are running yourself ragged and wonder how you will get it all done.  There are not enough hours in the day and you find yourself falling into bed each night exhausted.

You may have chosen to work outside of the home because of the great satisfaction it brings you or you may have to work outside of the home to make ends meet.  Either way there is still a home to keep up, a family to look after, and only 24 hours in the day.  The plethora of do it quicker, faster, easier products is a symptom of the stress and strain we feel in cramming our home lives into the few hours we have after work.  I think it is time we fixed that.

This series of posts has come out of a conversation I had with another working mother.  We are both entrepreneurs, we have both previously worked in the corporate world, and we both have realized that “having it all” is an ideal we haven’t been able to live up to.  I will be sharing my ideas on the shift our thinking needs to take.  My blog posts (once a month for this topic) will include how our idea of home has gone awry, the ideals we try to live up to, and ways we can create homes that support our life pursuits not become them.

So welcome to this series!  Tell me if this sounds like you and how you are managing the chaos.

Here are three other articles related to “Having It All”:

From Forbes magazine – Why Millennial Women Are Burning Out at Work By 30

From Psychology Today magazine – The Work Life/Balance Myth

From Working Mother blog – Letting Go of Stress for the Working Mother

 

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  • http://www.simpleeserene.com Lee Horbachewski

    Love it – “a woman on the treadmill of life.” Isn’t that the truth. I once strived for “balance”, I could relate to the Psychology Today article. Last year I decided to let go of “balance” and be present. Slowly but surely implementing systems.

    I don’t think we will ever be able to have it all, heck I wish we could – could you imagine. What I believe we have right in front of us is perception of time, and the ability to choose. Systems like what you’ve described are a healthy choice all women need to apply.

    Thanks and look forward to the series.
    Hugs & Love
    Lee xox

    • Kirsten

      Hello Lee,
      I have tried to “have it all” (being Type A just meant I made longer lists and never sat down.) You cannot possibly do it and something suffers for it; it could be your health, your relationships, or your joy. I have seen that in my own life and now I want to help other families examine what is important and find better ways.
      Welcome to the series, it is going to be a wild ride!

      Kirsten

  • http://www.annewrightphotography.com Anne

    Kristen,

    I am so looking forward to this series of post! I think I mentioned before I’m a little tired of always being trying to catch up the train instead of driving it so I’m grateful you’ll be sharing some ideas on that topic! In the mean time, I’m going to check out what “Pocket, Cozi, and Drago” are!!!

    • Kirsten

      Hello Anne,

      All of us have a train barrelling through our lives! I say instead of driving it – hop on, gaze out the window and enjoy the journey!!

      I hope I can provide you with a shift in your thinking so you are able to enjoy the ride too.

      Kirsten

      • http://www.annewrightphotography.com Anne

        You know, I only ever thought my role was to drive it – which in itself would be so much more enjoyable than running behind it :) I never thought of gazing out the window and enjoy the view – that’s a shift in thought!!! Thank you!

        • Kirsten

          You are welcome, Anne!

          Kirsten

  • http://www.thefirewithinacupuncture.com Tanya Hartz

    It’s not even “have I considered buying Swiffer Wet-Jet, Clorox Wipes, or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser,” I am already doing this! Though I will say the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is wonderful for Goalie Pads ;)
    I’m sure if I didn’t own a Blackberry that I would also be using the many wonderful apps on the iPhone too! I have been toying with the idea of hiring an assistant, and housecleaner just to free up more time to spend with my family and not have a head buzzing…but it wouldn’t work.
    I’ve decided weekends are mine to spend whichever and however I’d like with family. The phone is turned off. All appointment reminders are sent out on Friday for the following Monday/Tuesday. If I run a Saturday workshop, then Friday and Sunday are mine. No matter what’s going on I work around hockey – always freeing up time to cheer my son on! They grow up too fast and I don’t want to miss anything. :)
    I can see it in my business already the younger women in their 30s who are business owners and are buring out – as you’ve put it. The words “I’ve been busy” is the new “I’m doing well” – definitely looking forward to this series, Kirsten!

    • Kirsten

      Hello Tanya,

      Great job carving out important family time! You will never regret those hours you spent in the hockey rink!
      I am saddened that you are witnessing the ideals that we have created for our homes and businesses. No one should be burning out. “Being busy” doesn’t mean “being fulfilled;” it is time for a shift.

      Thanks for your comments! I’ll keep the Magic Eraser in mind for shiny goalie pads ;)

  • http://www.NadineNicholson.com Nadine Nicholson

    Kirsten, love this fresh perspective! (No pun intended lol.) At one time we had a live in nanny. Our house was cleaned every day before we came home from work. After deciding to change our childcare scenario, I knew I couldn’t keep up that kind of commitment, nor did I even want to. Our house is tidy but it’s not spotless. I do two things for sure every two days – clean the granite with multi purpose Windex and sweep the kitchen floor. As long as those are done, I’m happy.

    • Kirsten

      Hello Nadine,

      We all need to establish “clean enough” for our families. Who could possibly work full time both at home and at work? I love that you found your must-dos and stick to them.
      Thanks for commenting!

  • http://www.mpoweredmarketing.com Kim Page Gluckie

    I’m sorry it took me a full week+ to read this! But it sounds really familiar. ;) SO proud of you for how clear you have written this article and how well you’ve defined so many women. Brilliant! Can’t wait to discuss more and read the rest of your series. Great job! I’ll be sharing. And, urhm, yes… sounds like me! LOL.

    • Kirsten

      Hi Kim,
      We can all see ourselves in this article…some were even the inspiration ;) Please do share it with anyone you know might benefit! I can hardly wait for the discussions it will lead to. :)

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