By Sarah Dakin, www.babystepscoaching.com

In my work with coaching clients, I am always amazed at the wisdom other moms possess. Here are 8 tips clients and I have found helpful.

1. Use the two minute rule. Getting started is often the hardest part when it comes to building new habits. You probably have a little voice inside your head that comes up with excuses like, “I’m too tired…” “I don’t have time…” Commit yourself to doing just two minutes of the new activity. It is laughable to not have the time and energy to do two minutes worth! And once you get started, you will probably find you decide to do more.

2. Work with your passion. If it is 12 pm and you can’t sleep because you are writing a ‘to do’ list in your mind, get up and write it! You are not sleeping as it is, and why waste the thoughts that are flowing so freely? If you tackle a task when you are charged up about it, you will be more efficient and productive.

3. Commit to regular clear head time. We need regular rest, activity and nourishment. But as busy moms, we also need regular time to connect with our deeper selves and to hear our intuitive voice. Whether it is knitting, journaling, driving with the radio off, running, showers or mediation, make sure you have a regular time in your week for quiet solitude to tune in to your true priorities.

4. Get curious about procrastination. If you feel yourself resisting a task on your ‘to do’ list, it is time to get curious. One client of mine consistently found herself dragging her feet around a volunteer role she had taken on. After exploring it further, she realized volunteering was very important to her, as it nurtured her sense of hope. But this particular role was not the right one for her at this stage of her life. What is important about the task you are avoiding and what needs to change?

5. Do it now. How much extra work do we make for ourselves by not tackling a small task immediately? Wait to read your email until you have some time to respond right then and there. Leave opening the mail until you are by your filing cabinet and ready to file those bills. If you need milk, put it on the shopping list immediately so that the thought of ‘remember to buy milk’ is not using up some your mental energy for the next four hours!

6. Figure out the next step. It is not always possible to tackle a whole project right away. If your roof has started leaking, or you have had a conflict with someone at work, it can be a big source of stress and something that will weigh on your mind. What is the next concrete step you need to take to address the problem? When can you do it? Once you have a clear next action mapped out and a time frame set to address it, you will often find you feel more relaxed.

7. Keep it in perspective. In 10 years, how important will this seem? Sometimes it takes something catastrophic like a serious illness, a loved one’s hospitalization or an accident to remind us how trivial many of the tasks we fret over really are. Try writing a Have Done - To Be Celebrated List and an I’m thankful For list along side your To Do list.

8. Be gentle on yourself. We have all seen with our children how much more effective encouragement can be than criticism. Yet which approach do you use more often when talking to yourself? Get the word “should” out of your vocabulary and focus on “I want to” or “I choose not to” rather than “I must” or “I can’t”. Being kind to yourself gets you further than self berating.

Sarah can be reached at sarah@babystepscoaching.com.