Mom to Mom The Happy Mom Daily Checklist or in other words How to Avoid Being a Monster Mom!

Mom to Mom

The Happy Mom Daily Checklist or in other words How to Avoid Being a Monster Mom!

Directions:

You'll find the Happy Mom Checklist below. Once you've finished reading it please go to google docs and print at least 5 copies of the Happy Mom checklist. Here is the google docs link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GKXGo9UuvAg5r9PnMCO--iLzeOxcy8Bo3P3e-5b6wG0/edit

Also print or copy a stack to have on hand – you’ll need a new one each day. Put them in a two-pocket folder, the new ones in the left pocket, and at the end of the day put your completed daily checklist in the right pocket. Place the folder under your mattress so it's the first and last thing you do each day.

Begin using your checklist today, add the day/date to the top of the sheet and begin. Every journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, take the first step today and follow the checklist as best you can each day and you will feel like a Happy Mom! Check off the items you complete throughout your day. You don’t have to do them in any special order, and you may not get them all checked off every day – but don't worry if you don’t get them all done today, tomorrow’s another day and each day you’ll accomplish more! The goal really is to help you focus and be aware, to help you stop feeling overwhelmed, and help you get into the habit of doing some “me” things routinely every day and then they will become habits. You will gain a sense of accomplishment too when you see all that you have done on your Happy Mom Checklist each day!

The key to success: Referring back to the Happy Mom checklist! This is especially important when you get sidetracked or start spending too much time on one thing – be it kids, cleaning, work, watching tv, computer, phone, whatever, you must pull out the checklist and make something else on it happen. Again, the key to success: Go back to the checklist!

At the end of the day, put that day’s checklist in the folder, under your mattress, and let it all go out of your head as you drift off to sleep.

HAPPY MOM DAILY CHECKLIST

Day/Date:

Be sure to refer back to this list to stay on track whenever you feel like the day is getting away from you!

__Wake up & give thanks–it's already a good day, you woke up!

__Feet on the floor, get out of bed, make the bed.

__Shower & Dress

__Brush teeth & hair

__Lipstick/Chapstick, Moisturize

__Deodorant/Perfume

__Breakfast, 8am (Special K cereal)

__Decide what's for dinner tonight

__Snack, 10am, 12n, 2pm, 4pm, 8pm (fruit/veg/smoothie/protein bar, etc)

__Lunch, 12n (Salad, Soup, something good/healthy)

__Dinner 6pm, Salad or Soup, Chicken or Fish, Veg, Grain

__Take a multi-vitamin! And any other vitamins or medications

__Fill a Pretty Pitcher with water keep it next to the kitchen sink or at work. Drink the water throughout the day, by the end of the day the pitcher should be empty.

__Calendar Check: touch base with your calendar, see what is scheduled for today, add important events, activities, meetings, sports, etc. to your calendar, get them out of your head and onto the calendar,

__Check your email, answer important ones, print the ones you need to get to, delete what you can. Spend 15 to 30 minutes doing this and then get off or go on to other computer tasks. Daily email upkeep will pay off.

__Squats, throughout the day do 10, do 10 more, do 10 more, and 10 more

__Lunges, throughout the day do 10, do 10 more, do 10 more, and 10 more

__Steps, throughout the day go up & down 2 times, 2 more times, 2 more times

__Arm lifts with hand weights or cans, throughout the day do 10, do 10 more, do 10 more, do 10, do 10 more

__Run in place for a count of 15 then balance on one leg for a count of 5, throughout the day do it again, and again, and again, and again

__Do a little laundry: wash, or dry or hang or fold or put away or take it to the cleaners.

__Spend at least 20 minutes opening/getting rid of mail or looking at/doing bills, paperwork, banking, etc.

__Vacuum, straighten or lightly clean ONE room.

__To Do List: Write down some of the things you'd like to accomplish today, then check it off when you are done: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__See or talk to someone other than family today. Call a friend, connect with a co-worker, chat with the mailman, the store clerk, someone!

__Boost your mood, turn on some music.

__Hug someone.

__Breathe...close your eyes and breathe deeply, in and out 5 times, do this a few times a day.

__Pop in an exercise video, or if you have on-demand cable, Exercise TV is wonderful– 20 min and you’re done!

__Laugh–even it it’s at yourself. Need help? Visit ahajokes.com for a chuckle.

__Spend 20 minutes OUTSIDE–do something, do nothing, just get outside for at least 20 min.

__Do Dinner, Keep it light. Salad, put it on the table every meal, even if it’s only lettuce & dressing. Lots of Veggies, always keep lots of bags of frozen veggies in the freezer, pull a bag out & and into a bowl with a little water then microwave – quick and easy. Lean meat or fish done on the Forman grill it's quick and easy, sprinkle with Mrs. Dash seasonings for extra flavor. Instant Rice or Pasta, mix half regular with half whole grain.

__Enlist the hubby or kids to do the dishes so you can pack lunches, check/sign school work and papers.

__Bedtime to do's: plug in cell phone, pick out tomorrow's clothes, wash face, brush/floss teeth, shower or relax in a warm bubble bath, don’t forget face/hand cream, put on pj’s and get into bed! Give thanks.

__Don’t worry about tomorrow, don’t regret anything about today. Good things happened, crap happened…but lucky you, you’ll have the chance to do it all over again tomorrow…put your Happy Mom checklist under your mattress, turn on the radio, close your eyes, relax, go to sleep!