"You can have it all. Just not all at once."

-Oprah Winfrey 

Maybe, you are like me. You have multiple children, a part-time job, and a side "hustle" or two. Every single day is a juggling act. Some days, your activities run smoothly, and you make it through without a lot of messes to clean up or tears to dry. And other days, you struggle to get dressed and want to lock yourself in the closet and scroll social media to avoid having to feed your children another snack. 

Often, I see women sharing about how they find "balance" in motherhood and work. The truth is, this does not exist. You will have to accept that to truly find joy and live your purpose in this crazy journey. The key is realizing that valuing something does not mean it is a priority in this season of life. In other words, you may value a clean home, but you prioritize exercise over spending hours cleaning up the endless mess that your little ones create.  

As you go through your days, remember to slow down and give yourself grace. Do not fall into the comparison trap that you can get caught in, when scrolling through those perfectly curated Instagram feeds. Take time to focus on your priorities, and find ways to get those things completed, before worrying about the other things that are just not fitting into the stage you are in right now. My biggest tip to knocking out tasks that have to be done is to write down everything you want to do or need to get accomplished. Then, look over that list and mark your top three to five things that you will prioritize for that day. Set 5-20 minute timers to focus on a task, and knock them out one by one. Once your priorities are done, then move on down the list. If you work from home, allow yourself blocks of time where you will dedicate a certain amount to work and another amount to housework. For "business" activities, I set longer timers, and I try make sure to complete the top three tasks before moving on to less important things. When I'm doing the 5-20 minute timed tasks, I will listen to a training or a podcast, so that I get two things done at the same time.  

Remember, balance in motherhood and work is a lie. You can have it all, just not at the same time. Try the timer trick I mentioned above, and let me know what you think!  Feel free to share any tips you have for other mamas on getting more done in less time. Prioritize the things that align with the season you are in, and you will be able to live a happier and more productive life... Promise.