My Top 3 Ways to Survive A Busy Week

This has possibly been the busiest week of my life. Normally I’m pretty good at balancing my work/family time during a busy week, but this week every system I had in place was tested, because I had to be not super-mom–I had to be super BALLET mom. Both my kids got roles in their ballet theater company’s family concert series, and while I am beaming up to the heavens with pride, I have to tell you, being a ballet mom is exhausting! Especially being a ballet mom who also owns and runs two businesses.

We were literally at the studio or theater every day this week, and will be this weekend–I’m even working backstage all day Sunday to help the dancers with costumes and make sure they’re in the right place at the right time and all that. Normally I bring my laptop and work during their classes and rehearsals, but this past week little (and big) dancers’ costumes needed to be sewn, pointe shoes and ribbons needed to be hand-dyed (and inhaling Sharpie fumes needed to be avoided), and we were there double the hours we normally are.

Normally when things change from my usual routine that I’ve worked hard to establish I fuh-reak out. But I didn’t freak out during this busy week, and I’ll tell you why.

Self-care: I made my yoga and ballet barre practice non-negotiable this week. Even if it was only for 20 or 30 minutes. I also got myself to bed an hour earlier and took short naps during the day when I needed to. I cooked a big pot of chicken soup and marinara sauce, and had a fresh jar of cultured veggies ready to go early in the week as well.

Asking for help. My mom came to visit and while I usually get fussy with where things go and how things are done in my house, when she began helping me around the house with chores, cooking, and cleaning, I just let her have at it. No nit-picking, no nothing. I also communicated with her about what was most helpful to me, and it truly helped her help me more.

Gratitude. I practice gratitude every day. This week I tried to be extra mindful of all the blessings. This crazy schedule was brought on by opportunities and blessings that are privileges, not guarantees. I am grateful for the opportunity my kids have to perform with some of the best young dancers in the country, I’m grateful that my work allows me to be there for all of it, and I’m grateful I have family who care enough to come help and also to drive in from out of state to see my kids perform in their first won roles in a ballet. I’m grateful for my business partners, my assistant, my coach, and my accountability partners for helping me keep priorities and goals in order, and also stepping in to take tasks off my plate. This week would have been crazy in a bad way if it wasn’t for their help.

Let me know in the comments below!