Organization may be essential for a smooth-running home, but be careful of comparing yourself to other women who seem to juggle everything with ease.  It will only cause frustration and discouragement!  We all have different personalities, backgrounds, gifts, and abilities.  Focus on what's best for YOUR children and YOUR family.  Do your best to keep the house clean and orderly, but don't forget to schedule relaxation and family fun!

SETTING GOALS:  It's good to have goals, but start with "little ones" (easily accomplished) so you can learn what it's like to REACH them! 

Some children were taught by their parents to set goals, and given positive encouragement as they worked towards them.  Others were given unattainable goals, and belittled for not achieving them.  Consequently, to avoid the feeling of discouragement, these people learned NOT to set goals, saying "I'll never reach them, anyhow".  Self-sabotage is common. 

Personal goals are meant to be a focal point, a direction for life choices.   If you don't feel confident in your ability to reach a goal, try this: 

Choose something you'd like to accomplish, then EACH DAY "do one little thing" to move yourself "one step ahead" in the right direction (keeping an eye on where you want to go).  It doesn't matter when you reach the goal, but that you feel successful along the way!

Some goals won't be reached for months (or years), but others can be reached in a few days.   Personal goals can be re-evaluated and changed.  If it seems too big, break it up into smaller parts (each one a goal, no matter how small it seems).  

As you REACH the smaller goal...give yourself a reward.  (When you reach the "ultimate goal", mark it with a real celebration of this MAJOR Life Change!  It's HUGE!)  Pat yourself on the back, look into the mirror and say, "Good Job!  I'm PROUD of you!" We need to do this for ourselves, as well as for our children.

Do you have a problem with rewarding yourself?  Successful businesses give incentives and rewards to their employees when they reach a business goal.  We ALL enjoy knowing there's something positive waiting for us in the future.  Instead of looking to others to reward us, we can reward ourselves!  It also teaches our children a valuable lesson, that "I am worthy of recognition and reward for a job well done, as I recognize and reward others, being an encouragement to them."    

If you're forever "running" and never accomplishing...."unable to turn off your thoughts"...

Adult ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), is a condition affecting many people in our society. 

If it seems:

• life is chaotic
• you run around in circles
• lack a feeling of accomplishment
• the littlest thing is a distraction (and you forget what you were doing!)
• unable to prioritize (discern which task is most important)
• find it difficult to complete a simple project
• the simplest things seem complicated
• your head feels like it's "full of cotton"
• "focus" is just a word; distraction is your life
• you're forever running, but don't feel like you get anywhere (etc., etc,..)

It's not just a childhood problem.  Many adults are discovering it's the reason they've lived their whole lives with a sense of personal inadequacy, no matter how much they've accomplished. 

People with ADD, or ADHD, are some of the smartest, most creative people in the world, but can't seem to FOCUS long enough to get a project completed! 

If this sounds familiar, check out a book called  Driven to Distraction.  It's a very interesting book! 

If using the standard medications keeps you from pursuing this type of treatment, there are now NON-stimulant medications (by prescription) which deal with neurotransmitter dysfunction.   Along with medical intervention and life-style changes, many adults are finding the focus and direction they've dreamed of all their life!  If you can relate,...maybe it's worth looking into.