Modifying your routine can be difficult to sustain, especially for single moms – with your schedule already packed to the brim, it can be difficult to add anything additional, let alone the rigor of many traditional New Year’s resolutions. For those looking for something a little bit more low key this year, but still interested in finding ways to improve their life, the suggestions in this list are ideal for a single mom’s schedule. You won’t have to run yourself ragged trying out these four ideas, but their impact on your day-to-day life could be invaluable.
1. Get some light on the subject
With only 5-30 minutes of sunlight per day, your body stimulates production of Vitamin D, which improves sleep, supports the immune system, and can help regulate mood. Particularly, this can help with winter blues or even seasonal depression, which is linked to low levels of Vitamin D.
So, try making small changes to get more sunlight if you aren’t yet in that range. If the conditions are favorable to spend some time outside, taking a short walk around the block or even sitting on the ground for a few minutes could be a much-needed boost to your day.
Additionally, window light is an even more convenient option. Move your favorite seat closer to the window, or soak in some rays for a few seconds each time you pass by. Depending on how much light is available, just opening your blinds and keeping everything else the same may even be enough to meet your daily sunlight requirement.
This could also be a convenient change that your kids can be a part of. Whether it’s playing outside with your kids an extra day per week or moving one activity closer to the window, adding a bit of sunlight to your day will help both of you out in the long run.
2. Tailor big aspirations into small steps
While changing your routine too heavily can lead you to feel exhausted and revert to old ways, that doesn’t mean you have to give up the change you want entirely. However, you may find more fulfillment by creating a smaller version of the same overall goal, and expanding from there.
For example, if your goal is reading, consider starting with comic books or young adult books instead of a 600-page novel. Many people find these more engaging and easier to focus on at first, and they are also less of a time commitment. And each time that you read, you are not only creating a routine, but also inspiring confidence in your skill.
Eventually, you can tackle more and more material (time permitting), without feeling exhausted or just getting busy and dropping the habit altogether. While it may not feel as rigorous at first, that can be a good thing, as it allows you to create consistency and keep moving forward. Additionally, your “easier” reading might lead you to a new genre that you love, and inspire new elements of discovery in your hobby.
While reading was the example used here, this idea applies to many hobbies and skills. If you want to eventually write a 30 page novel, try freewriting whatever comes to mind for five minutes first and editing that. Focus on just your grilling or cutting skill before you make a full meal from scratch.
That’s not to say you must always do this – if you feel confident and want to dive in, great! But if you struggle to keep up with a hobby, don’t be afraid to change your starting point. It’s easy to get caught up in standards of what is “good” or objectively most effective, or comparing to others and their progress. But after all, this is for you. If you find a way you like better or that would allow you to be consistent, go ahead and do it – you may find it preferable to overextending and giving up. This is not to say that you shouldn’t challenge yourself; only that you are the expert in deciding between “challenge” and “too far too fast.”
3. Take care of a houseplant
This would preferably be a succulent, such as a cactus, aloe, or jade. You only have to water them once every two weeks on average, or once a month during the winter.
Despite the ease of taking care of them, they bring many benefits to your household. According to the University of Reading, “Research has linked houseplants to reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and an improved state of mind.”
If you know a friend who grows plants, ask them for a cutting of something they’re growing and place it in a bowl to start this hobby at only the cost of the dirt. Additionally, many herbs can be grown from cuttings of foods that you may already buy at the grocery store.
If you end up enjoying this hobby, you may also be interested in horticulture therapy, a form of mental health care that involves plants directly in the process. Check out our article about horticulture therapy here for more information.
This could also be a fun way to introduce your kids to gardening. Depending on how old they are, have them help out by putting dirt in the pot or give them watering duty for a week.
No matter which way you decide to implement this hobby, you can’t go wrong with the improved mood and health benefits that plants bring.
4. Don’t check your phone (immediately)
This idea originally comes from psychiatrist Dr. K in his video 5 Habits that Changed My Life, which he discovered while practicing yoga. As he explains, checking your phone or other technology immediately upon waking up (even for the most “legitimate” reasons such as checking your email), can be addictive for many people. So to start your day, rather than having to convince yourself to get out of bed or make breakfast, you also have to make yourself stop scrolling on your phone, creating two challenges rather than one.
This creates a feeling of difficulty that might eventually compound, leading you to feel trapped before your day begins. Instead, he chooses to engage in other activities like reading or drinking tea, or proceed with the rest of his normal morning routine, for at least 30 minutes.
This tip of delaying technology use is especially helpful for single moms, because the tasks many single moms have on their plate can be incredibly rigorous. By changing the first 30 minutes of your day, and reducing the energy spent there, the rest of the day can become much more manageable.
Not only that, but this also impacts your enjoyment and fulfillment levels – you may not be able to change how busy you are, but feeling more capable of managing each task without constantly draining yourself is priceless.
Additionally, this strategy could also improve your relationships with yourself, your kids, and other important people in your life, as you gain more control over frustration and stress and have the room to show up how you would like with these people.
Takeaway
Overall, a little bit goes a long way with all of these strategies. Rather than having to overhaul your life, you can begin to create control and inspire the changes that you want to see over time.
Keep in mind that these are a starting point. If you are interested in deep change or resolving long-term issues, these may not be a complete answer. However, they can still provide a great foundation for many things to come, and allow you to enjoy your current life more fully.
