mommy maverick

It’s a little after 5:00PM. You just finished a long day at work filled with tons of meetings, difficult conversations, critical thinking, and decision making. You are emotionally and physically drained from having to maintain your composure and regulate your emotions. Your brain is totally saturated with information. But in your head, you know that really only half your work is done –  because it’s time for second shift. It’s time for mommy mode – the challenging hours between work and bedtime that are consumed by dinner prep, sports, homework, play time, baths, reading, and more. You have to be ON from the hours of 6:00AM – 8:00PM, every single day. It’s no wonder you’re exhausted.

As working moms, we are expected to be the Energizer Bunny and just keep going and going and going. And no one provides us with the instruction manual on how to recharge. So, we burnout. The hard truth is that we do just have to keep going and going (to some extent). We have a lot on our plates. How can we ensure there’s ample energy left in our battery to navigate each day without succumbing to exhaustion and defeat?

I’ve talked in previous blog posts about the three primary identities we own as a working mom – mommy, maverick, and me. Throughout each day, we shift between these identities, and that requires a LOT of energy. Let me walk you through a typical day of my identity shifts…

• 4:30AM – 6:30AM: Me (exercise, self-care, get ready for work) + a little Maverick sometimes
• 6:30AM – 8:30AM: Mommy (get the kids ready, breakfast, school drop off)
• 8:30AM – 9:00AM: Me (commute to work – listen to podcast)
• 9:00AM – 5:30PM: Maverick (work)
• 5:30PM – 6:00PM: Me (commute home – drive in silence, or call friends/family)
• 6:00PM – 8:30PM: Mommy (complete chaos)
• 8:30PM – 9:30PM: Me (watch a show with hubby, self-care or early bed time)
• 9:30PM – 10:30PM: Maverick (work) – bonus shift, when I’m feeling up to it

My typical day consists of SEVEN identity shifts. And I’m sure your typical day looks similar to mine.

Let’s start with the basics – self-care, exercise, proper diet, adequate sleep, and meditation all help with replenishing energy aka recharging your body. Effective time management, reducing think time, working during your peak productivity hours, and automation all help to reserve energy. But I want to take it a step further. We have to realize that each identity shift requires a mindset shift. By incorporating habits that help us change our mindset as we prepare for each identity shift, we’ll drain less energy during the transitions. Stay with me on this, here are some examples…

When you finish packing up your things at the end of the work day, say out loud to yourself: “shutdown”. Yes, it’s silly. And yes, I felt stupid doing it the first few times. But after a while, the word “shutdown” will trigger a mindset shift that will enable you to quickly turn off maverick mode and transition to me mode for your commute home. Your commute, no matter how long or short, should be viewed as mindset reset time. Listen to your favorite podcast or audio book, sit in silence, or call a friend to catch up. Let’s take it a step further. When you pull into the driveway, before you go into the house, take a few deep breaths. You can even meditate for a minute or two. Try to become centered and refocused so that when you walk through the door to greet your kids, you’re fully present for them. The breathing routine serves as a trigger for the shift from me mode to mommy mode. Another mindset reset. You can also try saying things like “mommy mode”, “maverick mode” and “me mode” as you transition from one identity to the next. These make for good mindset reset prompts.

Being fully present in your interactions with your children and colleagues paves the way for more meaningful connections. This enhanced engagement fosters feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and inner peace, which, in turn, act as a recharge for your energy. It’s all interconnected. To thrive, it’s essential to incorporate habits that both revitalize and sustain you. Consider implementing mini mindset resets throughout your day, especially between work meetings. These intentional pauses will not only enable you to transition between different roles more seamlessly but also reduce the time it takes to reenergize and regain your focus.

Imagine yourself as a battery, capable of running on limited energy, but not indefinitely. Eventually, your energy will dwindle, leaving you with nothing left to offer your family or your work. To function at your best, you must recharge to full power. Throughout the day, your energy ebbs and flows, like a battery draining its charge. It’s crucial to avoid dipping below the danger zone, which I equate to around 30%. Instead, aim for the sweet spot, ideally between 75% and 90%. It may seem ambitious, but with the right strategies and activities that genuinely rejuvenate you, maintaining this range is possible over time.

We all encounter challenging days when our energy hovers around 30% or even less. The key is not allowing this depleted state to become the norm. We shouldn’t accept or permit this kind of lifestyle for ourselves. Continually operating on autopilot with our patience stretched thin will only lead to burnout. We must take deliberate steps to rewire our brains through mindset resets and prioritize self-care. We have to recharge our body and our mind. It’s time to recharge your mom batteries and power up to your best self.

Your Coach,

Kristyn