Conquering Depression

It can be so difficult finding time to do anything as a working mom, trying to achieve a balance during every day while being pulled from all directions. It seems that unless you have an advanced degree in time management you just cannot find the available time to attend to the needs of the kids, your job, housekeeping and the other myriad tasks that seem so necessary today.

When we choose to put things off until tomorrow - or the next day, we usually end up feeling guilty about it, and unfortunately this course of action only serves to magnify our daily problems. For most of us, budgeting can be a real challenge, and if you’re a mother on a restricted income you’ll always feel like you’ve got to spend it on the children and other household necessities, usually placing yourself behind everything else.

As a working mother, you have to keep in mind one crucial point - you represent the “engine” that keeps the whole family going, and without you being at your best, other aspects of the family machine simply won’t work as well. Therefore, you should place any feelings of guilt in the back of your thoughts and remember that when you decide to invest in yourself it’s actually a well-spent investment in the family “machine,” your children and your overall existence. It’s essential that you feel good about yourself or, with the passage of time, you’ll feel increasingly burdened, and put yourself in a situation where depression could take hold and create a never-ending downward spiral.

One of the more important goals for you should be to create a strong support network around you. It’s a good idea to remember to lean on your close friends for support - you know who they are, they’re the true friends you can always turn to in situations like these at any time. Just remember that support is a two-way street. You may already have close family members who help you out, but don’t be afraid to seek the help of a professional coaching expert, specifically coaching for women in your situation as well.

If you’re lucky, maybe you’ve got a really good friend who is willing to babysit for you, so you can have some precious “me time” all to yourself. There is always a way around and a way to find time to make you feel “yummy” rather than slummy! Remember that whatever chaos seems to exist around you on a daily basis, you have to take control over the elements that you can control.

Looking and feeling fabulous on a low budget is not that difficult. Your toughest challenge will be in setting aside the necessary time to truly pamper yourself. Once you accept this as a priority, pay attention to the essential elements.

The best investment you can make in yourself is to commit to daily exercise and we don’t mean lugging bags of groceries around or cleaning the house! A dedicated period of cardiovascular exercise is ideal, or you could even get started by working with a small set of free weights while walking through the streets of your own neighbourhood.

Before you know it you’ll feel better physically and mentally, and your skin tone will even start to shine brightly again. You can buy some supplies for doing an excellent home manicure and pedicure, make an appointment to see to a beautician or hairstylist and just focus on your personal time in the bathroom more often.

Always remember that feeling great is simply a state of mind. It often starts with a focus on creating time for you and allocating at least an equal priority.

For more hints and tips on how to feel great as a low-budget mum, check out the numerous online life coaching resources available!

Amanda Alexander is the Founder and Inspiration behind Coaching Mums. She’s a distinguished ICF accredited coach, who for almost seven years now, has been bringing a new feeling of hope into the lives of working mums from around the world, showing them how to discard their guilt, rediscover their passions and to have a lot more fun! For amazing articles and truly effective professional coaching tips, sign up to get “Inspire” right away, our absolutely outstanding free newsletter!

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