Kiddipedia
This is real! And right now with the Covid-19 situation, there are twice as many decisions to be made.
Mothers get it. Entrepreneurs get it. If you are both then it’s time to work out strategies that mitigate the fall out.
Normally it range from what to wear today through to what’s for dinner and everything in between. Even if the kids have uniforms, half the time you have to decide which one they are supposed to be wearing today. During this time you have to decide if they are going to school, what else to pack for safety, who they will be interacting with etc.
In general life, men don’t have to do much of the minor stuff, they wear suits, or high viz, blue collar, white collar, all much of the same, with little variation in style or colour sometimes suddenly now they are thrown into which room to work from (if they still have a job) how they can gain or keep employment, and we all have to decide how we are going to try to access sufficient funds to ride this thing out.
While women have been expected to dress in a myriad of ways, from head to toe, colour rules or fashions, weather permitting shoes, and while you are at it, make sure there is no one wearing the same outfit, perhaps for some this has eased as there are no salons open and if working from home it may end up being which pyjamas, the daytime range or the night time range, they too have additional pressures to make decisions that they may never have faced before.
The energy this takes on a daily basis during normal times can be huge, while many are exhausted when they get home, there is a different kind of exhaustion creeping in, it is no longer just which veggies to serve with dinner, which load of washing is more critical and needs to be done now. While it was which child to help with homework, can they stay up another half hour, school forms, requests to visit friends the next day? (we know that isn’t happening) Decisions have to be made on how to manage the building powder cake brewing in a house when everyone is there all of the time.
What can be done to mitigate this?
Systems and Processes!
Major decisions still have to be made on an as need basis, they also need the greatest consideration before commitment.
But right now different decisions have to be made in regards to work, finances, and socialisation. Stress will be heightened while we traverse this new landscape so it is important to recognise how each family member deals with stress and give them the space to process in their way.
One thing that may be creating more stress is the differing concepts and suggestions coming from the media, so it is important to limit the intake for all parties. If wanting guidance then choose a news outlet that you trust and just go with that one, follow their advice and stop confusing yourself with multiple angles.
The most efficient way to reduce decision fatigue is to relegate all of those small incidental decisions into new systems and processes.
With the general daily stuff as an example, look at the simple need to eat every evening? Even working from home can make this task a pain, so start with menu planning, and of course writing the shopping list according to that plan with a Covid-19 proviso of added flexibility (extra menu options) if ingredients are unavailable.
Consider slow cooked meals, (schedules for dining out, fast food nights for post crisis times) and near the end of the fortnight schedule a “Snatch and Grab” night where the family has to use up what they can find in the fridge and pantry.
These strategies will only help if they are well planned and stuck to. Cover the subject in your family meetings so that everyone is on board. If you have kids then let them have some choices particularly at the moment, slotted into the nights that suit your needs. Every night, check the next nights menu to see if you need to defrost meat or do any other preparation.
What to wear? Uniforms! May sound boring, but I don’t mean formalised unless they are regulated by the school or employer. Men, women and children can limit the daily decision by selecting the brands and sizes that are comfortable and serviceable. While we are in lockdown, do make it a priority to get up every day and get dressed, even though “daytime” pyjamas are now a thing, make them look good!
Now is also a great time to consider those Pinterest posts about the capsule wardrobes, smart pieces that fit well and can be mixed and matched, planning for our emergence and clearing some older stuff. We have done this with my husband’s work clothes and his clients recognise him easily by the shirt he wears, for him it is same brand, size and colour.
I know a speaker who uses the same design dress in different colours with coordinating camisoles when presenting, no one notices as the colours register rather than the style. I use the same brand of jeans/pants, then purchase tops to rotate. If you end up wearing the same outfit as another person, make fun of yourself and encourage your “twin” to bounce off that vibe.
What of all those other small decisions I listed earlier?
In many cases we cannot plan our responses to those, and they come up at random times unless they are approached methodically. What I mean by that is rather than having discussions or kids interrupting while you cook or clean, set a short time every evening, or when it works for you, for all family members to come to the table with forms, questions, requests etc. so that they can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
Doing this will take less time than all the little stops and starts, you will remember what has been decided better, as will other family members. Saving time, creating clarity by being in the right frame of mind and fully present in those moments. This is also a great time to make sure family members know what is going on and you can gain consensus on everything from brand of sanitiser to mask wearing.
When you find yourself worn down, and stressed at the end of the day, look back at how many on the spot decisions you have had to make, cut yourself some slack and recognise all that you brain has to do each day.
Congratulate yourself on being able to handle that load, then, consider how you can lighten that load to create easier days and less stress in your life.
Live into Your Future. We will emerge from this crisis into a new and better world if we plan it now.
Dee Scown is the author of “Grand Plan Shattered? How to turn your life around after a crisis” the book that takes you on a gentler pathway from crisis to recovery and onwards. She is a Business Coach, Speaker, and multiple business owner. After a sudden onset of chronic illness in 2012 her whole world was flipped, seemingly hopeless and futureless she has re-invented her shattered “Grand Plan” to journey in a number of very different directions. She shares her passion and vision to help others grow, survive and thrive when faced with adversity. “Don’t allow one pause to become a complete stop, take the breather you need, and then slowly and carefully scan the horizon while you re-assess and eventually set off on your new journey to success.
You may also like to read:
