A recipe for a good day: a tried & true recipe for making your day as sweet as possible.

8 hours of uninterrupted sleep: It’s no secret a good day starts with a good night’s rest. Step one to have a good day is to make sure you are rested and ready to take on this wonderful day ahead of you. Getting a good night’s sleep looks differently for everyone; but some basic rules of thumb would include a screen-free wind down about 30 minutes before your bedtime and aiming to get around eight uninterrupted hours of sleep. Easy enough, right? We get it. This may mean switching up your evening routine a bit, which may take a little trial and error. Stick with it! It’s worth it.

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1 solid breakfast: Hooray! You got those 8 hours. Time to fuel! What and when you eat breakfast depends on your routine and when you are feeling hungry. Listen to your body on this. Consider something packed with protein and low in sugar to give your morning a little umph, without the crash. Sometimes it’s easier to just grab a cup of coffee and go but even if it’s just a granola bar, fuel yourself. Something is ALWAYS better than nothing!

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‍20-30 minutes of calm: Give yourself a little time in the morning to feel settled and ready for the day. Start a habit of listening to your favorite music while sipping your coffee, sitting outside for a few minutes to watch the squirrels scurry (they are goofy little critters), or journaling some thoughts of gratitude. Journaling can feel intimidating, but there are tons of amazing guided journals that offer prompts and ideas to get you going! We recommend this one: Morning & Evening Affirmation Journal by Noelle Whittington. Our very own team member is the author and we have been loving it!

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‍Season your day with the seasons: The more the better here! Don’t be shy just because it’s not 75 degrees and sunny. Embrace the beauties of each season even if it’s just a 10 minute walk around the block, bundled up in every piece of clothing you own. It sounds more daunting than it actually is. We have no doubt you’ll come back inside not only feeling refreshed, but even more grateful for your indoor heating system and cozy indoor activity. The same philosophy goes for those muggy, summer days. It doesn’t have to be a ton of time. Just enough to feel the elements, the sun, the day that’s happening right now. You’ll feel more connected to each season and may even find your least favorite season isn’t all that bad.

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‍A pinch of intentional movement: It doesn’t have to be a set of burpees. Intentional movement can take a lot of forms and you don’t even need to break a sweat. Gentle stretches, yoga, a 10 minute walk, all of these count as movement! It’s important for us to reconnect with our bodies and breathe for even just a moment each day. Try starting out small with three 60 second stretches, bonus points if you can do it outside! This movement can happen when the kids are down for a nap and just before hopping back into the laundry. Carving out this time will not only help you reset your day and shake off any bad feelings, but it will also send some endorphins pumping through your system. Who doesn’t want a burst of energy and warm fuzzies mid-day?

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‍A smidgen of down time:  Feeling overwhelmed? That’s normal! We’re humans that live crazy lives and do a lot in a short amount of time. Giving yourself 5 minutes to stop, reset, grab a nutritious snack, and rest your brain for a bit will allow you to hop right back in, even more productive than if you had forced your way through. Working with kids, this down time may look differently than an office job, but depending on the ages of the kids you may be able to share this with them. Ask them to join you for a moment to collect your thoughts and breathe. Even younger kids will be excited to lay on the floor and fill their bellies up like a big balloon. Try placing a pillow or stuffy on their belly for them to watch lift and lower as they breathe. Otherwise, pardon yourself for just a moment to head to the bathroom for a face rinse and positive affirmation in the mirror (you’re capable and you’ve got this!).

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‍A dash of acceptance: Whatever the position, whatever the day, there is an element of accepting sh*t happens and moving forward from there. Did you just spill your treat-yourself-coffee all over the interior of your car and your clothes? Let your frustrations out in a safe way, clean up the best you can, and try not to let that moment (though sad) shape the rest of your day. Kids will be wild and messes will happen and there will be days (despite all of your best efforts to get the 8 hours) the sleep will not happen. All of these mishaps and countless more suck. Accepting that no day is perfect and even the very best days have their hiccups, is a great way to ensure that every day is at least as good as it can be. Taking the time you need for yourself, planning materials like food and gear you’ll need for the day’s activities, checking the weather, embracing the outdoors, and establishing habits to reset and recharge are crucial, especially when it comes to working and living with kiddos. If this feels like a top chef recipe beyond your skill set, start small. Choose one or two ingredients that interest you the most and focus on those. If those are feeling good and established in your new routine, try out another. Take your time and be patient with yourself. Good things take a little effort. You already know how to have fun and care for others like a pro. We see the smiles on your kiddos’ faces. It’s time to allow that same fun and care for your routine and day. We think it makes for a pretty sweet experience.

Written by: Kristin Sarmiento Geary (2022

)Edited by: Austin Macfarlane (2022)