I love fresh starts! I get excited about a new year because that means a clean slate and a chance to improve different aspects of my life. I’ve already purchased my annual paper planner and have high hopes to set aside time each week to write out my plans and decorate each weekly spread with colored ink and stickers.
If you flip through the planners of my past years you’ll probably notice a trend. The first weeks are meticulously planned, down to which day I should clean the bath toys. Then a month or two are blank. Around the middle of the year, I try to get back on the planning wagon, and I get another resurgence around the time school starts. The majority of the pages are blank, yet each year I still buy a new planner. (And I keep the old ones for memory’s sake). I resolve each year to be better at organizing my life, but I don’t beat myself up about it if I don’t follow through.
I am a Type B person all the way. In the age of Pinterest and Instagram, I feel bombarded with the message that I should aspire to be Type A. Countless books are conveniently released at the beginning of each year that tell me to get my life together! While some may argue having Type A tendencies make life more fulfilling, I can attest to the fact that there are benefits to being type B as well.
I enjoy the state of mind knowing that there will be an opportunity to tie up loose ends in due time. I don’t need to tackle outstanding tasks immediately, I can prioritize what really needs to be completed and what can wait. I savor free time and use my child’s nap to catch up on trashy TV and mindlessly scroll Instagram. When my son wakes, I have the energy to focus on him and also complete the chores that need to be done. I don’t have a system for organizing, but I can tell you where and when everything is.
Despite my security with my Type B self, I know there are things I can improve on. Waking up a few minutes earlier each day can minimize the morning rush out the door, setting reminders for important personal events and due dates can take away the stress of getting things done at the last minute, and writing out the week’s activities and appointments can help ease my “mom brain”.
If you are a fellow Type B mom like myself and have lofty resolutions to overhaul each habit I wish you success! However, if you fail at some or even most, please don’t beat yourself up. The key is finding methods and systems that allow you to accomplish your tasks based on your personality and working style.
