Mommy, Jasmin, advocate, ambassador, peer navigator, policy fellow, girlfriend, cook, healer of boo boos, driver, maid, and overall… a 20-year-old girl. These are only a few of the things I am every day. I know it sounds crazy and a lot to do in 24 hours, but somehow I have to make it all fit; and I still have yet to manage how to manage my time to make this all fit into one.
People ask me how do you do it; how do you manage to juggle all these things at your age and do a good job at it? My reply is simple I just do it, and I’m alive. Because to be completely honest, I don’t even know how I do it. Right now I just go with whatever is thrown at me at that time and deal with it; then take my breath later. This is extremely bad for me to do because all it does is make me stressed out and all over the place. But how do I make it all flow and still manage to be a normal 20-year-old girl?
I tried the scheduling and the planning ahead of time; but in the end I still find myself being stressed out and all over the place. It ultimately makes me feel like I’m not being as stress-free and there for my son and boyfriend. Whenever I am with my son, I’m either too stressed from all my work to function, or too tired to do anything. There has to be way to figure this all out, I know there is! I mean I see people all the time doing it every day, why can’t I just get in down packed already?
So I’m sitting here as mommy, Jasmin, advocate, ambassador, peer navigator, policy fellow, girlfriend, cook, healer of boo boos, driver, maid, a 20-year-old girl, and a fellow young parent… please help. I need help and advice to juggle my busy life and be the best mother I could possibly be; so an advice or tips would be very much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Over-worked
Stronger Generations Initiative 
First, I want you to know you are an awesome mom. I know what it’s like to feel like you are so busy and overwhelmed working on your own life and managing a career that you feel like you don’t have enough time for your family. I also felt guilty about that for a long time. I started using weekly and monthly planners that helped me put my responsibilities on paper. That way, I could see when I would have a busy day and when I would have a more relaxing day. I tried to set aside at least one day a week to do something fun with Nelly – so I’d put it on my calendar and make sure I didn’t plan anything work related during that time. I use actual paper planners for this (so it’s not in my head). Here’s a good site for planner downloads: http://www.mommytracked.com/downloads.
This will pass and things will get easier but it’s so important that you have control (and feel like you have control) over your time and life. Don’t let things consume you. XO