LIVE LYVLI
Many of us are burnt out, overstressed, and, quite frankly, just exhausted. As a mom of four kids who are always on the go, I can tell you that I am. I often go to bed feeling depleted and empty. I spend my days caring for my kids and their needs, completely putting my own needs on the back burner.
Over time, though, I started to notice that doing that actually caused me to become a bit snippy, even when everyone was just laughing, or I would “freak out” when no one did the dishes without me asking them to. It often left everyone feeling unhappy and thinking Mom was a little “coo-coo.”
That’s when I started to really think about why I was feeling this way and how I could fix it. Deep down, I knew that it was because I felt like I was losing myself trying to be the perfect mom when, not only am I a mom, but I am also just a girl who wants to be carefree and have fun too. That’s when I started implementing what I call “Living LYVLI.”
The marketing world makes us think that, in order to “live our best life,” we need to spend money. We need to buy luxury candles to set the mood for relaxation, or maybe if we buy that perfect vacation outfit, we will feel better about ourselves on vacation. I was recently marketed a towel warmer so that when I jump out of the shower, I feel extra comfy (crazy, right?). But what if, instead of making that one-time purchase for something completely unnecessary, we started to live a LYVLI lifestyle?
Living LYVLI means implementing small changes into your daily life to help you stop feeling like you always come second and to help you become that carefree girl again—the one who just wants to have fun while still being a superwoman and taking care of her family at the same time.
Simple Steps to LIVE LYVLI
First, start by thinking about what you would do if you had a free morning—a morning where no one was home and no one needed you to drive them to soccer or dance practice or make them breakfast. What would you do? How would you start your morning?
One of my favorite things to do is read and drink iced coffee at the same time (imagine that). I’d love to sit on the couch with my iced coffee and read a funny or romantic book. To me, that is how I would love to start every single day.
Once you have nailed down your perfect morning, figure out how to make it a reality. For me, I needed to wake up earlier than my kids, which, if you know me, is basically torture. But I knew that if I could truly start my mornings my way, I would feel like I was putting myself first before taking care of everyone else.
Now, curate the perfect afternoon and evening.
My perfect afternoon would be spent getting to the gym. Exercising makes me feel mentally and physically strong.
Side note: I once had a dream that my oldest son (who is 17 now) fell and was crying. I was looking down at him, and he was asking me to pick him up, but I couldn’t. I woke up crying so hard that my husband thought someone had died. So, going to the gym helps me feel like, if there were ever an emergency and I needed to pick up my 17-year-old son, I could do it.
Side, side note: He is huge, so I still have a long way to go—but you get what I’m saying.
For my perfect evening routine, I would eat “girl dinner.” I am a huge fan of a good cheese board. Fancy cheese with fruit? Yes, please—all day, every day.
Now that I have a list of three things that bring me joy, I make sure to actually do them, even if it’s on a smaller scale. I keep apples, balsamic vinegar, and one fancy cheese in a special drawer in my fridge that my kids know not to touch because they know crazy Mom will make an appearance if they do.
I make time for exercise. And let me tell you, I walk more than anyone else I know. I get outside and walk around my neighborhood at least three different times a day. I walk so much that my neighbors probably think I’m crazy. Even if I’m taking kids to dance, I’ll walk around the building until they’re done.
Lastly, I make time to read. We all have time to read ten pages of a good book, but sometimes we prioritize TV instead.
Why Living LYVLI Could Change Your Life
I believe that self-care and treating yourself don’t have to cost money. I think the true meaning of self-care is adding little positive habits that feed your inner child on a daily basis.
Imagine living a life that you love to live—a life where every day feels a little more like Friday. How much happier would you be? How much happier would your family be if they saw you happy? Wouldn’t that make it all worth it?
We all fall into the cycle of simply going through the motions of life, and I believe that eventually leads to misery.
STARTING TODAY
Today, I want you to make a promise to yourself. Promise yourself that you will start to LIVE LYVLI.
Fall back in love with your everyday self and your everyday routine. Remember that, at some point in your life, you begged for the life you are living right now—you just need to romanticize it again now that you’ve settled into the routine.
Jessica Villanueva
