Make things easier for your future self.

The star of last night's dinner? Frozen wontons from Canton Noodle House.

After living a blessedly commute-free lifestyle, my husband got a new work assignment that has him commuting in and out of the city. It's meant earlier mornings and longer days for both of us. It's been rough.

I keep ending the day thinking how much work it's been and how much I want someone to take care of me, then realizing Greg's probably thinking the same thing. I realized we'd been trying to live life the same way as before, and that if we didn't make some changes we were going to burn out.

It's a work in progress, but I'm trying to make choices that make things easier for my future self. You know, the person that realizes at 4:55 it's almost time for dinner but nothing is ready yet.

Here's what I'm trying, and invite you to try, too:
1) Acknowledge it's a new season.
It's a new phase of life with new blessings and new challenges. (​Note to self: re-read last post.)  What worked before is not gonna work now. Time for new strategies!

2) Acknowledge you have a finite amount of energy.
Waking an hour earlier to do school drop-offs is not without consequence. Acknowledging that I don't have a limitless supply of energy helps me to look for where I can save energy other places.

3) Notice where you've created self-imposed obligations.
Being on time for every drop-off and pick-up. Cooking from scratch. Making the most cost-effective grocery choices. Not hiring a babysitter unless there's a "really good reason".  These are all expectations I've created FOR MYSELF, and now is the time to know ALL of them are flexible!

4) Make choices now that will be a gift to your future self.
We've eaten out a bit more since Greg started commuting. One night we were in the mood for soup noodles and I made the decision to buy some of the restaurant's premade, frozen wontons for a future meal. BAM! Gift to my future self! Identify what stresses you out the most, and make some strategic choices now to alleviate the pressure of those moments.

I'd love to know...

Which of the tips above resonate most for you?
How do you make things easier for your future self?