We've all been through it: the editor of 29 Diapers, back when she gave her own mother a good case of mommy brain.
Transitioning from career to stay-at-home mom was tougher than I expected, not just because of the emotional transition but because of the sleep deprivation! Good Lord, I felt like my IQ dropped 40 points. My husband assured me this only brought me down to everyone else’s level (best compliment ever!) but I still felt like I’d had a lobotomy. Today, we went to the library, and as I picked out books for baby girl, I realized I have come up with a whole host of techniques to overcome my mommy brain. Here are a few tips for beating the “my kid wakes up at 4 am screaming for bananas” blues. I would love to hear yours as well! Please add them to this post in comments.
Beat Mommy Brain Tip #1: Even Numbers
I always check out an even number of library books, usually 4 or 6, so we don’t have to struggle to remember if we have found them all for returning. No overdue fees or extra trips!
Beat Mommy Brain Tip #2: Clean by Room
Imagine what needs cleaning in the room you’re standing in, or the room that seems dirtiest, and just tackle the top three chores that need doing in that room. No time to forget to do it! Besides, when are your kids ever going to give you the time to dust the house from top to bottom?
Beat Mommy Brain Tip #3: Voice Memos
I love lists, but since having a kid I have struggled to keep things in my head long enough to write them! My solution? Voice memos on my iPhone. This is also great for creative inspiration that won’t wait. I record my note as quickly as I can turn on my phone and push the button, which is so fast it can’t fail.
Beat Mommy Brain Tip #4: Back in Their Court
If you have a lot of correspondence, respond to emails or phone calls and consider the issue resolved (and forgotten, of course!) until the person responds. I’m so busy that if a conversation is back in someone else’s court, whether it’s a play date arrangement or a question about a work project, it’s actually a pleasure to forget about all the balls I have in the air for a moment and get back to mommying.
What Are Your Top Tips for Beating Mommy Brain?
I know you guys have some great tips to add. What do you do to make life with sleep deprivation workable? Leave your tips in comments so we can all check them out. Blessings!
If you like this post, you should subscribe to email updates on the sidebar, or follow 29 Diapers on Facebook.
Just have to say, LOVED #4. Implementing right away!
Thanks! If my mommy brain allows, I’ll post more of these tips as they occur to me.
Good tips…I wish I had an iPhone for the voice memos. The new phone I got is a basic one and probably the worst I have EVER had in my life. Literally.
I have a hard time with #4 – I always sit there and worry and wonder whether the person will get back to me, if they saw my email, how they are taking my tone, etc. I have a very hard time letting go of all the “balls in the air” I guess.
Another tip I am TRYING to adhere to is – set things out the night before. When it’s quite and you can think straight, get it all ready b/c when morning hits, it’s just too busy!