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By Little Mummy, December 8, 2008 5:37 am

As parents, are we using our role as an excuse to stay within our comfort zone?

We have our ‘purpose’, the media tells us we should be immediately and indefinitely fulfilled. I relish being a parent and the challenges it provides. But it’s not enough. Parenthood fulfills one apect of my pshyche, but what about the other part, the part that yearns for recognition, measurable success and the rush that is created when challenging yourself.

Throughout my (relatively short) life I have thrived on a challenge. Competing in acrobatics, leading a national first aid team (cadets), passing out of TA basic training, and most recently returning to education and completing maths and social science courses. Although I have challenged myself a couple of times since becoming a parent, it’s nowehere near enough. I haven’t stepped out of my comfort zone as often as I could/should have. Why?

Indecision

This is the main culprit for me. I tend to have a lot of wacky and outside-of-the-comfort zone ideas but I lack the focus to follow through on any one challenge. I’m trying to rectify this by allowing the readers of this blog to choose my challenge for me. The poll’s in the sidebar if you want to help an indecisive mummy out?

Time

It’s the long time complaint, there aren’t enough hours of the day. If you can truly examine and honestly assess that you have not one spare hour a week then to be honest you’re probably already outside of your comfort zone. If however, when you break it down that your day is taken up with many unnecessary time wasters that could be trimmed, then there is time, and no excuse to not step outside your comfort zone.

Don’t Want to Appear Selfish

What is it about parenthood that ignites the martyr in us? We have to be constantly busy, crafting, cooking, educating are children with Baby Einstein products and ALWAYS doing more than our spouse. Parenthood gives you the ticket to the best argument ever – Who does most? – why is it the best argument in the world? Because you can argue about it forever and never establish who does most. Why? Because everyone’s doing more than they’d like to be, and not really enough for themselves. It’s time to get a tiny bit selfish and recognise that it’s OK to nurture yourself as a seperate being whilst still managing to nurture others. It might even benefit everyone if you are more contented.

In 2009 take small steps…

It’s coming to that time of year when everyone begins to talk about resolutions. My resolution is simple. Try New Things. It’s in my byline, and in 2009 it will become my motto. Rome wasn’t built in a day and the first metaphorical brick (for me) will be a simple reader chosen challenge that will push me to do something I wouldn’t usually. By the end of 2009 I expect to be embarking on bigger challenges that push me further and further outside my comfort zone.

What will your resolution be? Jo’s going to join me in my challenge, feel free to join in and step outside your comfort zone too.

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By Little Mummy, December 7, 2008 4:24 am

I want to try something new, being a stay at home mum (although I work part-time now!) can be a little, um, monotonous. I need to step outside my comfort zone. I need a challenge.

That’s where my blogging friends (that’s you) come in. I’ve come up with a selection of five challenges (briefly described below), all I ask of you is to visit my blog and choose one from the poll in the sidebar. I’ll begin the chosen-for-me challenge this Friday. I’ll blog about the process and perhaps even master this flip video thing.

Media Diet (as per 4 hour work week)

I’m re-reading Tim Ferris’ 4 hour work week and trying to apply some of the principles. One of his challenges is to go on a media fast, a diet, not the ‘see food and eat it’ type, a REAL diet. No newspapers, no magazines, no television news, no (choke) RSS feed or ‘unnecessary web surfing’.

What is allowed? One hour of ‘pleasure viewing’ in the evening, one hour of non-fiction reading, access to my blog to write posts/upload videos.

Why? To increase productivity (read, perhaps I’ll get the cupboard under the stairs sorted!)

Build VIP list to 100

I’ve started a VIP list giving away prizes and freebies, the challenge would be to get subscribers to 100 within the week. This is a huge challenge as I’ve only just launched the VIP list (you can sign up in the sidebar btw) and haven’t really promoted it as yet.

Why? I have a terrible habit of starting projects and not finishing them, this challenge would force me to focus.

Make £100 on Ebay

I have some stuff that I could sell and earn some money from, I’ve been delaying (being lazy) so it would get me off my lazy bum to clear some stuff and earn some extra money for christmas.

Make some flavoured oils and vinegars

I bought a beautiful book earlier in the year – A Slice of Organic Life. I’ve only implented two ideas so far (grow lettuce and herbs), so it would be good to try something new, learn something and have the produce to use over christmas

Spend £0

One week. £0. Is it possible? The whole family (all three of us!) would be involved in this exercise in frugality.

Why? To see if its possible, to (hopefully) curb our petty spending and taste for KFC.

So there are the challenges, just choose one from the poll in the sidebar. My fate will be revealed on Friday.