Project: Life Change: Now it's your turn!

Cross-posted on Sassafrass.

Calling all "mama friends," especially those of you who do the work-life juggle every day like we do.

Are you tired? Stressed out? Grouchy? Feeling like you are working too much? Missing out on watching your kids grow up? Too busy to participate in the fun parts of family life? Avoiding the pile of laundry in the corner of your bedroom?  Neglecting yourself? Not making time or money for the little luxuries? Feeling isolated from your partner? Overwhelmed with school calendars, activities, and homework? Longing for more time in your day? Feeling out of control and powerless to make a change?

We're Jessica of Sassafrass and Stefania of CityMama and we're right there with you. As much as we love to bitch about how frustrated we are with our current life sitches to anyone who will listen (and you know we can bitch like it's our JOB), we've decided to do something about it.

In talking with each other about our own frenetic lives, we've realized that many of our mama friends are also overwhelmed with balancing work and family life, and are ready to let those juggling balls and spinning plates drop already. We've decided to make some changes in our own lives, and now we want to support any one else who is ready to do the same.

Recently we both took a look at our busy lives and decided to make one change each that had a tremendously positive impact. Here's what Jessica did and here's what I did. And we're here to tell you: life is not about juggling—it's about making choices that work for you and your family.

Mamas, friends. Now's the time to begin your Project: Life Change.  We're here to help.

First, take a deep breath. Then think about the changes you'd like to make to have more breathing room in your own life.

Hire a babysitter for a date night or girl's night out (or set up a regular swap with friends); quit that crap job like we did! (wait until you find another if you like); turn down that volunteer project; join a cooking or exercise class (get in the tub with a glass of wine and the park and rec catalog and actually LOOK AT IT instead of recycling it immediately); get a massage; find a therapist and work on those issues, girl; set your alarm clock for a half hour earlier and go for a walk in peace without having to push a stroller; ask your partner to take over lunch box duty 2 days a week...

Anything goes, but whatever you do, post about it! We want to know who is in this with us.

1. Write about your Project: Life Change on your personal blog and link back to us (either on Sassafrass or CityMama) or leave a link to your post in the comments. Your post doesn't have to have answers. Just a simple "this isn't working anymore and I'm not sure what to do about it" is enough.  We all started somewhere. We're finding that this is an on-going process and we hope to continue writing about our progress and that you will, too.
2. Help yourself to our pretty, pink Project: Life Change button (thanks, Karen!), and let everyone who reads your blog know that you are in the middle of working on a big life project so that they will be extra kind to you and send you words of encouragement, drinks on Facebook, or chocolate. You can put the button in your posts on on your side bar.
3. Important: Tag your posts "Project Life Change" so we can find you!
4. Check back in with us as we provide food for thought, support, and inspiration by sharing your posts on our sites.
    

Take the Project: Life Change challenge! Let's help one another. Tell your friends. Start a conversation. Blog it out. Let us know you are out there and together we'll build a big ole hippy-patchouli-stank circle of love and support.

In order to further inspire you, we will give you free stuff! We're here for you. We'll read your posts and link love all over them. We'll have fun giveaways! (and not just half-used bottles of nail polish, lip stick colors that don't work for us, or shoes that were an impulse-buy at Payless.)

Join us as we strive to make simple, small, and significant choices to find balance in our work and family lives.

We wish you the best of luck with your own Project: Life Change!

Peace to you,
Jessica and Stefania

Comments

[Holli]

Stefania,
Thank you for this inspiration. This is one the reasons why I go into your blog everyday - to be reminded that it is possible to be your own boss and all precious things in life are not material. It may sound simple, but when you have certain job and certain income that you depend on, change is terrifying.

[Taste Like Crazy]

Change sucks, but we gotta start somewhere, right?

http://tastelikecrazy.com/2007/09/28/change/

[Kel]

Forever reader, 1st time commenter. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation. Now, if I could just find the time...

[marcia]

i wanna play. i'm the other mother's partner and i don't keep a blog but i may have to usurp robin's blog (or yours!) on occasion to give you an update on Project: Life Change. i'm in this. big-time.

[TC]

I may be a little old and in a bad financial place (only wage-earner in the family right now) to make a Big Life Change, but I can complain big!

http://ihavethings.blogspot.com/2007/09/less-than-what-im-worth.html

[honglien123]

I've been thinking about a change (I definitely need one). This sounds like just the thing to get me started. Thanks!

[Michelle]

What a great idea. I have had a few things bouncing around in my brain lately that constitute a life change. So it's nice to get that extra support when you need it. You made my Friday. Thanks

[ann adams]

I found you again. Thought you'd closed down the blog.

You left a comment on PD (formerly BB) concerning the Pledge. I didn't want to ask you in the comments and get everyone in an uproar but I was curious what you meant.

Good to find you again. I'll add you back to my list. Sometimes Bloglines deletes blogs all on its own.

Ann

[ann adams]

I found you again. Thought you'd closed down the blog.

You left a comment on PD (formerly BB) concerning the Pledge. I didn't want to ask you in the comments and get everyone in an uproar but I was curious what you meant.

Good to find you again. I'll add you back to my list. Sometimes Bloglines deletes blogs all on its own.

Ann

[zeitgeistMama]

I recommend checking out The Happiness Project at www.happiness-project.com - she has really wonderful things to say about how to find happiness, she's the mom to 2 girls, a writer, etc, and I think it's SO so relevant to what you're doing...

Not affiliated with her blog, just a fan of both of you!

[Trish]

I've just decided to do something like this, and in the hours (literally) since I blogged about it I've come across a number of websites with suggestions on how to 'live well'.

Well done to you two for inspiring so many other mothers!

[Trish]

Oh - here's the link back to my blog:

http://lightsweetcrude.typepad.com/light_sweet_crude/2007/09/get-on-this-bus.html

[Briana]

I am with you on this. I recently made a switch to work one fewer day per week, and I also have made efforts to pursue my own artistic talents (which has made me a little $ on the side), go out more often by doing childcare swaps, and taking a little time for me!
Life has never been better. I am a better me, and a better mom. Thanks for encouraging us all and reminding me that I am doing the right thing!

[tanyetta]

this is the push i needed.

[coffee queen]

Wow, this could be about me! I just quit one job last week (one that I absolutely love but is very stressful) so that I can fully focus on my other job (which I also love and it has a much more flexible schedule). It was a scary choice -- trading stability for a leap of faith, in essence -- but I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I hope that I will see a change in my kids, once the job change takes effect, too. Best of luck to you both. I'm excited to follow your stories.

[MyStarbucks]

This is fantastic! Just what I needed. You could not have picked a better time, for me anyway. I have been going through some real sh** and I am ready to do something about it! Here is my link http://mystarbucks.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/project-life-change/

[BirdieRoark]

Ok, mine's up. I'm still working through the details, but I'm pretty sure I'm changing jobs. Not because I want to be a SAHM, but because I think I deserve a career.

http://whostheboss.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/i-quit.html

[Nicole/wksocmom]

Mine may not be fascinating, but just some small steps leading to bigger ones.
http://notjustaworkingmom.blogspot.com/2007/10/ch-ch-ch-changes.html

[JB/Go-Go Mommy]

Thanks for creating this great community and giving a name to what I've been living through this past year. I'm sooo in!!

Here's my story and an invite for anyone who might be free on November 6th:

http://gogoma.typepad.com/go_go_mommy/project_life_change/index.html

[christina]

here i go...
http://allaboutdiggy.blogspot.com/2007/09/project-life-change.html

[redsy]

Stefania,
I miss you!!! I love this project and I'm IN!!

http://redsy.com/2007/10/12/i-dont-love-you-anymore/

[the bean-mom]

I found this post about a week ago, and am finally doing something about it. I'm joining in with all you gals. And thank you for the inspiration!

[the bean-mom]

Oh, here's the link to my post
http://beangirls.blogspot.com/2007/10/project-life-change.html

[Cheapgirl]

Oh CityMama, you are so wise. I join your cult!

[Becky]

I'm slow, but I'm in.