How satisfied are you actually? Where are you now, and where do you want to go? – We ask ourselves these questions far too rarely, but it's so important to be aware of your own path and not lose focus amidst all the possibilities and external comparisons. With this post, we want to inspire you to be more yourself this year and give you concrete tips for a relaxed family life that you can implement immediately!

You find:

1. "How are you doing?"
   
2. Why structure brings relaxation
3. That's why you should plan in accordance with your cycle
4. Make it easy for yourself: Advantages of a functioning "village"
5. Forest bathing for a natural serotonin boost
6. Why you should stay true to yourself
   

1. "How are you?"

Probably the question we ask each other most often in everyday life. But let's be honest: Do you really answer it? To figure out what you're happy with and what you're not, you should first get an overview of your status quo.

The Life Web from Ein Guter Plan is ideal for this. It divides your life into 12 areas, such as fulfillment, work, friends, etc. By assigning each area a score from 1 (unsatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied), you create a kind of spider web— your life web . You can download the template here for free and print it out as a PDF.

2. Why structure brings relaxation

Structure initially sounds like stress, motivation, and discipline. But structure is the be-all and end-all of your family life and a real relief. With established routines, you don't have to constantly think about what's coming next; instead, you can let go and be in the here and now . Goodbye mental load!

Routines in everyday family life provide support and ease the bond. In concrete terms, this means, to put it simply: If it's clear that the first thing to do after getting up is brushing your child's teeth, then dental hygiene certainly won't be their favorite hobby. However, they will certainly reach for their toothbrush more often than if brushing your child's teeth is an unpopular to-do and cannot be planned.

Structure gives children a sense of control. This is especially valuable in a daily routine that's often dictated by adults. Everyone is happier and has more energy. The 15 minutes we save in the morning before daycare can be used for a leisurely reading a book or a game of hide-and-seek, OR you can manage to keep your coffee warm . Win-win!

3. Why you should plan in accordance with your cycle

Our lives are oriented toward the male cycle, which lasts exactly one day. The female cycle, however, stretches over approximately one month and has a profound impact on our well-being, our performance, and our perception. Reason enough to pay more attention to the four phases when planning.

Your cycle according to seasons

• The inner winter is the menstrual phase. Your estrogen and progesterone levels are at their lowest, and you want to retreat and make yourself comfortable. Don't plan anything that involves a lot of socializing during this phase, and postpone any major decisions until later. Now is the time to treat yourself to some rest and lie on the couch with a hot water bottle.
• During inner spring, estrogen and testosterone levels rise. This improves your brain performance, makes you more creative, and makes you want to go out and meet people again. Let's do this! Use the energy and lightness to continue working on realizing your dreams or plan trips with friends and family.
• The ovulation phase corresponds to internal summertime . Your estrogen levels are at their peak. Your energetic mood is accompanied by increased self-confidence . It's the perfect time for a job interview, to try something new, or to make new acquaintances.
• The inner autumn is a hormonal rollercoaster. Mood swings occur, and some of us suffer from PMS. Now is the time to take care of yourself. and do things that make you feel good . Be it yoga or a walk in the fresh air. You may also feel the need for order. Use this inward-directed energy for annual planning or to clean out your closet .
  

4. Make it easy for yourself: Advantages of a functioning "village"

You don't have to do this alone! Your village is your social network, there to support and ease your stress during your crazy journey as a mom or dad . Who belongs to your village varies from person to person. It could be friends and neighbors, or simply another parent who, like you, takes their child to gymnastics on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Think about who could support you and how, and also how you can ease the burden on people around you. Then step out of your comfort zone and simply chat up the person you like best. You'll be amazed at how well your initiative is received.

Everyone benefits from a functioning village!

1. You'll spend more time with the people around you and build connections. Perhaps even valuable friendships will develop. Through this exchange, you'll realize that everyone has "flaws" and that other families only seem perfect at first glance . That takes the pressure off!
2. You have more time for yourself. Carpooling, playdates, and celebrating your kids' birthdays together gives you more me-time and resources for your own projects.
3. The children benefit from this. They experience community and see how supportive interaction can work, regardless of all their differences . At the same time, you teach them that mom and dad also need to take care of themselves and that they can accept help.
4. The village also has a positive effect on your relationship. You'll be relieved of stress, have more time together , and can count on outside help in stressful situations. This ensures a more relaxed relationship.
   

5. Forest bathing for a natural serotonin boost

The positive effects of nature on our bodies and our mental health are scientifically proven. Among other things, it stimulates the production of endorphins like serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Regular visits to a park or forest therefore benefit enormously. And even if you're feeling a bit claustrophobic at home, the best remedy is a quick forest bath. Grab the kids and head out into the countryside . In nature, we reconnect with our inner selves and feel grounded.

6. Why you should stay true to yourself

Friendly reminder for you: Nobody has a master plan . Really. Not the successful and financially independent working mom, nor that one mom from your neighborhood who focuses 100% on her kids and cuts out their lunches with cookie cutters in the morning. There are as many paths as there are people. Find your own!

Take a screenshot and use it as your wallpaper to stay focused. 👇

Sustainable happiness begins with looking inward. Passive scrolling through Instagram and online shopping makes us feel good for a short time. Our brain releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is otherwise only produced in such quantities during exercise, sex, or delicious food. However, this quick dopamine boost doesn't make us happier. On the contrary: By constantly looking outward, we completely lose sight of our own desires.

You have your own reality, your own resources, and your own values. When you live in harmony with yourself and your values, life suddenly feels much easier.

Important: Your values ​​probably change depending on your life stage. Perhaps you used to be vegan and would never have bought animal products, and now, with a child, you have whole milk and salami in your fridge. You've automatically set priorities, and that's a good thing.

Basically, if you actively shape your environment in a positive way, your existence takes on a deeper meaning. You feel more grateful, more confident, and more balanced. Material things become less important, and you model an authentic lifestyle for your children.

We hope you were able to take something from this post and try to incorporate some of the ideas into your everyday family life. Feel free to give us feedback or share your own experiences with the community in the comments below 📝