Are you suffering from mom burn out? Do you struggle just to make it through each day? Moms everywhere are breaking down because they are too chicken to say, “No.”

“No” may be a tiny, two-letter word, but it can be your secret weapon. And you can say it. Here are some ways you can say “no” without feeling guilty about it:

Sorry, I’m taking a break.

The number one reason why you should say, “no” occasionally is simply that you deserve a break. You are chef, chauffeur, dish washer, and more. You job never ends on any given day of the week. You deserve a break. If you feel bad for saying “no,” say, “Sorry, I’m taking a break.”

My schedule is full.

We tend to jam-pack our schedule full of activities, leaving time for nothing. Cut back on your kids activities. Start a car pool and share driving responsibilities. Do whatever you can to free up some time in your schedule.

I don’t have time.

You’re headed out the door, rushing to the next appointment when the telephone rings. What do you do? Do you come to a screeching halt and answer the phone? Let’s say you do, and it’s a family member, calling to dump their latest woes on you. Do you stand, tapping your foot impatiently while you roll your eyes and listen to the sob story? This is a typical scene for many moms.

I have another commitment that day.

Say it and mean it. Regularly schedule in time with your family or time alone and if someone ask for your help during that time look in your planner and tell them you have another commitment.

Instead of rushing to be everything to everyone, stop. Ask yourself if you truly have time for whatever comes up. If not, say no by walking away, turning off the ringer on the phone, or not answering the knock at your door.

Always remember that you are a mom—not a super hero. When you have to say no, people will understand; if they don’t at first, they will get used to it eventually.

For more suggestions on living the life that you want to live visit Journey to Joy  (it is loaded with examples and action steps)

Aurelia Williams has given me two free reports on life balance to share with my readers.  Please help yourself and share with your friends:

You Deserve a Break - 15 different ways to “Take a Break”

Top 10 Ways to Reconnect with Your Family - 4 pages of excellent suggestions on spending quality time with your family.

I hope you enjoy them!

Do you ever wish you knew the secrets of that happy mommy next door? You know… The one who always seems to have it together while you feel like you need 4 more clones… What is she doing that you aren’t? Well, Aurelia Williams has released her newest Real Life Guidance Report and she is going to tell you.

Get your copy here!

Every other Friday is pay day (for my husband, that is).  It became a natural and necessary thing to balance the checkbook and pay bills on Fridays.  It then became a habit, a part of my life balance routine.  After reading Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace, and accepting that some big financial changes need to happen around here, I have formally designated Friday as “Financial Friday“.

Financial Friday is my financial management day.  I still balance the checkbook and pay bills, but I also work on debt management strategies.  Using worksheets in Financial Peace, I am starting to analyze all of our income and spending on a monthly basis.  With the gruesome details layed out in front of me on paper, I can see where changes need to be made and I am forced to face the facts.

I’m having a problem though.  Debt busting and the ever-popular “snowball method” of debt reduction don’t work well for people who have no money left over at the end of the month.  I’ve reduced every bill that I can reduce.  Being a stay-at-home mom for the past five years has put a huge burden on our financial situation and we have acquired an enormous pile of debt.  Yes, my website business has brought in some income, but not enough.  We have more monthly expenses and debt payments than we have income.  Many months we rely on credit cards to buy groceries and pay medical expenses…  only compounding our problems.  (Maybe I should have named this post “Confessions of a WAHM”.)  Any way…  Enough whining…

One Financial Friday at a time, right?

Financial Peace: Revisited (Revised) With new chapters on marriage and money, kids and money, and singles and money, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Revisited helps readers to understand the forces behind their financial distress and how to set things right–financially, emotionally, and spiritually.