Being a mum has its challenges. Being an expat mum can be simply crazy. What can we do to be more effective as an expat mum?

There are three key habits or attributes that will set you up to be more effective:

1. Create a routine for yourself and your family. 

I’m not saying you need to have every hour of the day scheduled, we all know that doesn’t work well. But think of your day in terms of blocks of time, and create a routine that works for you.  

Why is this important? Routines create predictability. They provide you with an opportunity to exert a level of control over your life. They help your family to know what to expect. Routines also help you to focus on what is important. 

Expat life is so unpredictable, and often very uncertain. Routines will give you strength when the rest of your world is upside down. Having a routine that you can rely on will help your overall mental health. You may even find more time for you!

2. Listen. 

Listen to your kids. Listen to your partner. Listen to your friends. Listen to the teachers. Listen to the people you meet. Just listen, and truly hear what people are sharing. 

We all know that listening is an essential part of communication. But as expats and especially as mums we also get very busy. Sometimes we end up wearing busy as a badge of honour. When we are in this state, we are not giving ourselves the opportunity to listen (among other things).  

Listening, and truly hearing the people around you will help you connect and understand. It will help you read the situation and adapt quickly to any changing needs. It will provide you with a better sense of grounding.

3. Be flexible. 

The world we live in is dynamic. We need to be able to adapt and respond to change, and quickly. Resisting this can lead to unnecessary stress in our lives. Recognising and embracing flexibility will help you adapt to difficult situations more easily.  

By flexible I mean know when to hold firm on something, but be able to pick your battles too. Some things are ok to slide. Some things are ok to change.

Being flexible means that we can adapt and change with the changes of the day. With the demands of the week. We can cope with the uncertainty. 

I know it sounds simple, but it’s true. Try out these three simple habits, and see how you can be more effective in your life. See how you function differently. Then please do comment or send me a note, I would love to hear how you go 🙂