Embarking on a Hands Free Journey

I am starting a new journey, a journey to become more hands free, more engaged, less driven by technology AND my to do lists. I want to be a Hands Free Mama! I’ve noticed over the past year that as my side hustles have changed and shifted, so has my attention because…

I’m a hustler baby!

My side hustles include:

1. Early Childhood Special Educator working in Early Intervention (part-time)
2. Teaching Preschool 
3. Teaching two Online Classes with CBBPlus (middle and high school)
4. Blogging

Being a SAHM and WAHM with many side hustles, I feel like I use my phone for everything. Instead of being on the floor with my kids, I’m answering a quick email or checking blog stats. I am constantly trying to stay on top of social media for my blog or keep up with grading classwork. If I’m not doing those things, I’m blogging or writing lesson plans.

We haven’t even gotten to my daily to-do list, which I so neatly write in my BUJO every evening. (If you haven’t heard of a BUJO yet, check it out here.)

I could literally be on my phone or computer for hours straight and still need more time.

I hate the feeling that even though it is only a quick five minute social media brain break, my focus is on my phone. Not on the three beautiful and precious tiny humans that so badly want my attention.

Hence the reason for my new journey.

A fellow blogger posted that she was reading A Hands Free Life by Rachel Macy Stafford. After looking into it further I came across A Hands Free Mama also by Rachel Macy Stafford. I chose to start with A Hands Free Mama mainly because it resonated with me the most. After all that’s where I am right now in my life, a mom. A mom trying to accomplish fifty million (the joke with my husband when he asks what I need to do) different things at one time, but still a mom.

 

What I love about this book so far is that Rachel Stafford gives personal anecdotes to show her own struggles and successes. She also breaks down the steps to becoming a Hands Free Mama into small meaningful chunks. Each chapter gives you something to work on over the course of a month.

So far, I’m doing good. I give myself set times and a set amount of time to be on my phone or computer, especially during the day when my girls are awake or in the evenings when we are all together as a family. I’ve gone from checking my phone multiple times throughout the day to only once or twice and only for a minute or two.

You know what, just by not being on social media 24/7 it’s kind of lost it’s appeal. I mean I still check in somewhat regularly for blogging purposes, but I’m already feeling the pull of social media disintegrate.

Woo hoo!

If you share my feelings and are interested in trying the Hands Free life, I encourage you to check out Rachel Macy Stafford’s books. I plan to blog about my experiences as I journey through this lifestyle change, so feel free to journey along with me!