It sounds totally counterintuitive, but I have become more productive since my daughter was born. Procrastination used to be king in my life. It was never due to laziness, but rather doubting my ideas or being too afraid to take the plunge.
The years since my daughter’s birth have been crazy (but amazing) as expected: sleep depravation, always somewhere to be, or an errand we forgot to run. As the responsibilities of parenthood grew and free time became a rarity, I began to prioritize my career goals and focus on what needed to be done.
My new time management skills were awesome, but what really made the difference was getting over my fears. Even though my daughter is now a preschooler and more concerned with Paw Patrol’s latest adventure rather than my career trajectory, I want her to grow up watching her parents try new things and not always taking the “easy road.” I never want her to value herself based on the opinions of others. So, why should I? If you have a great idea, and it’s financially and physically possible to achieve, why not got for it? It’s not just about being smart. You need to be brave, too.
These life lessons don’t just come from parenting. Any change in life, be it stressful or time consuming, can teach you how to focus and prioritize your goals. It can make clear what is really important in life and teach you not to be afraid, to take chances, and not to care what anyone else thinks.