Do you ever feel like your life is a juggling act? You wake up in the morning and you pack the lunches, find lost socks, make breakfast, and are excited to get out the door in time, only to find yourself stuck in traffic having road rage and it’s only 8:00 AM? The rest of your day is filled with meetings at work, delivering forgotten homework or lunches, escaping from work to volunteer at the school, rushing back to work, rushing to the gym to try to fit in a workout, rushing home to get kids, and driving them to soccer, ballet, baseball or whatever their current activities are.

You breathe for a moment and then it’s time to make dinner. After dinner comes homework, baths, and chores. After getting the kids into bed, you collapse exhausted on the couch, hoping to get just a minute of quality time with your husband but instead find yourself falling asleep knowing that when you wake up the day will be staring at you reminding you that you have to do it all over again!

How do you get off the never-ending hamster wheel that we all experience as women and as moms? How can we learn to balance it all, live in the present, and enjoy this season of our lives? It’s never perfect, but there are 5 key things I’ve learned that have helped me to experience joy and not pull my hair out even through the chaos!

How to Balance Your Day and Stay Sane

1. Focus

What do I mean by focus? I mean giving 100% to whatever you are working on. For example, if it is time to answer emails, only answer emails. Do not take incoming calls or put on a load of laundry, just focus on the task at hand. Another great example that I know many of us struggle with is giving 100% focus to our kids. I often turn off my phone or at least leave it in the other room when I want to have quality time with my kids. I promise this makes such a huge difference and our children notice when we are focused on just them and it increases their self-esteem and helps them feel special and important.

2. Plan Your Day the Day Before it Starts

I know it sounds simple, but incorporating this one technique can make a world of difference in your life. Take 5 minutes before you go to bed to schedule out in your planner what you will be doing the next day. Include everything in your day including your workout and cleaning time. Also, make a list of things you need to get done. When you take control of your day, your day is less likely to take control of you! I challenge you to try it and see how your productivity increases!

[RELATED: How to Find This Elusive Work-Life Balance]

3. Eat That Frog

I don’t mean you actually eat a frog, I know this one sounds crazy but what it really means is do the hardest thing on your to-do list first. Take your list that you created the night before, highlight the top 5 things to get done and start with the hardest! Often times I know I am guilty of starting with the easiest and then the hardest sometimes does not get accomplished, but when you start with the hardest, you ensure you will get it done and feel successful on top of that!

4. Positive Affirmations

This is a big step in your sanity that many people never do. Positive affirmations are something you say in the present tense even if it is not true yet. For example, I could say, “I am a successful entrepreneur who makes a 6 figure income.” Although this is not true yet, my brain doesn’t know the difference. There are actual pathways in the brain that get stronger when you feed them, so when you feed them positivity, they believe it!

5. Do Something For You!

How many times do we tend to everyone else’s needs and not our own? You need to take care of you so you can take care of your family. Find something you love, whether it is running, going to the spa, or a bubble bath. This step will help you keep sane is this chaotic life you live!

I believe if you implement these strategies you will find yourself more productive and enjoying life to the fullest!