Lisa Mayoh: Life happens so just do your best

If we step back, realise we are only one person and can only do what we can do, life suddenly feels calmer and more manageable, writes Lisa Mayoh.

Is the year over yet?

Just joking. Well, kind of.

Most parents will be on their last legs this weekend, crawling to the finish line after Christmas school holidays that are seemingly never ending. A lot of kids aren’t back at their desks until Thursday, which is eight whole weeks after wrapping up 2024 totally and utterly exhausted. Some started this week, as I’m sure your Instagram feed will tell you, and first day nerves have surely unsettled households everywhere.

We’ve had a first day of high school, a first day of boarding school and a last first day of primary school at our place, so you can imagine the flurry of contact and confusion as everyone navigates the unknown. Which bus to catch, what to do if it’s full and doesn’t stop, which book do I bring to which class and WHAT DO YOU MEAN the swimming carnival is on the first day back?

Whether you prep and pack and diligently write your to-do list a month out, or whether you’re at Woolies getting bread on your way to the uniform shop 20 minutes before the first bell, it still gets done. Picture: iStock

It’s a lot for everyone, but what I’ve learned is … whether you prep and pack and diligently write your to-do list a month out, or whether you’re at Woolies getting bread on your way to the uniform shop 20 minutes before the first bell, it still gets done. Different stress levels, same result.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything for everyone that the fury of things to tick off can be totally overwhelming. If we step back, realise we are only one person and can only do what we can do, life suddenly feels calmer and more manageable.

While it’s great to have no lunch boxes to pack or routine to enforce, it’s also a relief when that new shoelace is tied, last book contacted and life is back to a bit of normality. Picture: iStock

I’ve decided that’s how I’m going to tackle 2025.

Less constant tasks and too-long to-do lists, more realistic, achievable targets. Shorter lists. Pass on more responsibility to the offspring – if they fail, what a lesson. If they succeed, what a feeling. Get more done well, as opposed to just ticking the box.

Because while I do love lazy mornings, and no lunch boxes to pack or routine to enforce, it’s also a relief when that new shoelace is tied, last book contacted and life back to a bit of normality. When you get your head around where netball trials are, what time the first touch games of the season kicks off, and which uniforms are worn on which days, suddenly it all feels okay.

Tackle 2025 with more realistic, achievable targets and shorter lists. Picture: iStock

I’m not going to beat myself up for not sticking to my ‘25 resolutions for 2025’ either. Don’t laugh, but I couldn’t even get to 25. My 12 goals like ‘read a book a month’ or ‘exercise every day’ aren’t cutting it this time. I don’t want to feel like a failure looking at my untouched bedside table book tower or skipping a gym class when I’ve got an early meeting.

Life happens and we’re all just doing our best.

The kids too.

So, yes, like you all I am celebrating the start of the school year, but I’m also not going to let it swallow me whole this year.

One thing at a time. Less rushing. I’m going to put the phone down and enjoy it all a bit more, not just scrape through each day and dread the next.

Let’s just hope I can stick to it. I’ll put it on the list.

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