Taking Action

What do I do about my highest ranking challenges and lowest ranking supports?

It is up to you to decide what issues you would like to prioritise right now. In the face to face workshops, mothers are asked to select 2 or 3 of the most important challenges and consider whether these issues become part of their Time for Me Plan. Sometimes the issues are the main barriers to getting started on lifestyle changes. For example, if sadness or grief is the main issue (i.e. scored as 9 or 10), then the action plan needs to start with seeking professional assistance. It is hard to make other changes for yourself if you are feeling overwhelmed emotionally. Other mothers identify the family routine as the main barrier (ranking this 9 or 10). Mothers say that they have successfully organised a home routine weekly that meets other family members needs but not their own. Therefore, mothers in this situation set their own goal around finding ways to reschedule the family routine to find 15 or 20 minutes for themselves daily within the first four weeks.

To decide what is right in your own situation, look over the items that challenge you now.

• What have you ranked 7, 8, 9, or 10?
• Why did you rate this issue to be a big problem?
• Are any issues easily addressed now?
• Are they appropriate to address in a month?
• Are they long term issues that will take some time to address?

It is important to acknowledge the advantages that you do have in your life right now. These issues may be your lowest ranked challenges (scored 0, 1, 2, 3) and your highest ranked supports (scored 7, 8, 9 or10). All of these factors are life supports and potential assets to use in your lifestyle redesign around health, wellbeing and life goals. Take sometime to consider your own profile. You profile of challenges and supports will change over time. You are capable of changing your own profile over time so that it better supports your ability to life a healthy and satisfying life.

If you ever doubt your ability to do this for yourself, just think about what you have managed on behalf of your child/children. Remember, you are a champion.

Here are some words from other mothers and past participants:

Women are such an important part of families in the community. I think we’re unsung heroes…

I know what I can and can’t do and what is a realistic goal and what’s not a realistic goal and how to go about starting that change.

Setting little achievable goals… take little steps, not the whole thing at once, break it down a little bit. If I look at my daughter’s education, that’s exactly what they did… they celebrate all the little things, just because she doesn’t achieve the big thing (walking), the little things are successes as well.