Parental Action Plan for Change

Make a decision.
Make a life decision to change things. Decisions are made in the head, while life decisions come from the heart. Decide that you are going to make your children's interests — especially their health — a top priority, and redesign your life accordingly.

Delegate responsibilities.
Learn to delegate more responsibility — even if everything doesn't get done exactly the way you like it. When you deconstruct a chaotic life by delegating, it's amazing how much time you can pick up. For example, try putting 20 minutes that you save toward a bubble bath or something else that you find relaxing.

Stop the verbal abuse.
If you yell at your kids or in front of them, stop it right now. You don't have that right. Likewise, you do not have the luxury of being too hotheaded or emotional with your kids. Require more of yourself. Find a different outlet for your frustration. Don't take it out on your children.

Turn down the volume.
Lower the noise in your life. In addition to turning off the TV (or at least turning it down), understand that if you give yourself permission to take a step back and decompress, everyone's quality of life will improve. If your household is too hectic, try getting up earlier. Use that time to organize your day and prioritize. Losing half an hour of sleep is worth it if the demands throughout the day are far more manageable.