Just found out I was chosen as this month’s Applause Award winner at WAHM-Articles.com

The Applause Award was created in 2009 to recognize the significant contributions our wonderful authors make to the members of the online work-at-home-mom (WAHM) community. (more details here)

Denise shared some really nice comments:

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I’ve not posted to my blog for a while. It’s been one of those months. Well, actually about 6 of those months. But then again, isn’t life always challenging? The last week I’ve spent dealing with some medical issues in our family, among a lot of other personal issues, and it’s been tough. I’d like to just sit and cry. We all have those days. Just feels like a breakdown is the only option. Something’s got to give.

This morning I realized I can choose to breakdown, or I can choose to stick to it and breakthrough. It means doing all I can, being at peace that it’s the best I can do, making changes and just trusting that things will work out the way they’re supposed to.

A couple of inspirational quotes to share for anyone else dealing with a challenging time right now:

“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” -Vince Lombardi

“If you are going through hell, keep going.” -Winston Churchill

“Never, never, never give up!” -Winston Churchill

Read a very cool post the other day on Bob the Teacher’s blog at http://askbobtheteacher.com/blog/ where he talked about acknowledging what we’ve accomplished.  I thought that was a really great perspective.  Go read it!  (And if you’re not already getting his blog updates, it’s worth signing up for.)

Here’s some of what I’m happy about from 2009:

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I shared a few weeks ago how much I accomplished while I was away for the weekend at Attract Clients Like Crazy and how I got it done quickly. I thought I’d also share what works for me at home. If you’re familiar with me, you know that in addition to juggling a couple of businesses, I homeschool my three kids (K, 2nd, 4th) and take care of our home. I’ll admit though, a maid is on my list of things to check into soon. But really, I think being as busy as I am helps me to stay on track and not waste time (most days). Here are some tips for getting things done in “regular life” as opposed to a weekend away.

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Feeling overwhelmed?  Too much to do and not enough time to get it all done?  There is an answer!

It’s not uncommon to see large companies moving many jobs overseas in an effort to save money. They call it outsourcing. As a solopreneur who works from home, you can outsource, too!

As your business grows, you might very well find that you need help. Even when you are highly organized, there seems to be more and more work to get done. Instead of encroaching on family time, find a way to get all of your tasks handled without boarding the train to Looneyville.

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Are you READY to start your own home based business? Wondering if it’s a good decision for you?

Check out this quick 10 question quiz to find out if working at home is right for you AND what type of business you might be suitable for.  It’s put together by Nicole Dean, who’s always got great resources and info. Click here for the quiz.

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So it’s that time of the year in the US where we celebrate the things we’re thankful for (and, if you’re like me, question official holidays, their origins, and real story behind it all… but that’s another blog post).

This morning I’m feeling thankful for all the little things. I can sit here at my desk, at home, enjoying my morning coffee, watching birds play in the snow out the window (also what my cat, Whiskers, is thankful for), and spending time with my kids.

And I’m thankful for you — my clients, colleagues, fans, blog readers, and friends. Thank you for your friendship, support, and business over the years.

Do you have support? You’ll notice many super heroes have sidekicks. No one thinks of Batman as less than a hero when when Robin helps out or Alfred takes care of his mansion. It’s okay to get help from a spouse, friend, coach, virtual assistant, maid, children, mother’s helper or all of the above plus more.

Here are some ways you can get support and help to save you time. Be creative and you’ll find that support can make your life easier without being expensive.

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With juggling kids, homeschooling, home, business, everything that we as Mothers have in our hands, it can really get tough sometimes.

So, what do you do to recharge? What helps you make it through and feel creative or inspired or just able to face things again?

Here are some things that work for me.

Meditate or Pray: Taking time to be still and quiet, and to reconnect can do wonders for the spirit.

Journal: I journal most days, even if it’s only for a few minutes. I write down my visualization exercises and then I write down at least 5 things that I am thankful for right then.

Thank Someone: A few times a week I randomly pick someone who I am thankful for and/or inspired by and just send a little note or email. I find that my effort to lift someone else’s spirits lifts mine too.

Movement: Yoga, pilates, or dancing. I turn on iTunes and exercise or dance with my kids. It can really relieve stress. The days when I least feel like doing this are the days when I need to the most. If I can just make myself move I find I feel much better the rest of the day.

Quiet Time: Sometimes I light a candle and just sit and read quietly from my Bible or an inspirational book.

Bubbles: Yes, I know this is a stereotype, but it works. If I’m lucky and the kids are all asleep I’ll give myself 5 or 10 minutes in the bath to relax with bubbles and just work to clear my mind of all the stress.

Coffee (aka Reward Yourself): I purchase frappucino mix and make them at home as a treat when I’m particularly stressed. Use something you love as a reward for surviving your day.

Foot Massage or Reflexology: Giving yourself a foot massage or doing reflexology on your feet can really boost your energy level.

Energize with your Nose: I find certain essential oils to be energizing as well — peppermint, lemon, or orange oils work for me. Some people like pine or rosemary or thyme to energize.

Identify and Attack: A few days ago I was really stressed and I cleaned out a closet. As strange as that might sound, I identified that I was feeling “out of control” about a particular situation, and so by doing something that helped me feel organized and in control I resolved that feeling, and then was able to focus on work.

Write it Down: Making a “to do” list before bed helps me sleep better because I don’t worry that I’ll forget something that way. It also lets me easily rank what’s important, and what I can let go of, and that helps me feel more focused and energized.

Support Group or Coach: Sometimes we all need a little support and encouragement. One of the things that helps me tremendously is when I have a session with my business coach. Just the listening ear, outside perspective, and relentless positivity is so inspiring. I really questioned it before I gave it a try, but I can say that this is one of the best business decisions I’ve made. The accountability doesn’t hurt either when I need to motivate myself to action. Knowing someone else is going to ask if I made positive steps this month is a good motivator. But more than that it’s really recharging to get out what’s going on, what’s going wrong, what’s going right and have someone there to help you through it. So get a coach! Or find a sounding board. Talk to a friend or colleague about being accountability partners. Surround yourself with support and you’ll find comfort and inspiration.

Work at home mom extraordinaire Michelle Shaeffer publishes The Muses Brainstorm, a weekly ezine with tips to help you balance, manage, and market your home based business. If you’re ready for inspirational guidance and bright ideas sign up free at www.thesmallbusinessmuse.com