Photo: Courtesy Britten Cole
Please welcome back our new celebrity blogger,Dr. Britten Cole!
Dr. Cole, an anesthesiologist and mother of two, splits her time between Orlando, Florida, and Los Angeles, where she’s starring on the inaugural season ofMarried to Medicine: Los Angeles.Aside from appearing on the hit Bravo series’ new spin-off, sheis currently working on finding permanent medical employment on the west coast.
Before she became an anesthesiologist, Dr. Cole worked as an officer in the Navy alongside her best friend,Married to Medicine: AtlantastarDr. Contessa Metcalfe.
Cole and husband Mack Major share two children: Mack Jr., 7, and Ivy, 8. You can find her on Instagram@brittencolemd.
Mack Major and daughter Ivy.
One thing I’ve learned as a full-time working mother and wife is that my time is exceedingly precious. I have no time for things that are wasteful or don’t bring me joy. This is why I outsource as many daily household chores as I can to someone else, so that I have more time to do the things that are important to me.
Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar: After work, I have essentially a three-hour window to do a million and one things. First, there’s homework, reading and studying. Then we move on to cooking, dinnertime and the dreaded kitchen cleanup. Next comes the eternal process ofbribery and debate known as bedtime. This is where I struggle because in my house, bedtime prep can last an hour. Finally, with no time left to exhale, I have to get myself ready for bed.
Dr. Britten Cole and son Mack Jr.Courtesy Britten Cole
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Where in this scenario is there time for me to decompress, play with the kids, have quality time with my husband, jump on a call with my mom or just take a breath? It’s like being in the military again: structure and order, and any deviation from this is likely to throw me into “monster mom” mode. Something has to give — and that something is household chores.
I also tackle house cleaning strategically. Our family collectively cleans the house … or should I say, straightens up, every Sunday. I also pay a cleaning company to come on Tuesdays to do the heavy lifting. Outsourcing meal prep and cleaning alone hasfreed up more time for the people I love: my family.
Dr. Britten Cole and family.
Being able to come home and do a craft with my son, play with makeup with my daughter or ask my husband how his day was and allowing that conversation to take us in so many wonderful directions has allowed me to be more present.
Without household tasks hanging over my head,I have found myself less stressedand freer. Maybe you have given up a few pleasures to make this happen, but believe me when I tell you that outsourcing is worth every penny. No weeks’ worth of fancy lattes can compare. Outsourcing has helped improve my mood and how I interact with everyone in my home.
Most importantly, ladies,your mental health is at stake heretoo. You need time for you. Presenting a broken and depleted version of yourself to your family doesn’t benefit them in the slightest. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of them. This is not the season for guilt. No one has time for that!
Push it aside and regain you and your family’s well-being. Anyone who makes you feel guilty for not being traditionally domesticated is speaking nonsense, and if they enjoy it so much, ask them how much they charge to come do it for you. We have got to maintain our sanity and reclaim our time!
Peace …
Catch Dr. Britten Cole on Married to Medicine: Los Angeles, which airs Sundays on Bravo at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST.
source: people.com
