🌱07: What Season are You in?

And How to Make the Best of It

Wamide (WamWam) @wamide_a

Finally accepting that my days are going to start a bit slower because of my baby. Just when I think he’s sleeping and I can do stuff, he wakes up and wants to climb all over me😩 It’s tough y’all. But I’m taking one day at a time. Any mamas WFH with a baby? How do you deal?

When I woke up this morning in February, I just wanted to write and get some work done before every one else got up. I had just started a new job and the struggle to meet up with work commitments, home commitments, personal, family, coupled with living in Nigeria was hitting me back to back.

Just when I thought I could start crunching it on my computer, my (then 6 month old) baby woke up too, and that was the end of whatever creative juice I thought I had flowing. I almost cried, I was so frustrated as I was struggling amidst everything, I mean it just was a lot.

It’s been almost 2 months since that tweet, and on some days I still feel like I am going round in circles, but I’ve grown immensely.

Something I’ve learned and that has kept me grounded in the past couple of months is accepting my season.

For some reason at the time, I had not come to terms with the fact that my life had completely changed post having a baby. It wasn’t just about nursing him or carrying him, it was making room and space in my mind too. It was about accepting my days were going to start a little slower because of him, and that was ABSOLUTELY OKAY.

It can be a bit hard combining stuff with a baby, but I also quickly realised that I was putting too much pressure on myself. This is a completely different time and phase of my life that I’ve never been through before and I’m coming to embrace it 100%.

Like me, you might be trying to figure stuff out. It might be a new work schedule, balancing life, or maybe you’re just yearning for growth in general.

Take a breather, recognise and embrace your season.

While it’s not okay to remain stagnant, it’s important to remember that life is in seasons.

We never really make linear progress, we go up and down, and up and down again. Life itself is cyclical.

Photo Credit: How to be great by Steph Smith

Life Seasons and How to Make the Best of It

Regardless of what season of life you’re in, understanding your season and figuring out how to navigate it is extremely important.

1. Planting/Resting/Waiting Season - Like winter, here it seems like you’re not doing anything. It’s dry, lonely, and feels like a long road ahead. This season doesn’t last forever, but what you do during this time matters a lot. It’s the time to build the right foundation without distractions.

   Think about this like sowing a seed. When you plant a seed, nobody sees it, but when the seeds start to bear fruit, it’s out there for all to see. This is your planting season, it’s the best time to prepare and sharpen your tools. Develop your skills and knowledge. Read books, courses, set boundaries, connect with people, get advice and prepare an action plan.

2. Budding Season - Here, things start picking up. Basically your seed starts growing. You make new relationships, a new job, a new opportunity, etc. What’s important here is not letting an opportunity or relationship go to waste. Act on the opportunities that come your way, leverage your relationships, build genuine connections, do great work, be a person of impact.

   People are watching. Be careful how you act, it’s pivotal to the next season.

3. Blooming Season - Finally, those efforts start to pay off. Your goal starts to look clearer and clearer, and you start to reap some rewards. Think of a mango tree with lots of beautiful mangoes on it. This season is not just for you alone to enjoy, you share with others, and you also prune so you can continue to bear fruits.

   Enjoy the moment, take pride in your progress, document your wins, celebrate your wins, don’t get lazy. Motivate yourself, raise the bar and think long-term.

While navigating through life, it’s true that some things are not entirely in our control, but our actions are. Becoming the best version of ourselves is our personal responsibility, and embracing our season helps us flourish. What season are you in?

Note to Self:

Wherever the Lord has placed you, bloom where you've been planted. Whistle while you work, and even the mundane becomes meaningful!

Hey, you read this post to the end, you’re the real MVP. Thank you for reading!