by Joan Celebi, Ed.M., CLC
Founder, SpecialNeedsParentCoach.com

Do you hold yourself to impossibly high standards? If you're like many parents of children with special needs, you may be trying to do too much, and do too much too well. The result is added stress that is unhelpful and counterproductive. That's why this week I want to encourage you to lower your standards.

Living with more reasonable standards is one of the best strategies for simplifying your life. And it's not just for times when life is hectic. If you're having trouble with this, try being your own observer as you go about your day. Constantly ask yourself:

• Do I need to be doing this?
• Do I need to be doing this right now?
• Is this taking more of my time and energy than it should?
• Is perfectionism getting in the way of my getting this done?
• Is this causing me unnecessary stress?
• Is there a way to make this easier, or less time consuming?

Decide what you need to continue to do with excellence, and what you can let go of a little, at least for a while. Chances are, your "good enough" is still quite excellent!