Day Nineteen- Simplify Your Schedule

We are living in a world where people are constantly on the move, running from thing to thing, and then collapsing every night due to exhaustion. Our to-do lists are a mile long and our calendars are over-flowing with commitments. It all seems never-ending, so what can we do? 

simplify: verb (used with object) to make less complex or complicated, make plainer or easier. 

The word simplify has become my mantra on my journey of simply embracing life. I don’t know about you, but I definitely prefer "easier" to "complicated."

Here are three steps that I have found to be useful in this process:

Take an honest look at the schedule

Reviewing the weekly schedule can help us gain a little perspective about what we’re really doing with our time. Take the time to map it all out and really consider what’s going on. Think about your priorities and evaluate your schedule to make sure you are truly honoring them. If you want family time to be a priority, but your current schedule doesn’t allow for that, then it’s time to make a change. Be realistic about the amount of time it takes to do certain tasks. Remember, you control the schedule, the schedule shouldn’t control you!

Don’t overschedule your kids

Are the kids’ activities dominating the schedule to the point that you don’t even have time to breathe? Avoid the trap of overscheduling your kids. Our culture is perpetuating the myth that children need to participate in multiple activities in order to develop properly and be ready for life. However, research has indicated time and time again that family time is a major component in child development. Make sure that your kids have time at home with you! Kids also need down time to recharge their batteries, just like we do.  I’m not suggesting that you give up everything. Consider limiting each child to one or two extras.  Help them to prioritize and learn how to live a balanced life.

Make the necessary changes

Now that you’ve taken a hard look at your calendar, start making the necessary changes. Let go of those things that don’t fall within your established priorities. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it. Some of these changes might be temporary due to your current season of life. This evaluation process really needs to be on-going since our lives are constantly changing.  Sometimes it is hard to let go, but you will be happier and more content in the long run.

Remember: busy does not necessarily equal productive.  I have had too many days that I spent running around but I really didn’t get anything done. In order to be productive, I have had to learn how to say no to the good so that I can say yes to the best. Time is an enormously expensive commodity, so let’s learn how to manage it with wisdom and purpose.