Another new month tomorrow. Wow - where does the time go?
The new year's changes have maybe already been proven successful, or they could have been revised or completely forgotten by now!
How are you doing? Really - how are you doing? Physically? Emotionally?
We have stress coming at us in many different directions. Can the kids go to school today? Is everyone feeling okay? Deadlines at work? Mom has another dr appointment? Can I find what I need at the grocery store?
One important way to help reduce stress is to have a routine.
You may have a morning routine. Make your bed, morning prayer, exercise and shower, walk the dog - or something similar to this idea.
I also try to do laundry on Monday, go for groceries and fill my car gas tank on Thursday,water my plants on Friday, housework on Saturday. This helps to balance my week so I don't have one day with everything needing to be done at the same time.
Having a schedule keeps me up to date with the bigger "to do" list but there's lots of things that can be added. Do you have a system for organizing your vitamins? Maybe you can do that on Tuesdays? Or perhaps you belong to a group that includes some homework. Could it be scheduled for Wednesday evenings?
At the beginning of the month, I create a plan. Do I need to change the furnace filter, do I need to arrange for an oil change in the car, dr appointment or vet appointment? I've found that having birthdays listed at the beginning of the month provides some time to pick up a gift or card in advance. Being prepared saves time and stress. If you find a great card that would be suitable for everyone, purchase in bulk. This is especially helpful with sympathy cards when there often isn't much notice.
On Sunday evenings, I plan my week. Whether you use an online calendar, a desktop paper version, calendar on the wall, or an appointment book, having your week schedule visual is helpful. My routines are penned in, then the most important appointments are scheduled first. Everything else will fit in somewhere. I make sure to have some flexibility for the everyday surprises as well, leaving enough time to run to the store if needed. The busier your week, the more important it is to get personal rest!
If you're working or are a student, your week needs to be super organized. You know which assignments and/or deadlines are urgent for today and which ones you can complete within a few days. You have solid priorities that need to be met. This is when your routine at home and at work are so important. You need to allow yourself some time to reduce the stress in your life and find time for yourself!
If you're retired, your time can just disappear without a plan. What do you want to accomplish this month? this week? Are you wanting to declutter your basement? or create a personal space to work on your creativity? What can you do today to bring you closer to being successful in this goal?
If you are running with a houseful of people, their needs can overshadow your own. Children and elderly parents can fill our calendars quickly with their activities and appointments. Are you scheduling some time for yourself? This is really important as you are most likely the glue that is holding everything together!
Having a routine and an organized plan for your month, your week and your day, and knowing that the important things will get done, can reduce your stress.
Remember to take care of yourself. Take some time to rest and just pause!
Are you feeling overwhelmed? If you need some help with managing your time and creating a system that will work for you, contact me and I can help!
