Do you ever feel like your schedule is running your life? The other weekend was kind of like that. On Saturday we had an inspection at my house at 9 am, T had dance class at 10, I had to go to the store to pick up something for my brother's pot luck engagement party later that day, a house showing at 2pm, and then the engagement party at 4pm. After the engagement party my husband also had a cast party for a show he was in while I stayed home with the kids. The next day my son had picture day at the dance school at 11:30, and then I had to pick up my in laws, and then my daughter's cake, and be back home for Hailey's birthday party at 2pm.
Some of this was in our control, but some wasn't. I don't know about you, but having a weekend like this every once in a while is inevitable. But if you feel like your schedule is running your life on a regular basis, you definitely need to make some changes or else you will burn out. And nobody wants that!
The following are a few techniques we used to make that crazy weekend feel a little less crazy. You can use these ideas anytime your schedule is getting too hectic.
Tell People You Need Help
Mamas like to be self sufficient. We tend to feel like we need to take care of everything ourselves or else we are bad moms. We see images of other moms who appear to be getting everything done and we feel like we have to do it all too. I'm here to tell you, we don't.
After scheduling Hailey's birthday party for the 7th, we got the email that picture day for the studio would be the same day. While we couldn't have the studio change the entire day for our benefit, we could ask them to accommodate. I asked the studio if it would be possible to schedule my son's classes first. They said it was no problem. This enabled us to get our pictures done early in the day. I didn't have to worry about waiting for the schedule and then trying to figure out what to do. As soon as we got the date, I proactively made the request regarding the schedule.
Knowing that I would be busy the morning of the party, I did a lot of decorating and prep during the week. I also let my husband know what my schedule was going to be so that he could help do the morning prep while I was out with my son. This ensured that he knew his responsibilities in advance and the day went very smoothly.
Group Your Tasks
When planning the two days, we chose to group tasks based on where they would be. I did most of the errands and my husband did the things at home. On Saturday, My husband stayed home for the inspection while I took my son to dance and picked up the food. Then we were home while I prepped the food and he handled the afternoon showing. Then we all when out to the party.
On Sunday, I did the picture day, picking up my in laws, and picking up the cake. Since these were all near each other it was more efficient for me to do all the errands while my hubby and his brother did the last bit of decorating and prepping the grill for the birthday barbecue. By dividing the tasks by physical location and type of task, we were able to make a busy day run more smoothly.
Write it Down
I've said it before and I'll say it again, write things down. For me having a written schedule and to do list serves multiple purposes. First it shows me if things are running on track. If I check my schedule and things are running on time or even early, it totally allows me to relax and not stress.
Second, heaving things written helps me not to forget things. The busier you are, the more likely you are to forget something. Having a list helps to prevent things from slipping through the cracks.
Third, having a list means I can check things off the list as they get done. This is super helpful for mindset. Being able to physically check things off allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment as you go through your day. This helps with your energy and motivation to get through the rest of your day more easily.
Include Time to Relax
While that weekend was super busy, there was actually also a lot of time to relax. On Saturday, once we got to the engagement party around 4, we were able to relax. There was another kid there for T to play with and family who was more than willing to hold the baby, so we were able to eat and enjoy ourselves for the rest of the evening.
On Sunday, again, after running around all morning, I was able to relax and enjoy the company of my family and friends. My husband did all the grilling so I was able to enjoy the party and just make sure the baby was having a good time. But I also had a ton of people there to help with that.
Sometimes having a light at the end of the tunnel is just what you need to get through a busy day. Definitely give yourself a break or a mini celebration after a hectic day. Do something to help you unwind and forget about the rest of your to dos. Just celebrate getting through a full day and worry about tomorrow's to dos tomorrow.
So the next time you have a busy day or weekend scheduled, use these simple tips. Let people know you have a busy day and let them help. Group your tasks so you can make efficient use of your time. Write things down so they don't get lost in the shuffle. And plan for a mini celebration for getting through the day.
Do you have any tips for getting through busy days? Share them in the comments!
Cheers,
Emily
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