How Do You Cope with a Busy Schedule?

Life can be overwhelming. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled in several directions at once and find it difficult to cope.

We are often juggling many demands. These can be placed on us by our children, partners, bosses, teachers, parents, friends, and even ourselves. Add one more stressor to the rotation and the delicate balance can easily be disrupted.

What can we do to ensure we don't drop any balls or lose ourselves in the process? I have come up with a few pointers to help manage a busy schedule and stay productive without becoming run down.

Prioritize

Some demands require immediate attention, like the needs and well-being of your family, while others have less significance when compared to your overall purpose and therefore may have to be postponed or abandoned.

Say "No"

You can't be or do everything for everyone. It's okay to include "no" in your vocabulary. I think the people in your life who really care about you wouldn't want you to say yes to them, if they knew you were already struggling to manage a crazy schedule.

Practice Self-Care

If you don't look out for #1, no one else will. Without taking the time to make sure your own needs are met, you will eventually burn out. Don't feel guilty about taking care of yourself because if you're not well, you'll have nothing left to give others.

As a self-employed, divorced single mom of three, dog owner and full-time student in a long-distance relationship, my time and energy is spread pretty thin. If you'd like to share your tips or ideas on how to successfully manage a busy schedule, I'd love to hear them. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Kind regards,

Stephanie

Ready? Set. Go!

Getting started isn’t always easy. Take this blog for example. Even though I’m really excited about it, I’m almost a week behind schedule already.

You could have the best laid plans, but life likes throwing curve balls. I promised myself I’d have it completed by Friday, but I ended up making two trips to the hospital emergency room in one week. First with my oldest child, then with my middle one. Killer migraines and broken ankles are only a couple reasons your schedule could be put on hold. Trust me, there are countless others.

If you’re like me, the negative committee that meets inside your head will be the first to say, “I told you that you couldn’t do it.” It’s okay for you to tell these naysayers to “shut up.” You’ll be amazed at what you could accomplish when you replace the negative self-talk with positive affirmations.

The important thing is to keep moving forward. Don’t let these unexpected challenges completely derail you. Get back on track as soon as possible.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – LaoTzu

I know it can be difficult to remain calm, motivated and focused. We all backslide sometimes. When I’m overwhelmed, I try not to look too far into the future. It’s common for me to take one hour at a time, never mind a day.

My goal here is to share my story of personal growth and development. If even one person gains some insight from my experiences and their life is positively impacted, then this all will have been worth my effort.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I'd like to hear from you. Email me!

All the best,

Stephanie