How To Simplify a Complicated Schedule

Have you ever stretched yourself until you snap?  I’ve been there so many times in my life. When my schedule gets so packed that if one thing goes over, the whole schedule comes crashing down; and this continues for weeks at a time, I don’t last long at that speed. I need space in my day. I have lived at the speed where there is no space in my day, and it always leads to a panic attack, always. 

Seek God First

When I overschedule myself, I can guarantee you, I didn’t seek God first. When my day is getting off to the right start, I put my schedule before God and pray through it. I’ll ask for blessings over meetings and appointments. I’ll pray for situations coming up and for the people in them. Seeking God in my daily tasks is a new practice for me, but I’m always amazed how he opens up space and opens or closes doors where necessary. 

Make a list (I love lists) 

I make a list of all the things I have to do that are both low and high priority. I use Google calendar and have my appointments scheduled on my calendar. I print my calendar out on Sunday or Monday then list the chores/tasks that I have to do on each day of the week. I keep a running low priority to-do list that I print out and add/delete from weekly and tape that to my calendar. 

Over the years I’ve learned to ask myself, “Do I really have to do all these things?” Many times my list can be simplified, or some things don’t have to be done. For example, I used to clean my house every week then I switched to every other week. 

Now, I’ve simplified more and break tasks down throughout the cleaning week (dusting one day, bathrooms another, etc). Also, it doesn’t matter if I dust everything meticulously, or I just hit the high spots. I remind myself that 70% is still passing!  

Some weeks come, and I’m too busy so small tasks get pushed a few days out. That’s OK. Usually it gets done later, someone else can do it, or it can be skipped all together.

Occasionally, I feel lazy when I look at how I’ve simplified my list, but often I need to simplify somewhere to make space where I might not be able to simplify. 

People to Help 

I can not tell you how many times I overschedule then need help digging myself out of the pit I’ve created. Thank goodness I’ve always had a network of people helping me. When my children were younger, I had a network of friends that helped me. I didn’t feel guilty asking them to watch my children so I could get things done because I knew a time would come when they would ask me for help.

My mom has always lived close by so she helped me all the time too. My husband, John, is helpful if I communicate with him before I feel overwhelmed and ask for his help. I’ve learned when I ask for help, the people that love me really want to help. It makes them feel good for helping me, and I’m less burdened. I just have to ask.

Who Me? Quit? I can’t!

Yes, I can. How many times have I agreed to something and instantly regretted it? Oh, so so so many times. How many committees have I joined because of guilt then dread going to every time? How many commitments have I made to a group that become burdensome and overwhelming even if I wanted to do them at first? Too many.

When I need to quit, I have to be honest and tell the people I’m overcommitted. I always feel like I’m letting people down when I do that, but every committee I quit or group I stopped attending continued without me. The key is learning to say no from the beginning, but that’s a whole other lesson in life.

When I stop and examine what I’m doing, I always find a way to simplify and let go of things that are causing stress. I give myself grace to put a limit on what I am able to do. I’ve learned that my threshold for busyness is lower than others, and that’s OK too. Afterall, no one wins when Mama has a panic attack.

One of the first books I read when I began slowing down and simplifying

Practicing His Presence