Simplify Time
Everybody gets twenty-four hours in each day. But somehow it seems we're more and more squeezed for time. How can we use this resource most wisely? Here are some ideas:
Ask yourself, "What is our giftedness as a family?" You might belong to a family of one or twelve. The mere numbers involved might close some doors for you. Do you handle hospital visits poorly but entertain others well? Build priorities around your strengths.Make a list of all the hats you must wear, and your obligations. Christian? Pastor's wife? Elder's wife? Employee? Homeroom duty mom? Ask yourself, "Do I need to do less?" If so, what do I cut and how? Who else can drive—do I need to organize a carpool?Acknowledge the seasons. One mom I know volunteered more at the public school when she had younger kids. Now that she has older teens with more emotional demands, she has cut that activity for a while.Ask yourself, "Whom do I need to ask for help?" It's okay to ask. Really. Expressing need is okay. If you have young kids, set a non-negotiable bedtime—even if your spouse comes home late every night. Better to let him or her rise early to greet them and head back to bed than to have an irregular bedtime routine for the kids. That's for their sanity and yours.Schedule a "no appointment" block in your schedule so you have time to catch up on email, making menus, and the stuff that catches you by surprise.Add margins around every appointment. You might get stuck behind a train and/or an accident. Stuff happens. Plan for it. Set aside one day a week for play and rest. If that seems impossible, ask yourself if that would be impossible if you got injured tomorrow and had to cut back by one-seventh. We find a way to work within our limitations. But first we have to be convinced we need "down" time. When you get a prescription filled, set a bring-up on your calendar for the refill expiration date. Schedule bring-ups for regular doctors' visits, birthdays, holidays, and school vacation times, too.