School has begun with a vengeance and I’m busy playing catch up, as I try to balance activity driving, sports, Team Mom duties, Committee Chair commitments and my own writing and speaking ministry. Oh, yeah, and my family needs to eat on occasion. The list of items I’ve fallen behind on is growing daily, as is my sour mood.
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“My name is Sarah. I am over-committed and too BUSY.”
Today I was doing some housekeeping and email replies and I ran across a radio interview I did several years ago on Marnie Swedberg’s radio program “Amazing Women.” Well, I didn’t feel amazing then, and I sure don’t now, but it was a needed reminder to simplify the craziness and get my life back.
I figured you might relate, so you can listen to the interview (let’s call it Throwback Monday #tbm) or get the goods below right here on the blog. Or BOTH, because sometimes we need to a little repetition to get it in our head.
Avoid overscheduling by asking yourself 3 simple questions:
1. Does this require me?
Often we say yes because we don’t want to disappoint others. Even if we’re good at something, we shouldn’t try to do it all. We need to determine if we are uniquely qualified, based on our skills, talents, capabilities, or if there’s someone else that could take on this role. Recently I took on a committee chair job when I should have said no. I wasn’t uniquely qualified and there were surely others who were more suited and passionate about the job at hand. I was capable, but not uniquely suited for it. I’m also in the middle of a different volunteer job that takes 25 hours a week. So, I find myself gutting it out, without joy for the committee or task at hand and that leaves everyone with a bad taste in their mouth. I could have avoided this by asking up front “Does this require me? Am I uniquely qualified?” If I had done that I wouldn’t be in this present predicament – overtaxed, over scheduled, under performing. AGH! Why do I do this? I know I’m not alone.
Before your next “yes” take the time to pray and consider your role and calling carefully, asking “does this require me?”
2. Am I invested in the few instead of the many?
How many times has your calendar been so full that you are never fully present anywhere because you are so busy being everywhere? Look at the list of what you spend your time doing each day and ask yourself, does this require me. Don’t try to do it all, whether it’s at work, on a committee, or volunteering for your child’s school. Choose wisely what you will be involved with so you can be fully present and do that thing well.
When we’re over-committed, everyone loses. Especially those we are serving, whether that’s our family, our boss, or our other commitments.
3. Do I have a GO-TO I can use to save time? (Little black dress)
Women often reinvent the wheel every time they bring someone dinner, choose what to wear for an occasion, or are called upon in the volunteer or workplace environment. If we create a GO-TO, we can focus on what we do well, thereby saving time and energy. This allows us to avoid burnout, and serve everyone better, including ourselves, because we also know it’s tried and true.
There’s a reason the LBD, little black dress, is a staple in every woman’s wardrobe, because not only is it versatile, but it also works. When you use a GO-TO – meal, talk, testimony, outfit, proposal, pitch, gift – you will not only save time and effort, you will look fabulous doing it!
When we focus on fancy, we lose focus on what matters. So get your GO-TO going, sister.
Do you have any time-saving, over-scheduling rescue tips you could share with us? Please bless my readers and your fellow busy women by posting in the comments below!