You're probably tired of hearing how busy I am. Between working full-time, blogging part-time, homeschooling, and being a wife and mother, my days are jam-packed.
Now that we've settled into a routine, I don't mind it. I have found little bits of time throughout my days, and I have come up with ways to maximize those times. I am certain you could do the same, no matter what your situation entails.
I'm not going to lie or put a pretty face on it - I am doing a lot more right now than I would like to be doing. You probably are, too.
But it is what it is, and I think anyone with a busy schedule can probably get some use out of the way I manage my days.
10 Ways to Stay Sane in the Midst of a Busy Season
- Find your downtimes. Every day - no matter how busy - has downtime. Every day. If you look hard enough, you will find them. Here are some examples:
- I have a 45 minute commute to work each direction. Instead of zoning out and listening to the radio, I do something fulfilling.
- When I was a full-time stay-at-home-mom, I would create my downtimes. I would let the kids watch tv for a half hour and do something that I wanted to do, just for myself {guilt-free, too - it's time for me}. I would also sit outside in a chair while they played in the yard and sit on the floor in the bathroom while they splashed in the tub. Any time I could get while they were busy was fair game.
- I never wait idly. If I have an appointment where I will have to wait, I (are you ready for it?) do something fulfilling.
- We do bedtimes differently than most people. I stay in the bedroom, holding Allie's hand, until she falls asleep. I use that quiet half hour to refresh myself for an extra hour or two of free time before I got to bed myself.
- Of course, I get an hour or two of free time after the kids are in bed before I go to bed myself.
- Notice I did not tell you to get up an extra hour early and use that time. If you can do that, great for you. I can't, and I see no point in making myself crazy trying.
- Think about what you're eating. It is easy to get run down when you're running around. Make sure you're eating enough throughout the day, and focus on enjoying the snacks and meals that you choose. Notice the flavor and texture of the food. Sit with the feeling of it in your mouth. Chew slowly.
Having a snack like Fiber One Cheesecake bars in your desk drawer or purse will give you a healthy and indulgent pick-me-up and leave you recharged and ready for whatever is coming your way. The creamy filling is sweet and luscious, and the taste will really satisfy your sweet tooth. And the best part is that you didn't have to bake it!
I like all the Fiber One bars, but I like the cheesecake bars most of all. They are rich and decadent and totally guilt-free! - Always have a book that you enjoy reading. I read on the Kindle app on my phone, but you could just as easily read an actual paper book. The key is to have the book with you all the time. When you have those few minutes at lunch time, read then. When you are sitting at the doctor's office, read then. Make the book a special treat to yourself. I have read through the entire Outlander (It can be smutty in parts, so be warned. But it's good smut. {I'm unashamed.}) and Rivers of Time (no smut) series in the last couple of years. They were all great because they are guilty pleasure-type books. Totally refreshing when I could steal a few minutes to read them.
- Get turned on to audio books. I listen to audio books whenever I'm in the car alone. I can borrow them for free from my library, and I also watch for titles and authors I like to come on sale on Amazon.com (that happens pretty regularly). I usually go for Christian non-fiction like Jen Hatmaker, Beth Moore, and Sally Clarkson, but that's just a personal preference. I also listen to audio books when I'm crocheting and scrapbooking in the evenings.
- Make an appointment with God. I wrote above that I don't do the morning quiet time thing. I just can't. That doesn't mean I skip my time with God every day; I don't. It just means that I fit it in in another way. I have an appointment with Him every day around 12:30. How does that happen? I read a devotional from the She Reads Truth app on my phone right in the middle of my office. It's my quiet time even though it's in the busy-ness of my workplace.
I did the same thing when I was home full-time. I usually made sure the kids were busy with something - usually playing Barbies or with their dollhouse - and I had my quiet time at the kitchen table. If they tried to interrupt, I would tell them that they would have to wait until I was finished. They pushed at first, but nothing was ever vital enough for me to stop what I was doing and help (though I would have if something had been really vital, like a bloody nose, or an argument escalating out of control). - Renew an old hobby. What is something you used to like to do but have allowed to drop out of your life? For me, it was scrapbooking. I made the investment in myself to buy a few new supplies and get some pictures printed, and I make time a few times a month to do it for a half hour or an hour.
- Or, find a new hobby. I have always wanted to learn to knit and crochet. I took up crocheting earlier this year. I had never really done it before, so I bought some yarn, looked up learn to crochet on YouTube, and watched a few videos. I was crocheting in a few minutes, and I now have a blanket well underway.
- Just rest. There is no substitute for rest, so make sure you take some of your downtime to just sit and be. Don't do anything. Turn off your phone. Close your eyes. Breathe. Meditate. Pray. Listen to your thoughts but don't dwell on them. Just relax and sit with yourself for 5 minutes. The time when I'm lying with Allie in her bed is perfect for this. I usually fall asleep for a little while somewhere in the middle, but it is very peaceful and grounding to have this forced time of rest.
- Pray. Prayer doesn't have to be a long affair like what the pastor does on Sunday morning. It can be a simple cry out to God for help, peace, wisdom, or intercession. It can be a prayer of thanksgiving (those are especially good for your soul according to all the research I've read). It can be a simple conversation with the one great true God.
- Practice gratitude. Whether you pray or not, you can still practice gratitude. Make a list in journal for 5 minutes or simply look around for all the things you love, things that bring you joy.
- Stretch your tired, achy muscles. Try this, holding each position for 30-60 seconds: Raise your arms up above your head, then out to your sides, then down. Slowly and gently roll your head around in a circle, starting at the right side, then to the back, then to the left side, then to the front. Shrug your shoulders, roll them to the front and back a few times.
- Get enough sleep. This is possibly the most important item on the list. If you aren't getting enough sleep, you can't focus or function well. You're a more dangerous driver. You will likely overeat according to statistics. Your overall health will suffer. If you want to stay sane, you need to get enough rest.
Fiber One bars are great for any time, but especially for times when you're on the go and need a sweet treat or an energy boost. They're a great, healthy way to accomplish both things. I keep a stash of them cheesecake bars, granola bars, and brownies in the car for long afternoons running errands with the kids!
Connect with Fiber One!
Join the conversation with Fiber One about their awesome brownies and bars on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Fiber One through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Fiber One's Cheesecake Bars, all opinions are my own.
Leave a Reply