How to Organize Busy Schedules
I was reading an article the other day about our busy schedules and gleaned some very good insights. Coupled with observations I’ve made about people in my life who seem to be extremely “busy”, I pondered on what is “too busy” and how does that relate to organization and order?
Is your life full of stress? Do you feel overloaded? Do you feel like you are constantly trying to catch up and there is never a break in your schedule? Do you spend enough quality time with your children, spouse, and/or friends? Are you feeling overwhelmed and stuck in a rut? Or is your life full of joy and fruitful?
Being disciplined and organized can bring structure and order to your life. There are some simple steps you can take to gain peace and live a meaningful life. But one of the first things you need to face is that you may actually be “too busy”. It is time to set priorities and make some wise choices. Too often people live kind of by accident, just allowing life to happen around them and responding to various opportunities and requests that cross their path. But when you learn to set priories and be disciplined about your schedule, you will find that you are spending your time in a way that is meaningful for you and your family.
One way to be intentional about your schedule and put an end to excessive busyness is to learn to say “no”. That little word will allow you to bring your life into order and under control. Are there activities you are involved in that steal time but bear no fruit? Do you need to lay some things down? We all have the right to say “no” if a request does not fit into our schedule or reflect our personal goals.
It is also important to establish boundaries on your time. Guard the time you set aside for your priorities. Protect time with your family and friends. If you find you are getting behind, block out a few hours to get organized and catch up.
Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into responding to a request immediately. People pleasers often get themselves into trouble on this point. Their desire to please outweighs priorities and time management. But it is critical that you do not say yes on the spot and later regret making the commitment.
Don’t make promises you are unable to keep. When you do, you not only experience great stress, but your integrity will ultimately suffer. Do you remember the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21: 28-31? Here is my paraphrase of the story. “The man had two sons and he asked the first to work in his vineyard. The son said he would not, but afterward regretted it and went. When he asked the second son to work in his vineyard, the son said he would go but did not. Which of the two did the will of his father? And they responded, the first.” Which son would you rather be, the one who exhibited integrity or the one made a commitment and then ignored it?
And finally, give yourself permission to complete tasks in a reasonable time frame imperfectly. Many times we become obsessed with perfection. But rather than strive for perfection or procrastinate because you believe you can’t achieve something, simply give your best.
And some final tips:
Take some time to connect with your family and friends.
Be fruitful and productive, not busy.
Take regular time for rest.
Have fun on a regular basis.
Exercise regularly.
Use technology to gain time, not consume it.
Portions of this information were taken from an article by Valorie Burton on Busyness in the Focus on the Family Magazine
Submitted by A Brown
i like this one you did a good job makes sense to me… have a good one.
A Brown - I agree with you on this 100%. I think it is great every week or so just to do a sort of home made self assesment. Just stop and ask yourself “where am I right now in my life”, “how do I feel”? and really just take stock and control of your feelings, emotions and listen to what your body needs and is asking of you. I think “fruitful and productive” is a great substitution for the word “busy”. Most people I know who say they are “busy”, are not, they just want to be, or feel that they SHOULD be.
I was so shocked a few years back when an advert for Kellogs cornflakes promoted a new “on-the-go” cereal package (one side of cornflakes and the other milk - just whipe of the top, poor the milk and you can eat your cornflakes on the bus, train)! No one should be too busy to eat their cereal, at home, from a bowl. And if they are then they are in the wrong job.
I also agree with your comment about using technology to make time not use it it - i love the internet, email. blogs etc . . . but I know people who have made their life out of this vitual reality and no technology can beat a good walk in the park, a swim or dinner with friends and family.
I had a really busy schedule a couple of months ago, where I was in classes and meetings, and training with a swim team. What really helped me was to start using google calendar. It really helped me to get a bigger picture of the things that I had to do to get done, and kept me very organized. I probably would have gone insane without it!
Great article on managing a hectic lifestyle. I found with my busy schedule the best way to keep things as simple as possible is to keep a whiteboard on the fridge and every Sunday I’ll write out my schedule for the next week. I’ve been doing this for a few months now and it has really helped my general organization.
That is a great idea so you can see your schedule right in front of you each day. It’s great for setting goals and staying organized!
A Brown
This is a gorgeous thread. Keep up the legendary job!!!!
Priorities is what help to be more organized at whatever activity we do. Certainly rushing things would not help at all in this regard.