Organize More

We are living in a world of overload -- information overload, overloaded schedules, 600+ TV channels and nothing worth watching, 300+ varieties of cereal in the cereal aisle to choose from... I could go on and on and on.

 

Our problem isn't that we don't have enough time in our day; our problem is that we have overloaded our days.  We have become an over-achievering society by default.  We are stressing out our kids, wanting them to emulate our over-achieving, anxiety ridden, way of being. We look at people who are satisfied with life, those who live simply and happily, as slackers.  We want more and bigger and better, and then we want to de-clutter and get rid of everything.  We are driving ourselves "nuts".

 

The first step in the right direction is to take a few tasks off of our list.  I don't mean moving them around on the calendar.  I mean, ditching them.  What really doesn't need to be done?  Come on... you know there are a few things.  How about this one for starters:  Tonight, you don't have to worry about dinner. Order in and eat out of the plastic containers.  No shopping, defrosting, cooking, or cleaning up.  Take this extra time to sit with your task list and really think about what can be pared down. 

 

 

• Do you cook dinner every night?  Start making enough for 2 or three meals and freezing the extra to rotate during the week.  Less shopping and cooking equals more time.
• Do you have to participate in every Home and School event when most other parents participate in 2 or 3?  No, you don't.
• Must you volunteer with three organizations?  Maybe you could give more time and energy to one, while being less scattered in time and thought.
• Do you have to grocery shop more than once per week?  You need a better list and a better way to shop.  Look here.
• Do you dust a lot of picture frames?  Go digital.  Get a digital frame, load all of your photos, and donate all of the old dust collectors to charity.
• When someone needs a ride, is yours the first hand to go up?  Wait a few minutes, and I bet another hand will rise to the occasion.
• Do you spend time paying bills and organizing paper?  Go paperless.
• Does your cell phone ring constantly.  Stop answering it.  You can listen to the messages and call them back if its important (only 50% of callers will leave messages, you just saved 50% of your cell phone time).

 

Purposely do less.  Buy less.  Have less.  Stress less.  It's a wonderful life!