Roller coasters are so much fun . . . for the 60 second ride at the amusement park. But who the heck wants to live on one??????? The routine we end up with is not always the routine we want or are physically and mentally built for . . . and that’s because we are coasting. We need to take REAL control of our schedules. Here are some ways to start fixing the out-of-control life.
Figure Out YOU! Decide what kind of life you and your family need. Some people can run, run, run and they love it! Others are lower-energy types and need a lot more time at home. Pinpoint what you and your family need and then you can plan a routine that fits your needs.
Say “NO” - This is something we are all guilty of. Someone asks us to do something and we really don’t want to do it or we don’t have the time . . . but we say YES! Why? Because we are suckers. It’s hard at first, but saying no sometimes does get easier with practice. Follow this motto: “When in doubt . . . DON’T!” (Tip - If someone puts you on the spot while you’re out, say “I’ll have to check my calendar.” This gives you time to formulate a gentler version of “no”.)
Use Your Calendar - Make sure you are writing down a pretty detailed schedule in your calendar. This will allow you to look at what you REALLY have going on for the week. If you have something going on on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, you probably shouldn’t plan a mountain biking trip for Wednesday. You will probably be sorry.
Plan your Down Time – We wait and wait for peace to come . . . but it never does. We HAVE to plan it. PEN it into the schedule. That way, when someone asks you to do something during that time, you can honestly say you already have something planned. This is really important. If we don’t schedule time to relax, we will monopolize every second of open time (along with help from friends and family).
You can’t, of course, control every circumstance that comes up in life – some weeks will be busier than others. But learning to really dominate your schedule can save you from a hectic roller coaster type of life. It’s just not necessary to kick your own butt when even a well-groomed schedule will do it for you!
[...] You might also like: Pend List Stop The Roller Coaster (time management) Making The Most of Your [...]