Over Coming Over Commitment

Too little time, too much to do. Between work, social events, volunteering, and housework you may have lost much of your free time. With schedules overflowing, it's no wonder we feel as if there is so little time in any given day! If you have children, you know that this automatically adds even more activities and events to your day and suddenly it can seem as if you don't have a life at all. It so easy to fall into a trap of thinking that we will have more time tomorrow, or next week, but really — does it happen?

Look at your activities and responsibilities
It can be helpful to sit down with your calendar and list out all of your activities. Include your family activities and give an honest assessment of your work schedule. Keep in mind that it's often easy to underestimate your time constraints. Examples of activities you might list include: weekly social events or meetings, children's sporting events, music lessons, or visits to/from family members. When you have listed out all the events, activities, and responsibilities, it will be easier to survey and prioritize your life events.

Can you scale back your activities?
After looking through your list of activities you can decide if you and your family have taken on too many activities. We all try to strive for an active yet balanced life, and with so many expectations what is and is not realistic can become unclear. Can any of your commitments be cut back?

Readjust your family calendar
A little work with your calendar can be a valuable tool to help with the over commitment stress. It is a visual reminder of upcoming events. Use it to your advantage and not just a dumping ground for every event or activity that may arise. Certain activities occur on a weekly basis that likely need to stay on your calendar. On the flip side, you may have days that seem to be free but can fall victim to last minute commitments. Set aside time in your schedule for rest and relaxation. Days reserved "just for you" or "just for the family" are equally as important (sometimes even more-so!) than some of those other commitments in your calendar!

Learn to say no
Learning to say no can be a hard thing to do. People that you don't see every day may not realize the full extent of your time commitments. When your schedule is already pushing it's maximum capacity, it's alright to say no to an additional commitment. If you are uncertain whether you can commit to a new activity or event, let the person know that you need time to think about the situation. This will give you time to discuss the issue with your family and consult with your family calendar.

Practice makes perfect
Your first attempt at changing your over-commitments may not be as successful as you want it to be. Don't get discouraged. This is a constant process that needs adjustment. You can start with small steps. Remember, if something works, keep it in the schedule. If an activity needs to be changed, change it.

Dealing with an over-committed schedule is difficult. Looking at your activities and better managing your schedule are the first steps in your goals to find balance.