Schedule Your Life

Feeling like you don’t know if you’re coming or going? Can’t get all the things done that need to be done? Try to schedule your life as silly as that sounds.

If you follow me on Facebook, then you know that I’ve expanded my business by leaps and bounds. Earlier this year, I took on the line of Dixie Belle Paint products by becoming a Premier Retailer. This was quite a leap of faith, the investment was more than I’ve ever spent on merchandise, but I believed in the product. I had the opportunity to move my little operation into a really cool renovated general store in the middle of downtown and I took it.

Since opening several weeks ago, I’ve met tons of people and have gotten several custom projects to paint. Finding the balance is the trick. I’m actually running the store for the owner. We’re open four days a week and I’m here all of those days. Balancing my painting projects, keeping my house clean, taking care of The Mean Man and myself has been a challenge. Oh yeah, there’s also the house renovation we’re forever involved in as well.  Needless to say, it can feel overwhelming. If your life feels a bit like mine and you’re at the end of your rope, try some of the following;

Schedule Your Household Chores

This may seem silly, but you plan everything else, why not the things you have to do around the house. Plan your laundry day. Put it in your planner. Whether it’s a weekly occurrence or bi-weekly. Pick the days. Gotta clean those bathrooms, so mark the days for that.  The things I put off most are the ones that only get done a couple times a month. You know you need to mop the kitchen floor so schedule it. Those sheets aren’t going to change themselves. Pick the days of the month for this frustrating chore and schedule it. I hate mopping, so scheduling it sort of forces me to do it.

Of course there are things that just go on and on, like loading the dishwasher, making beds, etc. don’t worry with putting those things in your planner. The important thing about those ongoing chores is to do them immediately. When you get out of bed, immediately after your morning constitutional is complete, make that bed. You’ll be amazed at how good you’ll feel about this. When we first moved into our current house, it was chaos everywhere. The kitchen was gutted, there were boxes and furniture crammed in every room. The Mean Man and I used the master bedroom on the second floor. It also had boxes everywhere. I still made the bed in that room every day. The Mean Man asked me why I was bothering with that chore. I told him that THAT particular thing was the one thing I could control. I could make that one little space feel complete. And I did.

The same thing applies to the kitchen. Clean as you go. Wash that cutting board as soon as the veggies are cut and ready to go into your meal. If you’re using several pots, as soon as one is emptied, wash it and put it up. Then after the meal, immediately load the dishwasher (or hand wash dishes). You won’t have to spend the rest of the night thinking about how you need to clean the kitchen before bedtime that way.

Plan Those Extra Household Jobs

Think about any other household jobs you need to do. It’s the time of year when we tend to decorate in overdrive. Is it time to get your fall and Halloween decor out? I can answer this. Yes! Plan the day for this and just do it. I’ve made several trips up and down two flights of stairs to pull our Halloween decor down from the 3rd floor. What. A. Pain. But necessary. Christmas decor is no different. Whether your decorate early or later in the season, put it on your calendar and do it then.

Schedule Time for Yourself

This is vital. Seriously. As much as you plan all of the projects and tasks you have to do, schedule time for yourself. Pick the day and time of the week and pencil in some “you” time. Think about the thing or things that comfort or center you. Give yourself permission to do them. Even if it’s just an hour or two a week, plan for it. 

Tuesday October 8 at x-o’clock I’m going to… fill in the blank. Read a book. Get a manicure or pedicure or both. Bake some cookies. Sit outside and listen to music. Watch your favorite movie. Concentrate on not spending that time going over all of the things you should be doing. Fill your mind and heart with the things you love. Think about your grand kids. Reflect on the love of God in your life; your blessings. Let your mind relax.

If you don’t take time for yourself, your stress level will continue to rise. This, in turn, sets off a chain of unhealthy events. High stress levels make you more susceptible to illness, depression, and can affect your overall outlook on life. Do something that will help your overall state of mind. Be good to yourself.