Summer; the ultimate season of cramming in as much outdoor fun,
sunshine, grilled food and sparkling beverages as you possibly can. Summer in
Michigan is busy, exciting and far too short. There seems to be a shortage of
time with an abundance of bucket list items to accomplish.
With only a few weeks of Summer left (a hard-enough reality to
face) and planning for the upcoming school year it's no wonder I feel tired,
overwhelmed and just plain spent. I'm often asked, how do you do it all?
I wonder the same thing as I sit at the pool going over my chore list and preparations for the week. I also hope I'm not the only one having similar feelings and thoughts as Summer nears its end. I can't be the only one trying to cram as much in as possible or just simply trying to make it through the day. As I was organizing all the things in my head, I figured I better write them down. Then I thought maybe if they help me cope and accomplish so much maybe they could help others too.
For all you that are feeling all the emotions and the anticipation of a new school year you're not alone. For you, I've prepared my favorite ways to decompress from the overwhelming Mom, work, wife, friend responsibilities as well as a few things that help keep me (mostly) on track:
1. Sunshine and pool time. Summer isn't over yet. I plan to soak up all the rays and Vitamin D as I can. While Edee practices swimming like a mermaid and burns off energy I have time to relax poolside. Poolside essentials: my favorite magazine, which is a gently used copy of last Summer's Magnolia Journal, snacks: pretzels, apples, cheese and crackers, and a cold drink to stay hydrated.
I wonder the same thing as I sit at the pool going over my chore list and preparations for the week. I also hope I'm not the only one having similar feelings and thoughts as Summer nears its end. I can't be the only one trying to cram as much in as possible or just simply trying to make it through the day. As I was organizing all the things in my head, I figured I better write them down. Then I thought maybe if they help me cope and accomplish so much maybe they could help others too.
For all you that are feeling all the emotions and the anticipation of a new school year you're not alone. For you, I've prepared my favorite ways to decompress from the overwhelming Mom, work, wife, friend responsibilities as well as a few things that help keep me (mostly) on track:
1. Sunshine and pool time. Summer isn't over yet. I plan to soak up all the rays and Vitamin D as I can. While Edee practices swimming like a mermaid and burns off energy I have time to relax poolside. Poolside essentials: my favorite magazine, which is a gently used copy of last Summer's Magnolia Journal, snacks: pretzels, apples, cheese and crackers, and a cold drink to stay hydrated.
2. Calendars, alarms, scheduled reminders and sticky notes. Yes, I use all 4 of these things. Each one serves an excellent purpose and in combination they help me remember the big things and the small things. I use my calendar to keep events, appointments, coffee dates and deadlines. If these events take time to prepare for, I schedule a reminder to go off with enough time to get prepared. I set alarms for things that are a few hours out. If I schedule something the day of or need to run an errand set an alarm. Write down small daily things on sticky notes and keep them handy. The 'Notes' app on my phone also works great for lists because it's right on your phone!
My social media management calendar that helps a lot!
3. Me Time. It's a work in progress but me time is slowly becoming my rejuvenation time. Me time might be reading a magazine, taking a short nap, crocheting or sitting on the back porch in my favorite Adirondack chair. Quiet time with zero demands for my attention is my reset button.
4. A Hobby. I love, love, love crocheting. Most of you know this by now. I could do it morning, noon and in my sleep. Crocheting is a way for me to relax and let my mind wander. I look forward to spending time on my hobby, learning new techniques or progressing on the stitches I've known for a while. Hobbies are fun, too!
5. Unplug. There are days the constant updates and notifications can get to me. This is when I know I need a day to unplug. I'll notify my close friends and family, silence my phone, put my phone in my bedroom and unplug. When my phone isn't near my I no longer have the urge to check it every few minutes. I don't have the urge to respond right away. I can do it on my time. The overwhelmed feelings melt away and I can live in the moment. I find it to be freeing.
6. Rest. With a strict schedule time is of the essence but having a rested mind and body is 100% necessary to accomplish goals and have room for all the things I enjoy doing. So, when all these things are taking a toll I rest. I might just sit and close my eyes for a few or take a cat nap under comfy blankets. Rest is another reset button for me. I wake up and feel renewed. And you better believe I get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
7. Spend time with your favorite people. Spending time with the people I love fills my love tank and inspires me to do more and be better, especially when it's quality time together. Dedicated time, without distractions = meaningful conversation and happy memories.
8. The spaces in between. I use them! I take advantage of those few minutes before your kids wake up, while I'm in a waiting room, while I'm waiting for the water to boil. I take care of the quick things like starting the washer, folding the towels, catching up on my blog feed all in the in between moments. It's tricky but kind of makes me feel like magic.
That's my list! Maybe you'll find one or two of them helpful when the weight of worldly demands seems a bit much.
Xoxo,
Karlee
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