How busy are you? Not busy enough (in which case you may come spend some time at my house)? Happily busy? Are you too busy?

Busyness and all that’s involved with it is exhausting. Checklists. Must-do’s. Want to’s. Need to’s. Forgot to’s. I’ll get to’s. Just thinking about it tires me out.

It’s likely that your schedule is full of well-intentioned things but whatever your intentions, if your schedule is too full you’re setting yourself up for failure. I’m not advocating boredom (although I can’t say I’d mind it now and then), but I am suggesting a little prioritizing.

Don’t over-commit your time. Leave room in your schedule to chat with your hubby, play with your kids and paint your toenails.

Don’t over-commit your talents. Everyone calling you for IT help? Are you the only person anyone knows that can prepare taxes? Are you the all-time family babysitter? It’s ok to say no sometimes.

Don’t over-commit your brain. Ever been sitting at the computer at 11:30 p.m. with a brain that’s turned to mush? That’s brain over-commitment.

Do commit to what you love. Your family. Your faith. Parenting. Writing? Teaching? Volunteering? What ever gets you.

Do commit to what you need. Eating well. Finances. Caring for your family.

Do commit to STOP. Under no circumstances should you go and go and go without the intention of stopping.

What things seems to take up more time than you’d like? Have you found that eliminating one small “to-do” makes a world of difference?

Photo by frankeys creation