You are stressed. You have too many things to do and not enough hours in the day. Just when you are about to catch up some catastrophe happens followed by another one and you are behind again. And you feel all alone trying to handle all the chaos. Inside your mind you are screaming, "HELP!!!!!"
Does your life have to be chaotic? No. Have you made choices that has made your life chaotic? Yes. Has life thrown things at you that you could not avoid adding stress to your life? Yes. Are you willing to make the choices to de-clutter and de-stress your life? I hope you honestly answer yes.
1. Choose not to procrastinate.
I can hear you now. I try not to. I don't want to but I just do. It is not my fault, it is my family or friends.
One: stop saying you will try. Remember it is a choice. Choose to do it.
Two: stop blaming that there is too much to do. If you spend anytime on the computer (facebook, youtube, google, etc), talk or text your friends, play on your phone, watch TV, read a magazine or book on how to have an organized life, etc; you have time to take care of priorities first.
The longer you procrastinate, the more that piles up and the more chaotic it becomes. If you stay on top of things it does not have time to get overwhelming.
2. Choose to prioritize.
It is very simple. God comes first. You have to put Him first for anything in life to come together. If you are still choosing not to start your day with Him and grow in your relationship then you need to go back to square one.
Next, you need to take care of yourself. Most of us put our self last. That is a big mistake when it comes to our health. You need to make sure you are exercising, eating healthy and getting enough rest. You need energy and strength to get through the day. Make choices that will give you what you need.
Family comes next. You are your child's primary teacher. You are your spouse's best friend. You are your parent's student and/or helper (depending on your age). If work, extra activities, keep you from these roles then it is time to re-evaluate. And driving your kid from one event to the next is not teaching them anything but how to be over scheduled. (Think about that for a moment. Are you setting your child up for success if they are overbooked with activities, eating on the run and not getting enough rest. Is that helping them succeed at life or teaching them to repeat the cycle of an overbooked stressful life? You say all of it is for their benefit but is it? What is going to help them have true happiness?)
3. Choose to be involved in church but not overbooked with church
Part of your relationship with Christ is fellowship, worshipping, learning and serving with other believers. It is a very important part of your Spiritual development. But that does not mean church should take you out of your home and away from your family at all times. If your church has activities several times a week, it is ok not to do it all.
You need to worship with others, you need to learn from others. With the church you need to serve others and fellowship with others for encouragement and prayer. But if it takes you out of your role at home and from being the spiritual leader in your home then you need to scale back. Be involved; not overwhelmed.
4. Choose activities carefully.
We all have things we love to do. Our kids have things they love to do. But you need to choose a certain amount and you need to choose a certain amount for your children. You cannot overbook yourself or your kids.
You need to choose activities that do not take you out of the home at the wrong time too often. For example, being gone at dinner on a regular is not a good thing.
You need to choose activities that do not put commitments on your child as if they were a professional athlete or musician when they are only seven. Let your child play sports or be involved in something they love. But not one that requires too much time and commitment at a young age. I highly recommend finding an Upward League or one similar. Your child learns skills and has fun, but not over committed and adding stress to family life.
If it keeps you from family dinners, getting enough rest, time for homework, time to play as a family, time to pray and study God's word together then is it beneficial to you and your child? Do you lose the enjoyment because it adds too much stress? Evaluate the benefits and stress. If the only benefit is the hope of your child possibly becoming the next Troy Aikman or Mozart then maybe they can wait or find another way to learn the skill.
You choose what is important everyday by how you prioritize your life. If you are not prioritizing it but overbooking it, you are missing out on life and most importantly your family and God. Just because the world has chosen to be busy does not mean you have to choose the same. Take a step back. Maybe even become a little old fashion. Choose to enjoy your life, your family, your friends, your God.
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