Spring Cleaning for the Soul #9

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8 KJV

Day 9: Revise Your Overtaxed Schedule

Many people don't enjoy following a routine. They feel that it hinders their personal freedom.

Yes, having a schedule can seem so stifling, and we become pressured to fill up any open spot on the calendar with more activities and events…

Then, when we suddenly get the urge to do something spontaneous (alone or with our family), we can't because our every minute is booked up.

In order to really enjoy the beauty of this momentary spring season, we can give ourselves the gift of time. This is, in fact, very important to our sense of peace, health, and well-being.

So how do you give yourself the gift of a free day off to do whatever you want, when there is always that constant pressure to cram more and more into your busy schedule?

The solution is simpler than one might assume. If you really crave a day of total freedom and spontaneity, then schedule that on your calendar.

I’m not suggesting this for every single week, but taking some time off to enjoy an entire day once a month might be within reason if you work on scheduling your priorities, such as events, to-do lists and other duties to be completed.

At the beginning of the month, list all your top priorities, and then see if you can reduce any to-dos that aren’t essential as you’ve set them to be in your mind. Next, tackle any time wasters. 

Now, place all your appointments and events on your calendar. Is there a free spot somewhere? Schedule your day off before it gets filled up.

If there is no free spot, is there a way to reschedule an appointment for another day that isn’t overly busy? Sometimes a simple phone call to reschedule could end up freeing a day off for you later.

If there is no other way to schedule a day off for this month, try glancing at the next month ahead to schedule a free day off, then try not to plan any appointments or events on that day.

In truth, it may take some cutting out daily time wasters and scheduling together a few extra chores during the week, but work to see if you can free yourself of one day each month.

What will you do with your free day? That can be entirely up to you. (Of course, plans may differ accordingly if you’re a mother of smaller children or teens with a busy schedule – your day off could be just enjoying the day with your children without rushing to clean the bathroom and doing laundry.)

But, just think of all the things you could possibly do if you weren't so pressed for time.

Would you take a leisurely walk along a beautiful stream? Would you fill your day with music - play the piano, or listen to your favorite tunes?

Would you pick up your favorite crafting project - and lose yourself in the act of creating something using your own two hands?

Would you write a short story or a poem? Would you read a book?

Would you simply take a seat outside in the warm sunshine, and do nothing at all? Plant a few flowers? Would you drive to visit a friend?

One thing I would suggest NOT to do is to keep phone notifications on and browse social media. Take an entire day off from all of this mental clutter and distractions!

The beauty of scheduling an entire day off is to enjoy life and not allow a hectic schedule to dictate each hour. It also should allow you to “REFRESH” and “RESET” from all our modern technology and the constant running around like mice being chased by the neighborhood cat.

With life so hectic and full of obligations, it can be freeing to say, "Sorry, I have plans for that day," BECAUSE you have, in fact, scheduled that day for some much-needed rest, relaxation, and recreation.

In addition to penciling in your own day for some leisure, you can also set some ground rules for how you schedule your life. This will help you create a better balance between work and recreational time.

All work and no play leads to burnout. It leads to grumpiness, discontentment, and health issues if left to bury yourself until you no longer have any free time left.

Learning to schedule some time off -- and learning to say “no” when feasible, can lift a heavy weight off your stress and create a better balance in your life.

Journaling Exercise: Set Rules for How You Plan Out Your Days, Weeks, Months

Today's journaling exercise will help you to set limits for the use of your time, and plan out a practical way to live.

Sit with your pen and notebook. Write down the facts of your current schedule – and anything that stresses you out.

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The last time you were "extremely busy," what did you actually have going on that caused you to lose your ability to be in the moment? Were you overbooked for a single day?

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Did you have conflicting events going on that made it impossible to immerse yourself in any one activity because your mind kept jumping ahead to the next thing?

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Did the whole weekend fly by too quickly, with no actual downtime for you to spend doing some things you actually wanted to do?

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Based on what you come up with, set some firm rules on how you will schedule your calendar in order to create a better balance and to avoid that feeling of social overwhelm or commitment to too many obligations.

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Action Plan: Set Your Intention

Changes only happen when we put plans and goals into action. Set an intention to follow through with the scheduling rules that you have set which are designed to help you clear some room in your calendar to do the things you’d like to do.

Next time someone asks if you can help out with X or Y, plan ahead on how you will politely and effectively address this so as not to land yourself in the same, overbooked, and stress-filled position.

What will you say if you already have plans scheduled?

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REMEMBER that the cup of your well-being must be replenished before you can be a giver to someone else.

Bible Verses To Reflect Upon:

Genesis 2:2 - And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Exodus 34:21 - Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Psalms 4:8 - I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalms 23:2,3 - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalms 39:4 - LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.  

Psalms 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Proverbs 12:25 - Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Ecclesiastes 3:1- To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 31:25 - For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

Matthew 11:28,29 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Mark 6:31 - And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Luke 14:28 - For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Ephesians 5:15 - See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 

Colossians 4:5 - Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.