For those of us who love to make lists, relaxing seems the farthest thing from the sense of accomplishment that comes with checking off just one more item on our To Do List. Relaxing and managing lists don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In my quest to find the elusive balance in my life, I came up with a new way of adding important items to my list. Here are some items to add to your list that will help you in your quest for the all important balance.
Monday – What are the big problems you are dealing with this week? What are the tasks that take great amounts of time or require skills you aren’t great with. Put these items on a list, then begin to brainstorm. Who can help you with these items? Would someone bring your children home from school so you can spend 30 minutes on another errand? Can one of your friends help you with completing some medical forms or researching a treatment for your child? Maybe one of your friends has already helped their child with a school project that your child must complete by next week. Do you have a closet that needs to be cleaned? Invite a friend to help and then take the left-over clothes to the Salvation Army or shelter.
Tuesday – Take some time for your appearance. When was the last time you had a hair cut or put on make-up? When was the last time you put real clothes on, not sweat pants? Are you on a diet and need some extra support? Do you have a friend that is also interested in getting healthy? Can you set up time to support each other’s efforts, maybe schedule a walk, e-mail or weekly phone call? It’s important to take time for yourself and your appearance. Especially if you have children, you must model for them how to care for their appearance.
Wednesday – Schedule a nap. Mid-week is a great time to take 30 to 60 minutes to recharge your batteries. Use an alarm clock and get yourself up 30 minutes before your kids arrive home from school so you’ll be physically and emotionally recharged for them.
Thursday – Experiment. What is something you’ve wanted to learn? Photography? Yoga? How to write a short story or write a book? Whatever it is, make sure it fits into your hectic schedule. Learning a foreign language might be difficult because you must practice it often, but maybe you could practice speaking the language while running errands, then use your at-home time for reading and writing the language. Learning pottery in half-hour spurts might not be practical, but maybe you can study art and art history until you can find dedicated time for classes.
Friday – Reconnect with friends. Use this concentrated time to either send a family member an e-mail or call a friend you haven’t talked with in a while. Most of us can find a few minutes in the morning or at night to exchange short messages with people on Facebook; use this time to get into those long conversations that just aren’t possible with social media. Make sure that you are engaging with people – I recently realized that it had been two years since I’d last talked with an old friend! Don’t let time get away from you!
If making time for yourself seems like a distraction from your To Do List, then put “you” on your list. You get the rejuvenation of doing something for you and the enjoyment of checking another item off of your list! And most importantly, don’t let your lists get in the way of spontaneous moments of fun with your family and friends! Enjoy your week and your days – remember what’s important to you and to your family and use your lists to help obtain your needed balance.