IS YOUR LIFE TOO FRENETIC? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 170

The pace of life today can be overwhelming.  Employers are demanding more from fewer workers.  Children no longer safe to go out and play have play dates.  Children of all ages are in organized activities and sports. School buses are not available in all areas as they used to be.  This means parents are spending lots of time chauffeuring their offspring.  With the divorce rate in America at almost 1 out of two marriages this means there are a lot of single mothers (or single fathers) taking care of everyone and everything.  Some aging grandparents are raising their grandchildren, and some children are caregivers for aging parents. Then throw in housework, yard work, bill paying, grocery shopping, food preparation, religious training, exercising and so many other tasks that one day does not seem to provide enough time to accomplish everything and still get sufficient sleep to prepare to do it all over again the next day.  Our lives are in constant motion except during sleep.

We all need time to decompress and to catch our breaths.  We all need to learn to delegate so that home life becomes a joint effort. Even toddlers can be taught to pick up toys or toss things in the trash.  We also need to decide that children or grandchildren do not need to have play dates, sports, various types of lessons, or any other extra-curricular activity 7 days a week.  Have them choose only one or two activities to participate in during any given time period.

Even if it is only 30 minutes a day we all need to rejuvenate ourselves which we can do if we and all family members

LEARN TO BE STILL!

HOW MUCH CAN YOU REALISTICALLY DO? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 82

There are some of us who have never learned to be team players.  Guys who are part of sports teams tend to learn early on what being a part of a team means.  More girls are involved in team sports than in prior years, but still there are many people who have no concept of teamwork.  There are also those of us who have too much pride to ask anyone else for help when clearly it would be wise to do so.  There are many who think they have to do everything themselves in order for it to be done "correctly" or in order for them to prove their value to others.

Be smart and evaluate your to-do list.  Is it too much for one person, or is it too much to accomplish in a given day?  Do you truly have to do everything yourself, or can you delegate part of the list to others?  Even toddlers can be taught to empty wastebaskets or to pick up their toys.  Elementary school-age children can be taught to make their beds and clear the kitchen table.  Middle school and high school students can be taught to clean their rooms, clean the kitchen, do their own laundry, and help with yard work.

If your work to-do list is too long, evaluate what is necessary and what is desirable.  What needs to be done right away?  What can be postponed?  Who else might be available to help you with some of the items?  If you are able to give clear direction it is most likely that someone else in the office has time and skills to assist you.

Today's message is:
                                                       DON'T DO IT ALL!