Garage sale at my home, end of school activities, graduation ceremony, closing on the sale of our old home (hallelujah!), helping our friends move, meetings throughout the week and a gigantic fundraiser on Sunday which I am helping to organize and run. Not to mention that I am leading the music for Vacation Bible School which starts on Monday and I don't have a lick of musical ability.
Everything kind of snuck up on me - like a big gigantic snowball. I said yes here and there, without really contemplating that all these commitments would pile up in one week.
I have come to three possible conclusions about why I tend to over-commit myself and they are (in no particular order): 1.) I have a hard time saying no, 2.) I delude myself into believing I can do more than is humanly possible (the Super-Woman complex) and 3.) I really want to do all these things and I can't help that they fall in the same week.
My plan of attack is to take things one event at a time and try to stay organized. It will be a crazy week, but if I can keep everything in it's place and not stress out or worry, it should be manageable. I made my meal plan on Monday night, went shopping after the kids were in bed on Tuesday night and most of my laundry is caught up. I'm also thankful for my mom and mother-in-law who are helping me out this week. I don't know what we would do without our family near by.
What about you? Do you over-commit? Have you figured out why you do it? Any tips for handling a crazy schedule?
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| One of the committments I made this week was bringing our kitties into school for my two daughters to show. This is Charmer's preschool class - she's the blond with the pony tail on the bottom right. |
Oh yup, I've definitely over-committed before. :) I am actually pretty good at saying "no," these days...mostly because I've honed in on my priorities lately. I even made the decision last week to step away from a few things over the summer.
ReplyDeleteBut, like you pointed out, sometimes when so many things creep up, it's not that we've overcommitted, but that the things we chose to commit to all happen to come at the same time...that's when I find myself frustrated...because I don't want to say no to any of them. :) Sometimes, I guess, we just push through those busy weeks. :) Hope yours goes well!
Melissa, good job stepping away from some things this summer! I always promise myself I'll step away, too, but things come up and I have a hard time saying no - and sometimes it's saying no to myself that's the hardest.
DeleteOver commit? Moi? Never...AHAHAHA!!
ReplyDeleteSaturday I have a birthday party for #4 and then a fundraising concert for ME. Nervous? Yes. Having weird dreams about it? YES.
Trying to calm down? Yes.
Keep a detailed calendar.
What will you be doing at the fundraising concert? Will you be performing? I hate having weird dreams about something that's coming up - it just makes things more stressful! Good luck and stay calm. :)
DeleteMy senior pastor is leading and (hopefully) our worship pastor will be on piano. SP will lead the singing and I'm doing back up. Which is a nice way of saying "duet". WP's mom died 3 weeks ago, so WP my be too wrecked to play. I'm fine with acappella, so is SP. I sing soprano, SP is a tenor. I want the mike on a stand, he'll want his in his hand. I ALWAYS sing solos with my eyes shut. I might have my eyes shut on Saturday!! GAH!!
DeleteOnce we're hoarse from praising the Lord, we'll take an offering for the whack of funds needed for the trip.
Nervous, who? Me? I'm not revnous. Nerviss. Nervousss.
I try to prioritize what absolutely HAS to be done on a certain day and what extra things would be nice to get to if there's time. Naps help too, if you can get one. :) Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteI told myself I was going to bed early tonight (because sleep is so important when you have a busy schedule), but I was sucked into the internet and I'm still awake! I'm learning more and more about priorities, but it's a long process.
DeleteYour post struck a chord with me. I tend to do the same thing. Every one of your 3 reasons sounds like my own self-talk in those busy weeks. Just finished a whirlwind trip to the Grand Canyon and the day I got back, I had to take care of my father and start my summer teaching job and try to get a repair person for two broken air conditioners while sweating out 95 degree temps. Today should be better and I hope your week eases somewhat. Cross off each day's "requirements as you go.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Ava! Good luck with your hectic schedule. Sometimes we just have to do what we have to do!
DeleteYep, I've definitely overcommitted before. But I'm learning to say no and protect my time because I have some large goals: getting my book done and starting the next one, etc. Spending time with my husband. Enjoying life more than I have in the past.
ReplyDeleteGood luck this week!
As soon as I get through these busy two weeks, I plan to pull back and just relax and have some family fun. Tomorrow is my oldest daughter's last day of school and we have three glorious months ahead of us to explore and enjoy new adventures!
DeleteYes. I seem to find myself in the exact same over-committed problem. A little yes here, there...AND they do seem to all come together in one week. I'm still learning how much I can handle with two young kiddos and keeping the home running smooth while committing my time to other things. I think we get overwhelmed when we are thinking about all those extra activities with the strength, or lack there of, we have today. Our moods and emotions fluctuate so much and I think we have to keep that in mind when we are saying yes. Sometimes I'm feeling really good, I can tackle the world kind of feeling and I'll say yes to everything, most everything. And then reality hits, yikes! Or if my emotions take a dive, even just the mundane tasks feel overwhelming... I think its about keeping balance, knowing our priorities, setting healthy boundaries, but also keeping our focus, because we want to worry about things that just might not even come to pass. And when they do, God gives us the strength to tackle them. We exist in the now. Not yesterday, not tomorrow. It is in the now we experience our relationship with God and receive the strength to live. It sounds like you got one wild ride ahead of you, but it also sounds like you've got the support you need to carry it through. God's grace. One moment at a time.
ReplyDeleteJennette, I love your insight and perspective. You're absolutely right, I often say yes because in the moment I am not stressed or overwhelmed, but when the day comes to pass, I wonder what I was thinking. One day, one moment at a time! Thanks for stopping by. :)
DeleteI think it's just that time of year!!
ReplyDeleteYou're right - this seems to cycle through. The beginning of the school year, around the holidays and the beginnning of summer all get hectic and busy.
DeleteWhen I was younger, I used to overcommit on a regular basis. As a pastor's wife, I think the biggest reason was because I'm a people pleaser who didn't know how to say no, and didn't want to disappoint anyone. Twelve years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and within a few years after the diagnosis, realized I had to learn how to say no. Learning to seek God's will (not people's wants) for the way I spend my time has been a process, but it helps me say no when I know the boundaries God's set for me. These days I'm doing better. Still slip up at times and overcommit, but the two or three days of pain and overwhelming tiredness that usually follow are great reminders that I don't want to do that again.
ReplyDeleteI think wisdom in this area comes through trial and error. After having my twins, and trying to keep up the same extra curricular activities and schedule, I became burnt out by the time the boys were six months old and I had to pull way back. Sometimes I think I'm ready to go back to "life as normal," such as going to the grocery store with them, but at the end of the shopping experience, I am stressed out and exhausted and I realize we're still not ready to go there. This is true for so many other "normal" things we used to do. All in time. All in time.
DeleteThanks so much for all your comments today, ladies. I just stepped in from the garage sale to see who has joined in the conversation today and I plan to answer each of you later on this evening. The garage sale is going well and I've been visiting with neighbors and friends as they come and go. I'm such a people person, I love this kind of thing!
ReplyDeleteOvercommitment is so stressful so I feel your pain! I don't have quite as much going on as you and I already feel stressed so hang in there! Hopefully the time will fly by and everything will go well, including your garage sale! We are getting ready for one ourselves next weekend.
ReplyDeleteI USED to over commit. THEN...I got a calendar that I carry around in my purse. When someone asks if I can do something on a certain date, I pull it out and see if it is do-able~ I know my limitations and I pay careful attention to see where things will fit in and how it will effect my family. I am getting much better at saying "NO" now a days!
ReplyDeleteIt takes time but you'll get there. Best of luck with your garage sale~
Jennifer Bailey