Another summer seems to have skipped by in a heartbeat. The anticipation of a new school year has quickly become a faded memory and the new daily routine now fits as comfortably as a pair of old, worn jeans. I’m almost afraid to blink, for when I open eyes it might already be time to adjust to the routine of the next new season before I’ve had the chance to enjoy the one I’m in.
Life happens fast these days. Endless expectations and obligations can leave us feeling overwhelmed to the point of distraction and rob us of the chance to fully experience and enjoy life in the here and now. Before another season whizzes by, I challenge you to make the effort to do something to address this challenge.
One thing I have personally found helpful this time of year is to do some fall cleaning. Not in the physical sense, but through the process of reviewing and revising my list of commitments and responsibilities in an effort to create the space and breathing room to live a less harried life.
If you’d like to give this a try, here are the three suggested steps in that process:
1 Take Stock
To start, make a list of all your current activities and responsibilities. This includes personal commitments as well as any family or work obligations that require any level of involvement on your part. For example, if your child is in school, involved on a sports team or other type of extracurricular activity, it is likely that you have some related volunteer responsibilities and obligations as well.
2 Assess
The next step in the process involves reviewing your list to determine which activities make sense to continue and which to consider eliminating. As you do so, keep in mind your current needs, interests, and priorities. In addition, for each of the activities, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is this activity a joy or a burden?
- Am I doing this out of desire or obligation?
- Is this something that makes sense for me to be doing at this season in my life?
As you complete your assessment, the items on your list will generally fall into one of three categories:
- Keep Doing
- Consider Eliminating
- Would Like to Eliminate But Can’t
Before moving on to the final phase in the process, take one more look at the items in the third category. While it is true that some activities are required and non-negotiable, this may not be the case for all. That being said, take a closer look at each of these items to determine whether it is truly a required obligation or only perceived to be one. For example, it is safe to say that the activity is a required obligation if eliminating it might cost you your paycheck. However, if the hesitation to eliminate something stems from the fear of letting someone else down, it might actually be a perceived one that you could actually consider eliminating.
3 Take Action
Once you’ve completed your assessment, it’s time to take action. Can you easily eliminate any of the activities? If so, take the necessary steps to do so as soon as possible. If not, formulate a game plan that allows you to phase out of the activity and be sure to include a deadline for doing so.
If you cannot eliminate the activity, are there any changes you can make to ease the burden? For example, rather than continuing to serve as the head of that volunteer committee you serve on, can you move into a non-leadership role or find someone else with whom you can share the responsibilities?
This “cleaning” process can be helpful not only in the fall, but at the start of each new season throughout the year. Don’t let another season pass you by without taking the time to fully enjoy it!
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