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When considering ways to make your life less busy, I have shared that it is helpful to look at two big areas of your life: life inside & life outside your home.
I’ve already tackled life inside the home in a prior post. You can find it here.
But what about life outside the home?
How can we lessen the load? How can we free up space on our calendar? How can we make life less busy outside our own 4 walls?
Today I’m sharing 3 ways to be less busy outside your home.
Edit Your Child’s Extra-Curricular Calendar
I recently wrote a post about my advice when it comes to extra curricular activities. A child’s calendar can quickly fill up and overflow. And that means your calendar can quickly fill up and overflow.
If you want to be less busy outside your home, some calendar editing will probably have to occur. It won’t be easy. It might even come with some pushback, but I think the outcome will be worth it.
Extra-curricular activities are good and have their place. But you know what also needs a place in your child’s life? Space. Breathing room. Opportunities for play.
A quick and intentional edit will begin the process of making your life just a little less busy.
Streamline & Eliminate Errands
I know people who could make a part-time job out of running errands. Truly.
If you love running errands, great! But there is some simple streamlining and elimination that can be done to make errands an every once-in-awhile instead of an all-the-time.
Sometimes we run errands simply to fill our time, in order to avoid quiet, or to just get out of the house. Running errands is often necessary, but if it fills your days more than it should, consider some simple changes.
Ideas to consider:
- Making one day of the week an errand day
- Asking your spouse to pick up/drop off something on the way to/from work
- Ordering your groceries online
- Ordering clothing online
- Ordering health and beauty items/toiletries online
- Going without (Do you really need that 3rd tube of chap stick, that specialty drink, those super sale shoes? Maybe you do, but just take a moment to rethink what you’re running out of the house for and why.)
Practice the Art of Saying No
The options available to fill your time are endless. Opportunities to say yes, to sign up for this, and to be a part of that are everywhere. A lot of this can be good, meaningful, and important, but that doesn’t mean it’s all for you to do.
When you know your priorities and desire to live a full life (with less of the busy) then you are more aware of the importance of your yeses and your nos.
Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be worried about not being a part of something. Don’t be concerned about what everyone else is doing.
An intentional no can bring a lot of freedom, space, and calm into days (weeks and months) that can easily get out of control with plans and commitments. An intentional no can make life a little less busy outside your home.
What about you? How do you make life less busy outside the home? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please drop a comment below!
Until next time,
Charissa
