Looking for a blanket scarf for your fall and winter wardrobe???
(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)
On the hunt for a great gift for someone in your life???
Check out the latest deal from Cents of Style on their super cute blanket scarves!!
Today you can get a blanket scarf for $12.95 + free shipping with code BLANKETSTEALS!!
Let me know if you see anything you like!
Until next time,
Charissa
Today is the beginning of what will be a few posts looking more closely at the “hows” of the not so busy life.
If you have been thinking more deeply about the need and desire for a life that is just a little less busy then you might be wondering where to start.
I think the easiest thing to do when making this step forward is to begin by considering two broad areas of your life: life outside and life inside your home. It’s a simple step (perhaps not easy) that causes you to stop and reflect.
This might be where people generally point when thinking about the busyness of life. It’s a good place to look. Look at life outside your home.
How full is your calendar? How crazy is your month? And does that crazy month just lead to another crazy month? Are you spending hours upon hours driving here, there, and everywhere? What types of activities fill your days and weeks? What outside-of-the-house activities really seem to drain you?
Those are a wide-variety of questions to consider, but they are helpful in “taking the temperature” of your life outside the home.
I would say it is less common to look inside the home when considering the busyness of life, but it can play a role in the overall condition of your life.
Do you always feel “behind”? Is your home a source of stress? Are your to-do lists mounting? Do you feel burdened by the tasks that lay before you? Are you overwhelmed by household chores? Are you spending more time than you would like on the care and upkeep of your home? Do you spend many of your days simply managing your stuff?
Again, it’s an array of questions to ask yourself, but perhaps, as you do, the busyness of your home life will be revealed.
It might become quickly apparent which area of your life, outside or inside your home, is the main source of busyness. If you can pinpoint one as the major trouble area, start there. If they both seem equally busy to you, then just pick either (or perhaps the one that seems like you will tackle with more ease).
And tackle you will…
I won’t get into the specifics quite yet. I am saving that for my next post, but I wanted to get you started on separating your life into these 2 broad categories.
So, take a bit of time in the next few days to carefully consider these 2 broad areas of your life. Where do you find yourself to be most busy? Identifying the area is a good start!
What about you? Which area of your life seems to be the bigger source of busyness? I would love to hear from you, so drop me a comment below!
Until next time,
Charissa
Continue reading “Are You Looking to Make Life Less Busy? Consider These 2 Areas of Your Life”
(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)
It’s the middle of a new month, so it’s time for another Favorites post!! Each month I like to share some of the things I have been recently loving. Here are my October favorites!
(We love hanging out at the beach…even in October.)
2. Linenspa Twin Mattress
3. CamelBak Water Bottle
4. Simply Joyful Podcast
Where would I be without my podcasts? Truly. I know, it sounds a little dramatic, but I really find so much entertainment, encouragement, and inspiration while listening to a wide-variety of podcasts. My newest favorite is The Simply Joyful Podcast with Kristi Clover. As the name implies, Kristi and her podcast guests encourage the listeners to “live simply and be joyful”! Give it a listen!!
5. The Magic of Motherhood
What about you? What are some of your recent favorites? I would love to hear about them, so leave me a comment below!
For more of my favorites, click here!
Until next time,
Charissa
(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)
It’s no secret that I am a fan of online shopping. I find it to be a simple way to make my life just a little easier. I do a majority of my grocery shopping online, and I tend to do much of my household product and gift-buying there, as well. I am guessing you probably do a little of the same. But what about shopping for a mattress online? That sort of sounds like a bit of a stretch for some, but for me, it seemed like the right option.
I have actually never tried out a mattress before buying it. My parents chose my mattresses as a child. When I was in college, it was provided for me. Post-college, my roommate purchased a mattress for me. My husband picked out our current mattress.
Perhaps it’s because of my past experiences that I wasn’t scared away by the idea of purchasing a mattress online. All 3 of my kids were in need of a mattress. My youngest was moving out of her toddler bed, my oldest had been sleeping on my old mattress, and my middle child was sleeping on a horribly uncomfortable mattress.
Replacing 3 mattresses seemed like an overwhelming task because of the money that would be spent to make that happen, but then I started looking online. One of my first options was Amazon.
I really wasn’t looking to spend much money, so I looked for the most inexpensive twin mattress with great reviews. An option from Linenspa popped up, and I loved what I was reading in the reviews. I also really loved the cost at $99.99.
We decided to just purchase one and see what we thought. Here’s what it looked like upon arrival!
Unwrapping and allowing the mattress to breath for a few hours was an exciting event for my children. It really only took a few minutes for the mattress to come to size, but the packaging does say it can take up to a few hours.
We all tested the mattress even before it went on my daughter’s bed, and we were all very impressed with the comfort of this inner spring/memory foam design.
2 weeks later I decided we might as well buy mattresses for my other kids as well. We ended up purchasing 2 more.
The mattress is still a winner in our books. My husband is quite particular about mattresses, and even he says it’s quite comfortable.
This might be our pick (in a queen size) when it comes time for my husband and I to update our own mattress.
I was so very pleased with our experience buying a mattress (make that 3 mattresses) online. I realize this might not be for everyone, but if you’re inclined to buy items (even big purchases) online, then I would completely recommend this one.
I suppose only time will tell how long this holds up, and if we will continue to love it, but I do know they have a 10 year warranty.
A comfortable twin mattress for just $99.99 shipped to my door?! Yes, please!!
What about you? Would you buy a mattress online? What unexpected item have you successfully purchased online? I would love to hear from you, so drop me a comment below.
Until next time,
Charissa
Continue reading “The Perfect Twin Mattress for Under $100!”
My blog went live just about a year ago. My thoughts and feelings about pursuing a full life without all the busy have been rolling around in my brain and heart for much longer than that. I did know and do know that perhaps the pursuit of the not so busy life is not as popular as another blog theme would be.
It’s true.
You see, if I called this blog The Very Busy Mom or The Life of the Busy Mom then I might get more readers and followers. The online world and the advertising world appeal to this idea of the busy mom all the time. It’s not uncommon to find articles and posts with titles similar to the following:
10 Cleaning Tips for the Busy Mom
5 Life Hacks for the Busy Mom
How the Busy Mom Can Make the Most of Her Day
Meal Ideas that will Inspire the Busy Mom
I know that posts like those attract many people. In fact, they probably attract many more people than my posts with titles such as:
5 Ways to Be Just a Little Less Busy This Week
A New Year, A New Not So Busy You
4 Traits of the Not So Busy Mom
My posts are for the woman pursuing a life that’s not so busy. My posts are for the mom who desires to live with intention without getting caught up in the busy. My posts are for the person who is looking to live out her priorities on purpose and with purpose.
My posts might not be as popular. Not so busy is not so popular, and I’m okay with that.
A lot of times some of the most important and necessary ideas aren’t that popular. And because my desire for a life that’s just a little less busy is not as popular as the busy mom, well, it just gives me all the more opportunity for people to pause and consider a different way.
I hope that my readers find that I have something new and encouraging to say.
I hope that my readers hear a new voice with a challenging perspective.
I hope that my readers discover fresh words for the not so busy life.
Not so busy is not so popular (and I’m OK with that). I hope you are too!
What about you? Does the “not so busy life” appeal to you even if it’s not so popular? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Until next time,
Charissa
Continue reading “Not So Busy is Not So Popular (And I’m OK with That)”
I often wonder if people see the term “not so busy” and think “lazy”. I mean, how can someone call themselves “not so busy” in this crazy world we live in? Not so busy just can’t be a reality. Everyone is busy. It’s just the way things are, and we have to jump on the busy bus with everyone else.
Don’t we?
Isn’t any other choice just being lazy?
A first glance at not so busy might conjure up thoughts of saying no to everything. It might create this idea of a bland life that only considers the needs of itself. Maybe it sounds boring or wasteful. Maybe it sounds way too slow. Perhaps it sparks a picture of a lazy life.
For me, all of this is so far from the truth.
The not so busy mom is not lazy. The not so busy mom is intentional.
Living a life of intention means considering thoughtfully how you spend your days. Living a life of intention means not filling your calendar with particular activities just because that’s what you see everyone around you doing. Living with intention means valuing your life, each day, as a gift that should be handled carefully.
I don’t want to live a lazy life. Although I am okay with a slower pace. I’m also okay with not looking like everyone else. I’m good with making choices based on my priorities. I’m very happy to pursue a full life without all the busy. I don’t want to waste my days, but I also don’t want to fill them with things just for the sake of filling them.
Intention. That’s the word.
It’s the word I choose to use, and it’s the word I would invite you to consider as you pursue the not so busy life.
Everything (and everyone) around you will scream, “Do it all. Don’t stop. Drive yourself crazy. Be busy. Don’t slow down. Go, go, go.”
You’ll choose otherwise and wonder if you’re missing out. You’ll choose not so busy and think that maybe you’ll be looked down upon by others.
It’s okay. You know that’s not true. You know that you are choosing to let go of the busy, and live a full life. You know that your life has purpose, and you are going to choose wisely.
Not so busy isn’t really about the “not”.
It’s about what you are choosing to do…to be.
What about you? What do you think of when you hear “not so busy”? Are you drawn to living a life that is less busy than those around you? Drop me a comment below; I would love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Charissa
