I knew our family was overcommitted when we ate at the kitchen table once a week. Our routine starting at 3:00pm was to get ready to drop someone off, wait, pick them up and take someone else to another activity.
This created a lot of wear and tear on the cars, and on us. It took us a year to decide that we were doing too much. We had overcommitted ourselves. Sports and volunteering had taken place of family time at night.
Looking at the current schedule to began to work through and weed out what our family would continue and what would be dropped helped us to see where our time was being spent.
Our example of family time had become family running time.
Now, before we commit to anything now, we examine what the commitment will be, pray about it, and discuss it. No more automatic “yes” answers because we just want to “help”.
Time Management for the Overcommitted Mom
Write a list of all the commitments you and the family have outside the home.
Find the right calendar. Electronic or paper will work, but knowing which works better for your time is important.
Before committing to any community program such as the PTA, or sports activities find out how much time is involved. Even though a scout committee meeting is only once a month, make sure that there is not a practice or another activity at that time. If there is then do not do that activity. For my schedule I allow one night a week that I will volunteer, and that is once a month. It is not fun when your husband goes one way with a child. and you head out in a different direction with another child. More time at home needs to be the goal.
Setting Priorities On Time
Taking care of a household and a family is a commitment. Food has to be bought, prepared and served. The house has to be cleaned at least once a week. Add this to the list of activities. Put it on the calendar. I know that each week I will spend at least of couple of hours in a room, or working on the whole house.
Sports are important to kids, and good for them. Too many sports or activities can cause overcommitment. Find out exactly what the kids like and what they are good at. Narrow down the sport or activities to 2 per year. Another helpful hint is to keep the kids in the same sport. One practice per week, one or two games on the weekend will free up time. If all of the kids decide they want to do soccer then zero in on that sport.
Every organization needs help in some area. Schools, scouts, baseball, whatever the organization you can be they need help. But, it doesn’t have to be you. To avoid burnout and overcommitment don’t sign up for anything for a year or two.
More family time is always a win win. Re-commit to your home and family. Life will be less stressful and then there will be time to hit the to do list!
Cheers,
Michelle
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