Staying Sane in Your Busy Season

This summer has been a whirlwind. Between working 40 hours a week at my internship, teaching fitness classes at night, and photographing weddings and seniors on the weekends I don’t think I’ve ever tried to pack so many things into my schedule. This is by no means a bad thing though; I love what I get to spend my time doing, but as it becomes more and more difficult to balance everything, the need for me to spend my time as intentionally as possible has become ever so clear. 

Do you ever get so overwhelmed with your schedule and to-do list that you forget to remind yourself that you actually enjoy where you’re at? Maybe you sometimes forget to take a deep breath and reflect on the fact that you’ve made certain commitments and life decisions with the intent that they’re going to help you find joy and fulfillment in life. I certainly am one that is always thinking of the next item on my to-do list. I’m honestly never bored, which I know sounds weird, but I don’t know if I’ve ever even taken long enough to think, “Huh, what should I do next?” As I’m working long hours this summer and knowing that I’m probably missing out on what would be more “fun” summer activities, it’s been so important for me to remind myself to find joy in the mundane, not-so-Instagram-worthy parts of my life. I never really use the term “self-care” surrounding relaxation and downtime because I believe that a person shouldn’t solely devote an hour or a day to simply caring for their well being. Instead, I believe that these habits should be woven into everyday life and settled right alongside the work, wins and stress. With crazy schedules and never ending to-do lists, this is the only way that I’m able to truly enjoy the things I’ve chosen to spend my life doing. 

There are just a few simple habits I’ve integrated into my summer schedule to help keep me focused and thankful. The first of these three is defining a “big three” for each day, right away in the morning. Like I mentioned before, I love making lists but I often get stuck in the muddy waters of overwhelm before I can even get anything accomplished. I simply keep a small notebook where I write down the most important three things that I’d like to accomplish each day. Having only three major items in mind is helpful throughout my day in order for me to stay focused at my internship instead of thinking about all of the work I need to do when I get home. Prioritizing the three most important things for the day also helps me to go to bed at night feeling accomplished rather than thinking about all of the things on my list I didn’t get done. 

Another habit that has been fueling my summer mindset is deleting social media (Facebook and Instagram) completely off of my phone for at least one day each week. Some weeks I leave them deleted for several days because I kind of forget about them once they’re gone. Having these apps wiped from my phone helps immensely in my ability to be productive and stay on task. Not having these types of distractions at my fingertips is so beneficial to my mindset, and I encourage you to give it a try if you’re ever need to finish a big project or goal.

I’m a total introvert, and no, this doesn’t mean that I don’t know how to communicate with people. It means that I refuel best by spending time alone after being around others. I love having a job that is very collaborative and allows me to work with a variety of people, but this summer I’ve needed extra time by myself to rest and refuel after long days. Therefore, I’ve had to sacrifice time with friends as well as work activities in order for me to properly prepare myself for what’s ahead. I’ve learned that sometimes, it’s crucial that I say no, otherwise I’ll end up cranky, and more stressed than I need to be. Please, don’t be afraid to say no to things that aren’t going to bring you life. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes when it comes to what you need to feel sane and ready for whatever life throws at you. 

Well, there ya have it. My short-but-sweet list of what’s helping me stay sane this summer in a season of overwhelming to-do’s. I hope this post will help remind you to appreciate where you’re at taking notice of the joy in mundane tasks.