ReAnn Rothwell’s Money Saving Ideas, Tax & Organizing Tips

Do you find that you are meeting yourself coming and going? Are you dreading the holidays coming up with their added activities? Are you pulling your hair out because you have so much on your plate?  

Well, be troubled no more! It really is possible to take control and have a more stress-free schedule. It just takes some attention and a few modifications in your life and behavior.  There are only 24 hours in each day. Since there is no more time to be found, better choices need to be made about how we use that time.

To help you accomplish that goal, below are a few tips. Many of these ideas you have probably already heard and have just not incorporated into your life. Perhaps now is the time to take at least a few steps towards a stress-free schedule.

1. Re-evaluate your to-do list and schedule: The very first and most important step is to really re-evaluate what you are doing each day. List each item you have on your schedule and then attentively prioritize them. Some, like work or school, time with your family and time to recharge yourself (one that often goes to the bottom of the list) should be top priorities. If you find that any of the items on your calendar are mainly busy work or for some one else’s benefit, it is time to eliminate them from your life.

2. Make sure your schedule reflects your value system/goals & priorities: Make a list of these things – I have found that writing them down makes them more real in a day-to-day sense. Are you finding that you are doing things that conflict with your personal values, goals & priorities? If that is the case, eliminate those activities from your calendar. Periodically take time to evaluate your schedule and eliminate anything that conflicts with your personal value system. When you are asked to add something to your schedule, make sure it does not conflict with your value system. IE perhaps one of your core priorities was to have your own business so that you could spend more time with your family. Does saying yes to running the local United Way Campaign, while a very worthy cause, guide you towards or away from that priority?

3. Learn to say no! It is such a simple thing, but we have such a hard time saying it especially to friends, clients or to worthy causes. It really is ok to say no immediately to a request for our time.  Many of us do not do that and then we end up beating ourselves up for forcing more and more into our already jam-packed days. Try this the next time you are asked to sign up for another activity–tell the person who asks that you need to review your schedule before you can give them an answer. When you see that you have no available time, without being under pressure for an immediate answer, call and tell the person that you are not able to fulfill their request. The more you practice, the easier it will be. (Miss Manners provides such good advice on how to say no. Her recommended phrase is, “Oh, I’m so terribly sorry, I just can’t.” If asked why not, her reply is, “Because I’m afraid it’s just impossible.” Repeat over & over until the person quits asking.)

4. Limit the Children’s Extra-Curricular Activities: This can be a hard one to implement. However, Studies have shown that our children are just as over scheduled and stressed as we are. It really is OK to limit the number of activities outside of school. Just going to school and keeping up with homework is already a full time job for our kids. When you throw in a sport (which includes practices as well as games), scouts or other similar activities, we end up with stressed-out kids operating on too little sleep and virtually no down time to just BE a kid. On top of that, you end up adding in taxi-service to different activities to your own schedule. Try limiting the activities to one per season per child. You will all be better off because of that.

5. Stop scrambling from appointment to appointment: Do you find yourself running from one appointment to another? When you plan your day or week, make sure that you schedule in ample travel time, preparation time, and work time between appointments. Do not make the mistake of scheduling bare minimum travel times. Be sure to allow for traffic and emergencies when scheduling appointments. You will have a less harried commute between meetings or appointments. Even if you work from home and have appointments in your home office, you still need time between appointments to review previous appointments and prepare for your next appointment. You will be glad you did!

6. Make time for you: When you are scheduling appointments on your calendar, do you schedule any time at all for yourself? Many times, we schedule time for everyone but ourselves – we put ourselves at the bottom of the list. Make it a point to regularly schedule recharge time for you at least once a week. Whether you plan time for a professional massage, or just time to sit and stare off into space, it is very important that this be a regular part of your schedule. In the end, you will be more efficient and productive.

7. Consolidate and group: Do you find yourself wasting time and gasoline running back and forth and back again multiple times each week? Whenever possible, group appointments together that are in close proximity to each other. This means shopping, errands, medical appointments, etc. This not only saves time and gasoline, but will also save you from self-inflicted stress.

8. Delegate, delegate, delegate: In many cases, we do not have to physically DO every task we take on. For instance, instead of cooking and cleaning for days and hours before a dinner party or other get-together, either have the foods catered, have a potluck or buy pre-made. Instead of breaking your back frantically cleaning, hire a service for a one time cleaning. Delegating and hiring out is an option for many activities. (I recommend Chorebuster.net for delegating chores around the home or office.)

9. Do double-duty: Are you torn between attending your child’s game and taking care of important paperwork or a project? If it is not possible to delay the job, then multi- task. Bring your paperwork or computer along and work on it while you are cheering your child on. Of course, it will not be possible to work on a project that requires 100% focus, but the majority of the time, it does not require 100% focus. Many things can be done while still paying attention to your child’s game.

10. Is it actually important that this activity/chore/project be done? Does it truly need to be done right now? When considering activities to add to or keep in your schedule, ask yourself a simple question: will it matter in 5 years if I do this, will it matter in 1 year, or even 6 months? Chances are a good many things that want to crowd your schedule will not matter in the future. Please do not be afraid to ask this question and say no to those activities that will not truthfully matter.