October 5th, 2010 
Dennis 
Many of us seem to have that knack for creating an overscheduled life. Are you finding yourself rushing from one event to another without time barely to breathe? If you feel in a jam and can’t cope with the over scheduled mess that is your life try some of these simple methods to get back in control again.Be a two-year-old! Learn that precious word that all toddlers know so well, “NO”. Sometimes over commitment and over scheduling is a result of not using the word, “No” enough. When someone comes to you with a task don’t feel guilty, remember, you need to take care of yourself and that means that you need to say, “No” sometimes.
Take a moment for a mini-stress reliever. If you are overwhelmed, sometimes taking a little time for yourself will get you feeling back in control again. Try these mini-stress relievers:- Take some time to goof off. Yep, take a break and do something not in your “schedule”.
- Have a spa night at home once a week to recharge. Pamper yourself, take a long hot bath, and give your body time to relax so you can tackle your crazy schedule the next day.
- Add a hobby for YOU. Doing something relaxing for yourself such as gardening or painting can really go miles in giving your mind a rest. A rested and relaxed body and mind will be able to handle the stress of a crazy schedule.
- Make sure you exercise; you will have more energy and won’t feel like you are doing things for everyone else.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Take a power nap. Give yourself a break and close your eyes for 20 minutes.
- Try guided imagery to take yourself on a mini vacation in your mind.
- Grab your partner and have some great sex.
Another method to combat the heavy schedule is to have a positive attitude. Ever notice that when you are positive and upbeat tasks go quicker and things just seem better?
Once you feel you have gotten a handle on your stress from over scheduling take a step back and see where you can make some positive changes. For instance, do you really need to be on that committee that meets once a week or can you just help out with a specific event? Do your children really need to be in three athletic activities each or can you par it down to two? Will that “special project” at work really reap any benefits for you or can you move it to a more junior person?
Try out some of the steps above and see if it helps with your over scheduling nightmare. Let me know if you have learned to say, “No”. Until then, remember to live vitally.
Sincerely,
Dennis Croll
Enjoy plenty of sleep