“There is not enough time in the day to get everything done!”

She exclaimed with exhaustion, “I’m too busy! There is not enough time in the day to get everything done!”  Have you ever had this thought or uttered this statement?
Yes, I believe you have IF any of the following apply to you:

• It seems like the day flies by.
• You crash at the end of the day from exhaustion.
• You have guilt that you didn’t finish the to-do list for today.
• You have a job (inside or outside of the home).
• You schedule more activities or tasks than hours in the day.
• You are a woman.
• You are a mom.
• You aren’t taking care of your emotional, spiritual, and mental health.

Women (Men – I am sure you feel overwhelmed too, but this is a blog for the women today.) –
I have sat with many of you recently (in book club, in Bible study, in session). I have heard you declare over and over again that you just don’t have enough time in the day to do everything you want to do. MEANING: you don’t feel accomplished, productive, calm, creative, relaxed, motivated, loved, successful, purposeful, connected, happy… and the list goes on.
FACT: There are 24 hours in a day.
FACT: Sleep is a necessity for brain development and general functioning.
FACT: Not everything on your to-do list is equally important.
FACT: If you feel overwhelmed, you need to change your routine, expectations, priorities (or all 3)!

I want you to feel good about your day (and your life).
​It can feel difficult to make changes.
It can be scary to ask for help and/or give up control.
It is not easy to be you and it is impossible to replicate you.
However, change CAN happen. 

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ACTIVITY #1: (I know you are busy, but take 10 minutes to try this)

• Make a list of all the things you HAVE to do today
• Reorder the list by PRIORITY (top = most important/non-negotiable)
• Look at the bottom 1/3 of your list – Delegate those things to someone else and/or to another day.
• Look at the middle 1/3 of your list – Who can you ask for help? How can you accomplish these things in a different way?
• Look at the top 1/3 of your list – These things NEED to be done! Get to work 😊

ACTIVITY #2: (Yes, you have time for a second activity because I just helped you find more time in the day! LOL)

• Look at your complete list again – Identify all the items that involve personal self-care (i.e. reading a book, exercise, meditation, hobby, journaling, having a glass of wine, laughing with friends/loved ones, enjoying the fresh air, taking a hot bubble bath, sleeping 8-9 hours per night, action steps to reach personal goals, spirituality, creativity, downtime, breathing)
• How many self-care items were on your daily to-do list? ​If 2 or more = Excellent! If 1 item = good start!​

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• How many self-care items made it to the top 1/3 of your prioritized to-do list? I hope all your self-care items made it to the top of your daily to-do list.

Remember the airplane analogy: if the plane loses pressure, you are supposed to put on YOUR oxygen mask before you help others. This is self-care. You CANNOT help others if you are too depleted to effectively help yourself.

​I know, I know… you are all thinking, “Bree, this is a great idea in theory, but doesn’t work in reality.” Then, Bree (me) asks, “How do you know? Are you consistently implementing self-care and discovering that it is keeping your from being happy, productive, sane, calm, engaged, determined, or loved?” We all know the answer is usually “Yeah, but…” No excuses!

Take time for yourself! It will allow you to see that you DO have time for all the things that NEED to be done each day, BECAUSE your priorities, expectations, and routines will change to accommodate this new perspective.
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ASK yourself: (I hope the answer is “YES” to each question)

• Do I want to embrace this day to the fullest?
• Do I want to end the day with gratitude?
• Do I want to be proud of the few things I accomplished instead of focusing on the non-important items?
• Do I want to be viewed as a good employee or partner?
• Do I want to let my schedule own me?
• Do I want to be so demanding of myself?
• Do I want my kids to see me stressed and angry?
• Do I deserve to take care of my emotional, spiritual, and mental health?

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If the answer is “no,” or the answer is “I don’t know” or “I can’t change anything,” then it is time to ask for more help. Family, friends, coworkers, clergy, and therapists can be effective resources to help you with support and time management. 

Author

Bree Winkler is a trained licensed professional counselor. Bree specializes in helping clients manage anxiety, depression, anger, and relationship issues. Bree offers in-person and online therapy options for your convenience. Contact Bree today to schedule your initial therapeutic session.