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For many, life is a hodgepodge of never-ending commitments. Yet
few of us can be truly healthy or happy without regular periods of downtime.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with busyness, those of us who
over-commit or over-extend ourselves potentially face exhaustion and burnout.
When you feel overwhelmed by your commitments, examining your motivation for
taking on so many obligations can help you understand why you feel compelled
to do so much. You may discover that you are being driven by fear that no one
else will do the job or guilt that you aren't doing enough. To regain your
equilibrium and clear the clutter from your calendar, simplify your life by
establishing limits regarding what you will and will not do based on your
personal priorities.
Determining where your priorities lie can be as easy as making two lists: one
that outlines all those obligations that are vital to your wellbeing, such as
work, meditation, and exercise, and another that describes everything you do
that is not directly related to your wellbeing. Although there will likely be
items in the latter list that excite your passion or bring you joy, you may
discover that you devote a large portion of your time to unnecessary
activities. To simplify your schedule, consider which of these unnecessary
activities add little value to your life and edit them from your agenda.
Remember that you may need to ask for help, say no firmly, or delegate
responsibility in order to distance yourself from such encumbrances. However,
as you divest yourself of non-vital obligations that cause you stress, serve
no purpose, or rob you of opportunities to refresh yourself, you will feel
more energetic and enthusiastic about life in general.
If simplifying your schedule seems prohibitively difficult and you still feel
pressed to take on more, try imagining how each new commitment will impact
your life before saying yes. When you consider the hassle associated with
superfluous obligations, you may be surprised to see that your schedule is
impeding your attempts to grow as an individual. Your willingness to pare
down your agenda, no matter how gradual your progress, will empower you to
retake active control of the life that defines you.
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