Sudden grief, frustration, disappointment, and regret collided. My already full plate overflowed with emergencies or what seemed like emergencies. Flying by the seat of my pants from this fire to the next did not create grace-filled reactions. So, we continue our HOLIDAY Wellness Plan Acronym with O for Overflowing Capacity.
We’ve identified holiday habits to change and healthy habits to adopt before the season fully swings. Many of us struggle to maintain our exercise, eating, and stress management habits over the holiday season, then regret not savoring their true meaning. If we manage our time better, we’ll have a few extra moments to exercise, eat healthier, and be less stressed.
Our moments are fragile and finite, so I want to use my God-given time well. If I truly want to make all my moments memorable, I need to manage my time well and prevent overflowing capacity. The question is how?
How do we manage essentials AND extras for the holidays? Part of the problem is we underestimate our time. Often, our expectations exceed our own abilities and available time. But we still want a wonderland of celebration. And somewhere in the middle, we miss the wonder. The true meaning and small moments of the holidays get missed and regret creeps in. Tracking time spent on routine habits is eye opening. Laundry alone takes hours! Realizing how much time we actually spend on meaningful and non-meaningful things is a good exercise to find margin in our time management. Finding margin all begins with a plan.
The first step to conquer overflowing capacity is to seek God’s plan for our lives. We have control over most of our calendar. Years ago, my husband reminded me no one will manage my time except me and ultimately, God. I remind myself of this all. the. time. But life happens and I struggle here too.
God is the only One we are responsible to with our time. Yes, we are responsible for others-our children especially and to others-family, friends, our jobs etc. But we are not responsible for doing everything others want of us. We only need to answer to God. Understanding this makes it easier to let go of some habits this holiday season.
Remembering our moments are about choices, we need to manage our time and choose wisely.
Time Management Lessons:
- Flying by the seat of your pants only works for so long: plan ahead! Planning ahead requires organization. Even if organized, things can still go awry, but then at least there’s a plan to fall back on. Check out some organizational tips from my MemoryMinders blog for organizing help. How can you plan and organize now for the holidays to relieve pressure later?
- Even Wonder Woman had the Super Friends: enlist help! I realize that reference dates me, but it’s true. I am not the only one who can do laundry, dishes, pack a lunch, or buy holiday gifts. We just need to seek assistance. Getting help does not constitute failure, it’s allowing others to use their gifts to God’s glory. This frees up time for things only we can do: exercise, eat healthy, manage our stress, and curate relationships. Do what you alone can do and delegate when possible for the other things. What holiday item is for you alone to manage and where can others help?
- Listen to the King! King Solomon asked for and was granted wisdom from God. Here is one of King Solomon’s observations “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 Not everything is meant for every season. Just because we did it before or see everyone else doing something doesn’t mean it’s for us in this season. Remember, our first job is to seek God’s will for our lives, so in this season, what does God have uniquely for you? I love how Solomon sums up his observations about life in Ecclesiastes 12:13b “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”
Every season has its overflowing capacity moments. But by seeking, fearing, and obeying God in our lives plus applying time management techniques, we can find more room on our holiday plate this year.
Great pointers! “And somewhere in the midst of the wonderland, we miss the wonder.” We miss what’s most important when we try to do it all. Oh, Lord, help me to remember this in the coming months! Blessings!
Thanks Liz! Yes, I pray we all can plan ahead to be fully present today and this holiday season!
You are so wise to be battening your hatches for the holidays. Thank you for your encouragement to do the same! I want to give thanks and celebrate Jesus’ birth with a full heart — and not an empty gas tank!
Agreed Michele-striving for a full heart to honor and celebrate Him fully!
For some of us the holiday isn’t so busy. I don’t bake but I do decorate in a simple ways. For myself. There is almost no family to plan for or gifts to buy. But God provides in other ways when you start missing that part of it which is the least important of the true meaning of the celebrating the birth of Chirst our Lord and Savoir. . Not that it isn’t important to celebrate with family. I enjoy those type of opportunities in other ways and with other people before the holiday itself. It took a few lonely Christmas’ to work though it and realize that no matter what our circumstances are God does provide and helps us to understand where our hearts should be. Your message it home for me for the business I am in now. Thanks and God Bless
Thanks Lenore, yes different seasons of life bring variations to how we approach the holidays. Looking ahead and managing our time to stay engaged and present with others and God is so important. I pray we all can celebrate the true meaning more deeply this year!
This puts things in order of their importance!! I will need this again in a week—– or maybe sooner. Thanks, Jillion
Jill,
I am SO sorry for the loss of your loved one! I’m praying for you and your family.
I needed the reminder about asking for help. That’s one of my weakest areas. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Marlene-God has a plan and it was His will, we all rest in that knowledge. But we are also here to live in community with others and knowing this we need to be His hands and feet as well as reach out and accept help when we need it as well. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
I found a sticky in my planner from last year with some notes for this year’s holiday. It reminded me how close it is. Thank you for this series to keep me on track!
Hoping it helps us all stay on track and enjoy and be present this holiday season! Thanks Kelly!
I’m sorry you lost your friend this past week. (or relative?) That always makes us think about where our time is going.
I appreciate this post because the last weeks, my eyes have been opened all over again to HOW MUCH time I spend on simple household tasks: groceries, cooking, cleaning. I always underestimate, which leaves me little room for margin. And YES to getting help!
Thanks Betsy-time is a gift, one we all need to appreciate and manage well. Loved your post too-could totally relate! Blessings my friend!