Busy Is The New Happy

I like to be busy. I have a full-time desk job, a couple of part-time jobs as a fitness instructor, (at two different gyms) and a mini side hustle of promoting this healthy supplement (shameless plug!). I am a wife and a mom of two youngsters. My other side gig is playing fetch with my fur baby (it takes 44 throws to make him kind of tired). I manage the finances in our household. I meal prep, exercise, get my hair and nails done, and have a group of friends who are more like family. Not to mention, I am active in keeping this blog up and running. Phew!

On a very regular basis, I get asked how I manage to do all of these things. I have some tips, but the main answer is simple:

I make time for the things that are important to me.

Did you get that? One more time? Ok! I make the time. I find it. And, you know what? You can too. I'm breaking down my best advice to a somewhat organized, yet chaotic life; things that work and don't work (at least, for me) and why or why not.

Let me preface by saying, I am farrrrrr from perfect. I miss things. I forget about things. Sometimes, I don't get even halfway through my list of to-dos. The mom brain is sometimes so prominent, I can't believe I didn't accidentally misplace my own head. Like that one time I drove all the way to work with my kiddos being quiet (um, that's a first) before I dropped them off at daycare. Or a time when I was placed on a project at work and then totally blanked on it a day before the deadline. That was fun. And a million other little things that are way more embarrassing.

Here are what I believe are the greatest tools and tips to managing a busy schedule and life!

1. Ok, for a third time, but it's so important: I find the time for the things that are important to me. Family, health/fitness are my biggest "things" that I keep high on the priority list. For example, I'm currently working on my blog post a day late because I needed to be with my family-not out running around taking photos of myself and typing on a computer. I needed that time. And my kids and husband needed that time. It means that sometimes I work out at 5:30 am or 10 pm because those were the only times I could make that priority happen. It's important to me, so I find the time.

2. A calendar. This may seem like a no-brainer, but lately I've chatted with grown adults who do not keep a calendar. I have kept a calendar since about the 5th grade. I've dabbled with the cutesy paper ones, but I have to admit that my calendar on my phone has been the most effective. My calendar is my BFF. How do people function without it? No, really...I want to know.

3. Write it down. A good ole to-do list. I think I made up for not having my cutesy paper calendar by having approximately 4 million notebooks. I write down ALL THE THINGS. I write down everything like "pay the mortgage" down to "put letter in the mailbox". There's something very satisfying about crossing things off of your list. I like to use the cutest notebooks like this one. I'm more likely to use it if it's adorable. Fun fact. I also save them. Why? Because they're adorable!

4. Communicate. This isn't a one-woman show. I need help to do all the things. Every week, my husband and I discuss our week. There's no question of who will be picking up/dropping off kids, shuffling to soccer practice, and who makes the bottles. This is #4, but it should probably be higher on this list. Any week we've tried to "play it by ear" ends up being a battle of but-I-thought-you game. In this game, we're all losers, and I'm a sore loser. #monicagellar

5. Plan ahead. Plan your workouts. Plan your meals. Plan down-time. Plan errands. Plan. Just plain plan. #plan

6. Set goals. Daily. Weekly. Monthly. Yearly. Give yourself a deadline. If it's important to you, you will make a deadline. Don't wish for it. Set goals to get you there. Today, my goal is to get all of the laundry done. My weekly goal is to get to the gym at least four times. My monthly goal is to prepare and plan for the THREE parties I am hosting within the next 4 weeks. And, on a super personal note, my yearly goal is to lose the last bit of baby weight (hence the goal to get to the gym 4 times this week). Having things on your list isn't going to get them done. Setting goals will.

7. Organize. I can't be alone in this, but I am way more productive when my house is in order. Knowing where everything is and having everything in its place where I can easily access it makes for a less stressful day. While the kids are in the tub, I walk around my house for about 20 minutes picking up things, loading the dishwasher, cleaning up a mess, and throwing out old food in the fridge, etc. Every. Day. With five beings in the house, this is necessary. Is my house always in tip-top shape? Haha! Not even close.

8. Say no. Know when you're stretched too thin. Say yes. Know when you could be doing more. This looks different for everyone. I never want to be bored, but I never want to neglect my family. I sleep better when I've been busy, but lose sleep when my to-do list is 10 million miles long and I can't seem to get it all done. There's a happy medium. Find it.

So, yes, especially if you know me personally, I am busy. And, that's just the way I like it. It's the best cure for insomnia because you're mentally and physically exhausted; it keeps you out of trouble; (true believer in the saying "Idle hands are the devil's workshop.") it gets things done; and it's the new happy!