As schedules change when we switch from Spring to Summer it is easy to MISS things that seem all new in your schedule. It is really helpful to identify what are “standing appointments” in your day/week. Chunking your schedule into morning, afternnon and evening and then putting in repeating appointments helps really helps to build habits. Making these appointments with your self and others really helps even the most “routine resistant” people start to gain control over their time.

As “non-routine” appointments come up, make some rules about thos too. For instance, standardize they way you make appointments for things like doctors or personal care. If you know that each type of appointment is always in the morning or on a certain day and not random, they will be easier to remember.

Using reminders that can be life saving. It might seem like more work to put these systems in place, but it frees up mental space and reduces stress in the long run.

So be ready for that summer switch with a plan to make those changes more routine.

Start planning for summer now by saying “NO” today. On a gloomy, rainy spring day and it is easy to say “YES” to things that seem to be more palatable in gray weather or when kids are in school. When making in plans this spring, remember the “summer factor”! Are you still going to want to do this on a beautiful summer day, when the kids are out of school?

Actually, applying that “summer factor” thinking to all of your decision making might help you “edit” things out that are less desirable and lead you more purposeful living. Remember every time you say �YES� to something, you are saying “NO”to another.

Many times we find our selves making “life additions” with out making any �life subtractions�. You may have been a very busy mother of one child, and had a full plate. As time goes on, you add more children, their activities, committees, more friends, more family and you feel overwhelmed. There are lots of life additions, but where is the subtraction?

I always say “You can only do ten things well—pick your Top 10″. Say no to anything that falls below that line until you catch up on those ten! Knowing what is important makes everyday more meaningful, now insert sunshine into your decision making to help you focus on what’s important!

What are the reasons you over commit? Are you simply interested in too many things or is it deeper than that? You are so inundated with so much media, marketing, and opportunity that even when you edit even 50% you still feel like your drowning! No generation has had to manage incoming information the way you do. If decision making and prioritizing are hard for you it is likely that you will fail to keep up. If you couple that with ADD symptoms like distractibility and impulsivity, daily functioning becomes a struggle. The trick is to really try to edit what is coming into your life, especially when projects and deadlines loom. Survival means stepping back and defining what is important.
If you are susceptible the being a “starter”, make a deal with yourself not to begin anything new until you wrap up two old projects. Make sure you build in some kind of reward to keep yourself motivated!
Be careful not to over commit to be a �people pleaser�. Make sure your actions are aligning with what is truly important. Remember every time you say “yes” to one thing (like work), you are saying “no” to something else (like a family dinner).
So be aware of why you commit and when it keeps you from feeling fulfilled and effective.