This is one of the busiest times of the year for me and I have never felt so unprepared. A lot of that is because this year has been a crazy ride filled with one unexpected after another. I’ve been in a constant state of flux since February. Not sure where I’m going or when I’m landing, just running to catch up. This is why I’m in my current predicament: Entering the busy season ill-prepared.
Not the best scenario for someone who likes routine. Order and structure are my best friends. But it feels like every time I recover from one surprise and regain my footing, another comes barrelling my way knocking me down again.
This year has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and stretched me farther than I thought imaginable. But it doesn’t erase the fact I am so unprepared for this season! And I know in the future I can look back at this crazy, hectic time and figure out all the stuff I’ve learned and how I’ve grown. But today is not that day. Today I’m just taking it one day at a time…or maybe one week at a time.
Focusing on what I can control
My best survival tip for facing a busy season is to focus on the things you can control and not those you can’t. I can’t control the busyness of this season but I can adapt and make changes so that it’s not overwhelming. For example, I know my weeks are going to be super busy. This means I plan ahead and maximize my time as much as I can to alleviate some of the stress. Taking a little time to plan, keeps the craziness at bay.
A part of planning also includes deciding what I can and can’t do. As much as I think I’m a superwoman, I can’t add more than 24 hours to my day. Given my limited resources, I need to decide what is important. What is worth my time and what isn’t? This means either delegating tasks to someone else or letting them go entirely. Taking time to set those kinds of boundaries helps with expectations and keeps stress at bay.
Planning also means being creative and learning to do things differently. In my home during this season, this means dinners are quick one-pot affairs or crockpot meals. Or I make big dinners that will give us multiple nights of leftovers. And if all else fails, I turn to convenient or frozen meals.
Taking time to make little adjustments makes my schedule more manageable and less stressful. I can’t avoid this crazy season and I can do nothing about all the unexpected things that happened in my life in 2023. I’m sure when it’s over I will be able to look back and see all the lessons I’ve learned. But for now, my focus is on surviving and controlling the things I can. And being very efficient with my time.