During the month of October, I’m following along with Edie & Ruth on their 31 Days of Less & More journey. I’d love for you to join in by reading the posts and completing the projects, or just sit back and read along each day.
Less Running Around
We live in a go-go-go and do-do-do society. It’s almost as if our worth is tied to how busy we can pack our schedules.
This frantic pace isn’t healthy and it prevents us from being able to take time to savor life. That’s why we have to be intentional about slowing down…
More Nesting
In the last year, we’ve been really putting forth effort to make time and take time to stop and smell the roses instead of just rushing through life. Here are three things that have helped:
1. Plan for Margin Time
When you plan your daily schedule, don’t pack it so full that you have no time to breathe. Cross some things off your list without doing them or just don’t even plan to do them at all so that you can free up at least two hours of margin time in your day.
This will immediately help you to feel more relaxed and less stressed, plus, it will mean that interruptions don’t frustrate or completely throw off your day.
2. Take Sundays Off
One of the best decisions we ever made was to make Sunday a media-free day of rest at our house. I’ve talked about this here before, but I’ll say it again: having one day off in a week makes such a difference in our lives.
Sundays are a day to recharge, refresh, and renew. It’s a day to refuel our tanks for the week ahead — and we look forward to it every week.
3. Stay Home At Least 2 Days Per Week
We don’t always accomplish this, but we really try to stay home at least two full days every week. I’ve found that this makes things so much calmer and quieter, plus, we seem to get a lot more done in a week when we stay home more!
What are your best tips and tricks for slowing down and savoring life more?
For more on this topic, check out Ruth’s post on Less Running Around and Edie’s post on More Nesting. I promise you’ll be inspired and blessed!
Tshanina @ Thrifty T's Treasures says
Crystal,
Thanks for encouraging us to take Sundays off! After you shared your original post about having media free Sundays, I tried it! And while I may not do it each week, it’s amazing how much being away from media can refresh and renew me!
I also love the idea of staying home 2 days a week. Great tip!
Marilee says
Thank you for the reminder. I tend to “nest” or as I call it hibernate once winter starts. Everyone needs one day off of the world a week at the least. I love knowing others feel this way. Its ok to take a break! 🙂
Lynnette N. says
My number #1 tip for slowing down and savoring life more is “listening”.
Actively, listening to my body. When it is tired I give it rest.
Listening to my spirit, if it is weary, I nurture it.
Listening to those around me, if there is a strain or strife, I re-evaluate.
Listening helps me to slow down, and savor the moments.
April @ A Simple Life says
God gave us rest for a reason – “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”. We have been keeping Saturday sabbath for 5 years and it is a blessing… and it hurts us when we don’t do it. Which is going to happen this week, as my husband agreed to work “because they needed him badly”, and sans why I am on the computer.
We only go out one day a week for errands, library, etc… + church on Saturday and Wed night. I don’t actually get how anyone gets anything done going out multiple days a week. I can just barely keep up, so I would be curious if anyone would share with me how they “get it all done” going out multiple times per week.
I appreciate the suggestion for margin time. I don’t have it and I see the need for it.
Vicki Harris says
one of the things that I SO LOVE about Europe is their understanding of downtime…..On holidays…EVERYTHING except restaurants and hospitals are closed. Stores are not open. People are home with their families. The almighty dollar (or euro) is not the ultimate goal in life, living life is. They do not schedule every minute of every day with activities for their kids, they leave down time for them to just be. Americans move way too fast. In Europe when you sit down to a meal, the table is yours all night. There is not expectation that you will inhale your food and get out so someone else can have the table…in fact, while in the US, they put the bill on the table when you get your food and rarely check on you, you have difficulty getting the waitress/waiter to come so you can pay…..the point is to relax and enjoy the meal and the company you are with….it’s a much more relaxed lifestyle…
Lindsay says
Thank you so much for this post. I’m a stay at home mom with my 2 yr old in an area full of events for little ones. I often feel so obligated to go to some event each day but, I really notice I accomplish more and get to just purely enjoy my daughter more if we stay home a couple days per week. Thank you for helping me be at peace with saying ‘no’ to some good things to create space for greater things for my family.
jenn says
I work PT evenings (3-11) as an RN, with a weekend thrown in here or there. I strive to stay home most days, because my house looks much better for it!
When I read this post, it hit me. I was home all day Monday and Thursday before working. Next week should be more of the same, as I work every day but Tuesday and my husband and son will be out of town. I will have no where to go, other than work in the afternoon!
Tuesdays are my typical running around days as I do not work so that is my grocery day.
I do try to group errands though when I am out. For example, last night, I dropped off the movies that were due today at the library. Going that way on my way to the hospital is a time killer, as there is a lot of traffic. Not so much at 1130 PM! Got gas on my way to my hair appointment. ETC. That saves me steps, time and money!
JANE says
although I appreciate the principal, this is simply not possible for families with 2 working parents. sundays are the only days we have to actually go shopping and get things done. nice in theory but impossible to implement.
Chelsea says
Isn’t your hubby a big football fan? I’m curious how you balance that with media free Sundays 🙂
Stacey says
The staying at home 2 days a week must be for retiree’s? LOL When we are retired, I will absolutely make this a plan 😉
I love posts like this though, because we are so busy with many things that we cannot avoid, but it helps open my eyes to cut away some of the things we can avoid. Recently, I have mad the decision to cut out one of our many doctors from our routine. He was seeing 3/5 of my family, and it is a 45 minute drive each way. While he was a great starting point, we are all in good places right now, and really don’t NEED his services anymore, so, I called and had the receptionist take us off the books. Thanked her, and asked her to pass on the message that because of the doctor, we are all in good places in our lives, and we really appreciate it.
So, that free’s up probably a solid 15 hours a month (give or take depending on the month) What. A. RELIEF.
Sundays are also our church/rest days <3
Lora C says
I agree with you on everything that you shared in this post. I have 3 jobs so during the week I am super busy. My Saturdays are my “stay at home days”. On Saturdays I get up early and go to the park to work out, then go home and stay home until its time to go to church on Sunday. When I told my daughter that I had begun doing this she questioned my sanity, but I have found that this is one of the things that keeps me sane. I also have a short workday on most Fridays–today I am going to run a few errands after work and then spend the rest of the day at home. My time at home recharges me and allows me to take care of me and my home. It also allows me to have Sundays off as you suggested–I wrote that I was grateful for Sundays in my gratitude journal. I look forward to Sundays too!!
Tammy says
Here are a couple of things I do to keep the running around to a minimum which makes for a much more enjoyable life:)
1. I grocery shop once a week and try to resist going in between for forgotten items. Spend the time to make a good list.
2. My kids aren’t overly scheduled.
3. When your kids are in school and sports there are a million things to volunteer for, pick wisely!
4. I’ve tried to eliminate Target all together, which has also helped my finances. Instead I go for a walk with my baby, organize my home, bake, the possibilities are endless!
By not feeling so hurried all the time I just feel better, have more energy, and am much happier!
Allyson says
Great suggestions, but not really practical for us working mommas. I don’t think it’d be possible for me to stay home on Saturday and Sunday…that’s when I get everything done around my house that I’m not able to do during the week when I’m working. And I so wish I had some margin in my days, but again, it’s just not possible with a full time job. Thoughts?
Amanda says
I’m a little late chiming in, but my husband and I both work full time, so I definitely hear you. One thing we started recently is to designate one Saturday a month as an R&R day. We plan no errands and try to keep the chores to a minimum. It’s sometimes a stretch, but boy those days are nice! And really, giving up one Saturday a month hasn’t been as difficult as I first thought, though we have had to say no to some things to protect the time.
Kim says
When we started really observing the Sabbath and committed to no work or other commitments on Sundays, aside from church, this made a huge difference.
After a busy or stressful week, it is so refreshing and encouraging to remember that on Sunday we will be resting.
I always have a ‘to-do’ list in hand or in my head so this has been really beneficial because I feel like I truly can relax and recharge without feeling guilty about not getting something done.
Mona says
My middle child would be thrilled if we stayed home for two full days a week! He hates going places. It is true though – if we stay home, stuff gets done – school, play, more play, some housework. 🙂
AK says
Nesting always makes me think of pregnancy, and those fun times of making space for a new life. 🙂
cher says
I absolutely love your suggestions for creating a calm and peaceful home. I like how you specifically looked at your Sunday habits and how they bring extra peace to that extra extra special day.
Stephanie @ Six Figures Under says
Keeping the Sabbath day holy is my favorite commandment 🙂 We have received so many blessings as a result of setting Sunday apart from the rest of the week. We don’t work or shop. It is wonderful. When my husband was in law school, he committed to never study on Sunday. It was the only day we were guaranteed to be together as a family. I don’t know how people do it any other way!