The Fear of Saying No!

If you are a people pleaser like me, saying  “no” doesn’t come easy.   Bring a dish to Sunday supper?  Sure.  Sit on a school committee?  Ok.  Be the homeroom mom?  Add it to the list.  A lunch date with a friend?  Yum!  Drive the sports carpool?  Whew….Alrighty.

At first glance, these things appear worth while.  We all want to support our church and our children and all the activities they bring with them, but I am willing to bet that your calendar has gotten over booked more than once over the last few years.

One of the main things that makes Out of the Crayon Box different from the other organizational methods and websites out there is the emphasis on balance.  Sure, OOTCB is full of tips and tricks and encouragement for keeping an organized, clean home, but it goes a step beyond most of the other programs I’ve looked into.

One might have a pristine, sparkling neat home, but the daily schedule is crammed with busy-ness.  Wonderful things, to be sure, but a packed calendar with the most righteous of things creates an imbalance.  Someone or something inevitably gets pushed by the wayside.

By embracing the DO MORE idea, one can actually do more.  It’s ok…more than ok…to say no to a few things.  Don’t turn into a hermit, but take a hard look at your schedule and see what you can clear off to bring more balance into it.  Take an inventory of your family priorities and do what is important and joyful.

Our busy times ebb and flow.  When you see the calendar getting all marked up, take a deep breath.  Declutter the activities.  Organize them so they are easy to see and keep track of.  Maintain the calendar on at least a weekly basis so it doesn’t get away from you.  Observe the goings on of you household…are you busy for busy sake or doing things that really mean something.  REFRAIN…don’t be afraid to say “no” (and I would add that if you are the one asking, give the person you are asking permission to say “no”).  Finally, sit back and enjoy the time you free up through the balance you have achieved!

Go Forth and Simplfy…you schedule, that is!

Holly

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