Have you ever noticed how many times a day we say ‘we are busy’?
This morning I dropped the kids at school and came back home to grab the puppy and one of our cats because I had to get them to the Vet for injections. I then had to take our other dog Holly-Rose to the groomer as she was overdue for her trim. I rushed back home to put on another load of washing and feed the bunnies, then I was off to do some banking before picking Holly-Rose back up. But what was really bothering me was the mess that was waiting for me at home. We went away over the long weekend for 4 nights and it was so wonderful. There were four families which included 18 people, 10 of which were kids aged 6 to 12, and they all got on amazingly! But as any parent knows when you go away you bring home loads of washing (and beach sand) and there is plenty to unpack.
The thing is we are going away again Friday morning, so we literally got home Tuesday night, and we have 2 days home before going away again. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the washing and cleaning I need to do. We have house-sitters coming to mind our pets, so I don’t want to leave the place looking like a cyclone passed through it, although it’s how it feels right now!
Sometimes I feel myself feeling panicky, I think of everything on my ‘mental to do list’ and I can’t see how I will get through it all! It’s OK I tell myself, but I really don’t feel OK. And then I remember that I need to breathe!
The more we focus on how busy we are, the more overwhelmed we feel. The more we think about ‘how many things’ we need to get through, the more it seems impossible we will ever get there! Â We sometimes need reminding to just be in the moment, to focus on the chore, or job we are currently doing, and stop trying to jump 5 steps ahead. If we don’t focus on each step we climb, then we are more likely to fall, the more we focus on getting to the top of our climb, the more we miss the view on the way up. Sometimes we need to just slow down and realise that the world around us won’t fall apart if we don’t tick everything off our list every day.Â
Yes we have things to do, but some of them can wait, and some of them won’t really matter if we never do them. I am tired of saying I am busy! I am tired of saying I am overwhelmed! I just need to let go of my need to have everything “perfect” and do the best I can do whilst still enjoying my day. I need to take the time to enjoy what I am doing rather than rushing through it like some mindless robot. I had the most fabulous holiday and I am so blessed to be going away again this weekend with my family, so if I don’t get everything done in these 2 days, then so be it!
Today I am making a choice to be more mindful with each thing I do, to be conscious of my actions, and to take the time to enjoy a cup of tea, and enjoy my clean doggy! I am going to hug my kids a little tighter and be really grateful that I have a wonderful life. I am going to change my focus and vocabulary from I am ‘busy’, to I am ‘blessed’!
And I wish that for you too. With each thing you do today, do it with awareness, take the time to slow yourself down and notice your breathing. Be grateful in your heart for all the wonderful things in your life, try and let go of the term ‘busy’ and replace it with ‘blessed’.
Let me know if it makes a difference to your day.
Thanks for joining me, love Mackenzie xx
If you enjoyed this post please try these;
Rejection and how to deal with it.
Did you know I host a link up for bloggers? If not then let me tell you all about it! It is called #mg and it opens every Monday and remains open for a few days. Bloggers are welcome to link up one post per week and share in the fun of commenting and sharing others posts. I comment and share all posts too! It is a great community, hope you can join in, if so I’ll see you next week! Love Mac xx
55 comments
I did exactly the same earlier today (although without having to visit the vet, phew!). I hurried my children to school, then walked the dog home the long way so he could have some exercise, all the while thinking about my daily to-do list. When we returned home, I ended up lying on the sofa with my 3 year-old daughter because she simply needed some time with Mummy, and I am always too busy to concentrate on her. I am off to a firework show with my elder daughter this evening, so both girls get quality time with me, and me with them, as it should be. Ah! 🙂 https://spookymrsgreen.com/2014/03/17/keep-calm-and-make-a-brew/
sounds perfect, you are so right, we are often too busy to spend the time with our children that they really need. Thanks so much for coming by and commenting
I do try and be mindful of how much time I spend doing things in comparison to how much time I spend with my child, I try and balance it out but often doing housework or things that need doing take priority which they shouldn’t! #stayclassymama
yes it can be hard, housework just never end does it!
What a lovely post. I feel the same way a lot. It’s hard to try not to focus on all the “to do”s but lets face it – I’m not successful. I do love a tidy home and clean clothes but I try not to make it a priority over my family time. Or I rope the family into helping fold clothes as a group activity!
#StayClassyMama
always good to get the family involved and get those chores done quicker
It’s so hard when you’re to-do list is neverending, but this is such great advice for a positive mindset and getting things done. I do think the more you tell yourself you’re busy the less you accomplish (I can think of extended family members who claim to be incredibly busy and yet when you ask what they’ve been up to it’s basically they met a friend for coffee!) I do find holiday prep and returning from a holiday very stressful – we’re away from this weekend, so I’m going to try and put this into practice! Thanks so much for joining us again at #SharingtheBlogLove
yes that is true, enjoy your holiday!
I can relate to this! Most nights I start work a bit frustrated because I have so much to do. But actually if I just get on with it it’s not so bad. Like you say, not everything has to be done right now! #stayclassymama
This is something that has been bothering me lately. I have just returned to work a few weeks back and feel the pressure of trying to continue juggling everything as it was before but with 20 hours+ less. It has been a rough transition but I think I’m starting to figure it out. xx #stayclassymama
oh that is hard, just one small ting at a time and remember time for yourself xx
I am super busy at the moment but I have become very good at being with the person I’m with when I finally get time to sit still. The rest of the time I’m frenetic which I don’t think is good. But I had coffee with a friend yesterday and I was totally calm and focused on her. It makes me feel better afterward #Stayclassymama
coffee with a great friend is always needed!
The more I have to do the less I achieve, I spend so much time thinking about all the things I have to do that just eats into time. I am better when I have a list and break it down into manageable times. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove x
I feel the same!
I can relate to this. I’m a big list maker and if it seems like I can’t get everything I want crossed off it bothers me. Now that I’m a parent I’ve learned that its wise to keep that list short! #stayclassy
yep the shorter the better
I can totally relate, and I also want to stop saying I’m busy. Life is a juggle and time to rest and take it in is always the first thing to go. Hope yiu enjoy your next break and have some nice good quality down time. #SharingtheBlogLove
oh thank you, I just got back and it was great thank you
What a lovely post, I am just the same, it takes a minute to sit and think and breathe sometimes doesn’t it! There is always stuff to do in the house, no matter how much you get done, but it’s always nice to take a minute to take stock x
oh thank you Julia, yes sometimes we really do just need to stop an breathe xx
You are so right, the more we think about how busy we are the more over-whelmed we feel. I make a list at the beginning of the week and if by the weekend I still haven’t completed it I try not to stress too much and let it go because sometimes to be honest, I just can’t be bothered and have chosen to enjoy a quiet moment with a cup of tea rather than chase my tail constantly.#SharingTheBlogLove
a cup of tea always sound great to me too
it’s all too easy to get caught up in the number of chores that need to be done, and never have the time to just sit and be still. I love your new mantra. I too will try replacing ‘I’m too busy’ with ‘I am blessed’. We truly are. #sharingthebloglove
yay thanks for joining me in my mantra!
I adore this and couldn’t agree more! It’s so important to take the time to reflect and enjoy life sometimes. XX #KCACOLS
thanks xx
We are always so busy aren’t we! I need to regularly remind myself that it’s not the end of the world if I haven’t hoovered, or if the washing hasn’t been done! Sometimes we just need to stop, and breathe #KCACOLS
agreed!
I was just moaning about all the laundry and how busy I was, about 10 minutes ago. A good eye opener and reminder. Thank you! #KCACOLS
oh great timing lol, thanks for commenting xx
Yep, this is so right! I have a kitchen full of washing up to my right but we’ve been out all morning rushing about and food shopping that I’ve decided I’m not going to do it yet. I’m going to sit down with a cup of tea and treat myself to reading some good blog posts! So thanks for this one #stayclassymama
yay! you go girl!
I love this. I spend so much time feeling busy and rushing from one thing to the next. Really need to learn to slow down and live in the moment a little more x #KCACOLS
I know, we just need to slow down don’t we xx
I totally get the panicky feeling when you have so much to do but so little time. Mindfulness definitely helps, I’m going to make a conscious effort to be more mindful after reading this.
#anythinggoes
I really need to take this on board. You’re completely right in that I try to focus 5 things ahead rather than just pausing to breathe and complete the task in hand. Ironically I work much better and more efficiently if I just stop thinking about the other mountain of tasks too. Beautifully written and excellent advice x #MarvMondays
You’re so right. I’m a very task driven person and like to have a full to do list. But I have spent the last few months trying to see it as a guide not a challenge. If I don’t get things done then so be it. It pays to be clear at the start of the day what MUST be done so you don’t get to the evening and feel stressed because an important task has been missed. The rest can just be ticked off whenever because, let’s face it, there is always something to do.
Hope you had a more relaxed day and have a great weekend away! #MarvMondays
I don’t have an issue being busy, but I have a problem with my husband not understanding how long it takes to do all the things that I have to do in a day.
Friday I left the house at 7:45 to drop my daughter at school then had to take my son to a dentist appointment, go to the shoe store then go to a motorcycle shop to buy parts for my husband before I had to get back to pick up my daughter. I knew it was a lot to take on, but when my husband seemed to wonder why I also couldn’t pick up the living room and go to the grocery store I almost lost it!
I have started to meditate. This is a 10 minute reminder each day to stop and do nothing! Have you tried it? It’s definitely something to add to your day if you’re feeling stressed out.
#MarvMondays
Patty
Thank you for this reminder to just stop from time to time! I always feel ‘busy’, with a never-ending to do list, maybe I need to just let a few things go from it! x #KCACOLS
I’m always bloody busy but over the past few days have put my phone down more and just enjoyed quality time with my family. Tonight that was just cuddling my 8 year old on the sofa as I know she soon won’t want cuddles! Thanks for joining us for #marvmondays
Cuddle times are the best x
Great post, most parents will agree that you’re absolutley right. Some things CAN wait and i know i could definitely do with sitting down and enjoying a WARM cup of tea and think about how good my life is and how it doesn’t really matter all that much if the washing in climbing the walls. It always is, and were all still alive and well! Ha! #SundayBest
This is such a great post because it’s something I think we can all relate to. I’m sick of saying ‘I’m busy’ too and always feel so incredibly bad when I do have to say it. There’s nothing I’d rather do than hang out and play with the kids, but I often feel like my to-do list is getting longer and longer in my head. It’s important to take a step back and enjoy the moment. The chores can wait. Thank you for sharing this!
#AnythingGoes
It can be hard to block out that mental to do list, being in the moment is such a precious gift so I try xx
I completely agree. We’ve been frantically busy since we moved, trying to get everything sorted in the new house, whilst both working really long hours. I finally feel like we can relax a little, I don’t want to be rushing around over the Christmas period, I want to enjoy it all and take it in. So perfect time for me to chill out a little. I’m taking your lead on this.
Sally @ Life Loving
This is a lovely, positive, inspiring post. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday!
What a great post, I’m always mentally running though lists and feel like I have a mountain to do all the time, even when I try and sit for ten minutes. I’m going to try this shift of mindset too, thank you x
#MarvMondays
Great post. I really do struggle to find a balance with my time x #KCACOLS
Yes – you capture the rising panic that our ‘busy-ness’ creates perfectly and I love your advocacy of Mindfulness obviously. A lovely post 🙂 xx #eatsleepblogRTT
I’m a huge fan of mindfulness but I seem to be so out of the habit at the moment! Just as I was reading your post I started to think about how I was breathing and slowed it down. I do let busy thoughts get the better of me, but I am working on it. We all just need to slow down xx
Great post!
#SharingtheBlogLove
Such a great post. I am always busy and always run around with a mental list of things to do. It’s overwhelming and I sometimes do stop and hug my boys tighter or sit down and read to them. It calms me down for a while. I really don’t like the “hamster on a wheel” feeling.
#SharingtheBlogLove
This was a really interesting post for me, because I actually feel the exact opposite!
I love being busy, and I thrive on tight deadlines, and dare I say it stress! When I haven’t got anything to do, I feel a bit despondent and bored. Great to see it from the other side
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes 🙂
Debbie
This is great – its so hard when all we can think about is how busy we are. I am going to take a leaf out of your book and think more about how blessed I am #eatsleepblogrt
Mindfulness is something I still need to really work on but I am trying! Thanks for linking up to #SundayBest x
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