It is so easy to fill the family calendar. We want to give our kids every opportunity! We want them to have fun new experiences. We want our own time for volunteering, work obligations, coffee with friends… not to mention the never-ending list of cooking and cleaning for the family.
We get busy.
But do you ever think about the possible risks that this brings to your family relationships?
As a family counselor, I have seen so many families struggle because of how busy life has gotten. How do we find the balance between saying yes to great opportunities, putting those onto the calendar, but still making time for building family intimacy, having fun together, and letting our kids (and ourselves!) rest and refresh?
My friend, this podcast episode is for you. I’ll explain 3 risks that our families face when we let the schedule get way too busy, as well as 3 tips that will help you find a healthy balance for your family. Whether you’re looking for work-life balance, sports-school-life balance, or anything in between, this episode will give encouragement, open our eyes, and help each of us find healthy boundaries for our family.
Let’s dive in, friend!
Listen to Episode 22:
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Episode Show Notes
You are busy.
I don’t know you, but I know this is true. If you’re a mom, you are busy!
Busyness is not a bad thing. But it can bring risks into our family. We can’t just fill our time with more and more and more, or let our kids join every possible activity, and expect that we will stay close and connected as a family.
There is only so much time in the day.
So, let’s make sure that we have our eyes wide open, mama. Let’s make sure that we are saying “yes” only to the priorities in life – and your family relationships are a priority!!!
(To get the best info and encouragement, check out the full episode with the link above!)
Here are three ways that busyness sometimes winds up hurting family relationships:
- Sometimes, quantity time replaces quality time. We lose opportunity for real, meaningful conversations with our family because someone is always rushing to the next thing.
- We give away our influence on our child. If they’re spending more time with friends, coaches, teachers… they will experience things that you might normally protect them from, and they will be influenced by people and ideas that you may not even understand.
- A busy schedule invites mental health and emotional wellness struggles. Someone is likely to struggle with stress, anxiety, loneliness, perfectionism, or other issues that may not be so strong if the schedule is less demanding.
But don’t be discouraged!
If you’re reading this, you love your child and you have plenty of time to calm the schedule and reconnect with your people.
Here are 3 ideas for how to find a healthy balance between all of the opportunities out there AND your desire for intimacy in your family relationships.
- Gather together as a family to identify everyone’s priorities.
- Put those priorities on the calendar first, including downtime, family time, and fun time.
- Give yourself and your family permission to say NO to things that are not a priority – and then practice how to say no.
Protect your family, my friend.
Don’t let the calendar sneak away from you.
If your family life or your schedule feel CHAOTIC, sign up today for the wait list for my upcoming digital course From Chaos to Calm: Finding Peace and Purpose in Your Home, Your Schedule, and Your Family Life.
There is no commitment on the wait list, but you’ll be first in line for great discounts!
Let's connect!
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- Email me anytime at Jessica@loveyourpeoplewell.com
As a disclaimer: I am a licensed therapist but this podcast is not therapy. It is not personal advice to your specific situation. If you believe professional counseling may be helpful for you in this season of life, you may find this article on the Love Your People Well website helpful.
