“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”
~ E.E. Cummings
How planned out is your life? Do you sometimes feel that every minute of your day is scheduled? Are you constantly rushing to the next event forgetting to take mindful breaths along the way? Do your “to do” lists have “to do” lists?
If so you are not alone. We live in a time where busy is fashionable and even signifies status and value. The busier we are, the more important we feel. As a result, we overload our schedules and sooner or later we become overwhelmed, stressed and frazzled.
Many women I work with report feeling like they are on a hamster wheel with no escape. They dream of finding time to nurture themselves and yet instead they say yes to more and more activities in their day – often in support of others.
I have been guilty of living an overbooked life. I find so many activities joyful and meaningful that I have to regularly hold myself accountable to live with more spaciousness in my schedule.
When I started meditating years ago, it was my first experience of allowing myself to just be. I had been raised with the belief that I had to be “doing” to have value. My parents were always working and could not even allow themselves to just watch television, they had to be ironing, reading or being productive in some way as well.
My daily practice of meditation has helped me transform my need to always be doing and provided me space to just be for some time each day. This practice has supported my ability to live with more intention, gratitude and presence.
Taking a day off or even a vacation has also taught me so much about being spontaneous and free. When I allowed myself to explore, be curious, and not be bound to a schedule or specific destination, I was able to connect deeply with the joy in the moment and was filled with a freedom that was healing in a profound way.
Noticing how wonderful and nurturing that experience was, I began to regularly create space in my schedule for more spontaneity. Allowing more space in my schedule opened up more experiences of peace and freedom that have rippled out into how I experience my day.
So as you reflect on your schedule, what do you notice?
Is your calendar overbooked or do you allow for some unplanned time?
Do you always have to be doing something or can you give yourself permission to just be?
Do you prioritize time to nurture yourself?
What activity or activities would you need to let go of to have more space and freedom in your day?
Seeking a balance in our lives and finding the sweet spot between discipline and freedom in our daily schedule can make all the difference in how we cultivate peace, joy and meaning in our lives. Give yourself permission to spring clean your schedule and release anything that is not serving you so that you make space for what could!
“There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask “What if I fall?”
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?”
~Eric Hanson
May you believe in yourself enough to create more space and freedom in your life so that you can nurture peace in the world from the inside out!
Sending you so much peace, love and gratitude,
Kelley Grimes, M.S.W.
Counselor, Author & Speaker
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Life on the hamster wheel…a very real thing! I love this idea of spring cleaning your calendars, very needed.
Thank you so much Sherry! Let’s support each other in stepping off the hamster wheel and giving ourselves permission to nurture ourselves each and every day!
Oops. I unintentionally, (I think) neglected to schedule a time with a friend from out of town, here for a professional meeting. She had a few hours and we had decided to have lunch. Somehow, it never transferred from my mind commitment to my calendar. In the throes of a trip today, yesterday was packed, an extended tutoring session, and a medical appt, so I “forgot” the commitment. It would have been a push to get there yesterday for me. And she hurt one of my friends recently, so although it happened unconsciously- it may not have been so unconscious. My calendar was cleared however. – just not in a kind way.
I love that you shared this experience Linda because we sometimes unconsciously create space in our schedules when we really want to set a boundary but don’t give ourselves permission to do so. When this happens we may be judgmental or critical of ourselves but we could choose instead to be curious about what message we were giving ourselves by forgetting the commitment and ask ourselves how we could better take care of ourselves in the future. Thank you so much for your comment!
I am beyond grateful to be retired and able to arrange my schedule any way I desire. Sometimes, I don’t arrange it at all. I wake up with no agenda, set the intention to let the day show me where I should go and what I should do, and just go with the flow. Other times I am filled with an energy because of a new project or adventure. It wasn’t always this way and I regret the years I spent my energy unwisely. Now I have two daughters who are workaholics and over-extended. I hope I can help them to not end up with regrets like their mother did!
How wonderful that you have the insight and ability to allow the day to show you where you should go and what you should do Barb. The stage of our life definitely affects our choices around how we spend our time but without the awareness many in retirement still live an overbooked life. I am very grateful for your insightful comment! Thank you!
Well Said! IF I could detox my schedule to allow for more ‘me’ time, I would begin by hiring someone else to clean my house! This takes up a lot of my time, and unless I can train the dog to vacuum up after himself, I am stuck with the chore every day and sometimes twice!! -lol!
I love your clarity Crystal about how you could detox your schedule and open up space to nurture yourself! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment!
Kelly This resonates for for me, just being is so important and I know those days off are so special and allow us to come back with new energy and often fresh eyes. I always allow time to nurture me- too many wake up calls not too. Plus my body tells me xxx
Just being is so important Suzie and I love your insight that we come back with new energy and a fresh perspective after taking a day off. I so appreciate that you always allow time to nurture yourself as your creativity and joy demonstrate that commitment. Thank you so much for sharing your truth!
Creating space for spontaneity — I love it. Unconstrained and uncommitted time is an incredible gift… That’s where powerful ideas come from, isn’t it?
You are so right Andrea it is an incredible gift! Creativity requires space and unconstrained and uncommitted time to express itself. I am so excited to create more space in my day so that powerful ideas can manifest. Thank you so much for your comment!
I love the labyrinth pic! And yes, spring cleaning is good indeed. Thanks.
I took that picture of the labyrinth a few weeks ago at Questhaven Retreat Center. The setting is gorgeous and serene and it was a joy to walk the labyrinth. Thank you so much for your comment Debra!
I love going with the Universe’s flow of things… Many times all our plans just go for a toss… So surrendering to the Divine plan works well. And this is coming from a hyper calendar appointment keeper ????????
I love that you surrender to the Divine plan and the Universe’s flow of things Zeenat! Thank you so much!
Thank you. Boy do I need this. Working on scheduling…and space for being.
Elaine you are not alone! Finding space in our schedule to just be is so deeply nurturing and is essential for cultivating peace and joy in our lives. Thank you so much for your comment!