A SmallStep is one simple thing you can do to live a calmer, healthier or sexier life. This week, consider taking the small step of setting a limit or establishing a boundary that will allow you to make time for things you really want to do.
If you’re like me, you have things you want to do, important things, like exercising, cooking healthy meals, relaxing with your husband, writing, developing your business, spending time with good friends, enjoying your children, or other activities that are important to you. But you don’t have time to do them consistently – something always gets in the way. Maybe the things getting in the way are important – but maybe they aren’t. More often than not, less important things suck up much of our time and energy,ย making it difficult if not impossible to do the things we really want to do.
(Check out all of the SmallSteps to a Calmer, Healthier, Sexier Life.)
Sometimes the things that suck up time and energy are big problems that require a big solution. For example, if you can’t do the things that are important to you because your husband works 60 hours a week, you homeschool and serve on two church committees, and each of your children has three after-school or evening activities…well, you can’t solve that problem in a week.
But what if, at least in part, it’s small things that are taking up a lot of your time, keeping you from do the things you really want to do? What if you set a limit on one of those things, in order to free up some time for something better?ย For example, if you:
- Assigned some mundane household tasks (sorting and folding clothes, vacuuming, etc.) to other family members (the kids!), it could allow you more time to make healthy family meals.
- Limited phone conversations with a talkative friend, it could give you time to go outside and play with the kids.
- Set a timer when you begin checking email or reading blogs and quit when the timer went off, it could free up time for exercise or writing or working on your business.
- Limited the amount of television you watch, it could provide more time for conversation, connection and sex with your husband.
You get the idea. None of those things are wrong or bad, but they may be taking up time that you’d really rather devote to something better. So this week, consider setting a limit or establishing a boundary for how you choose to use your time.ย Limit one thing that’s less important, in order to free up time for something that’s more important. If it works, in a week or two limit something else. You soon may find that you’ve created time for things that allow you to live a little calmer, healthier or sexier.
I would love to hear your ideas or experiences with setting limits on some in order to free up time for other things – please share them in the Comments.
Dysfunction Juncetio (@DysfunctionJun1) says
This is a fabulous reminder! ๐
I wanted to stop by and thank you for linking up with us at the “Linkin with ladies” hop yesterday! I hope you enjoyed reading some new blogs and hope you can join us again next week!
Thanks again,
Katie~
http://dysfunctionsjunction.com
GC says
Hi Katie – I was so happy to find your blog and your link party. Thanks so much for letting me link up with you.
Gaye
jnbwrs says
Stop computer at 7PM to spend time with hubby.
GC says
That’s a small step with a lot of pay-off!
Thanks for stopping by.
Gaye
Adam's Eve says
We watch a lot of TV shows together and movies since that’s one of our few common interests, but we try to limit it to 1 45-min show at max an worknight evening, and 4 45-min shows on weekends or 1 full length film. We also try to eat a meal together and talk instead of watching something while we eat, and we limit our intake, if at all on Sundays – saving it for church, fellowship, prayer, conversations, and sex. This is what works for us.
GC says
Hi Hannah – That’s a great plan. We limit our television time too, and I have to be careful to limit my computer and blog time – otherwise it can swallow up hours before I realize it.
Gaye
Shelby Peake says
Sometimes I just go too quickly in life and it leaves me stressed out. ๐ Thank you for the advice!
GC says
Hi Shelby – It is so easy to go too quickly and really get stressed out! I hope this tips are a bit helpful.
Gaye
msh60 says
I found you via Pretty Living PDX it is so true that small steps are the answer! I break big projects in to small increments, it seems less overwhelming that way….of course, this means that I can’t leave stuff till the last minute, but that’s a helpful tip too!
GC says
Thanks for stopping by from Pretty Living PDX! I agree – small steps are the way to go. Otherwise it just seems like too much!
Gaye
lalaine hagler says
great advise! this is something i have to keep reminding myself.
GC says
Thanks for stopping by, LaLaine!
Gaye
Elisabeth says
I’m all about the small steps! I know that I do so much better when I set those small goals! ๐
GC says
Thanks Elizabeth. I do much better with small goals too.
Gaye
Alec says
Great ideas! I will definitely try to set some limits this week. It will be difficult, but worth a try.
By the way, Pretty Living PDX sent me as well ๐
GC says
Thanks for stopping by, Alec. I hope that setting a limit or two will help bring some calm to your week.
Gaye
Madison says
I so needed to read this post..thank you! ๐ Pretty Living sent me, btw!
GC says
Thanks Madison. I hope it’s helpful to you.
Gaye
Fawn Weaver says
I really need to get better with the timer things. Although, I am managing my email and social media time much much better these days so maybe I don’t need a timer (unless I go back to old habits :)).
GC says
Thanks Fawn. You have a good post this week on a similar topic.
Gaye
Fawn Weaver says
We’re definitely working on the same thing ๐
messymarriage says
This is something I constantly am working at–not always perfectly–but nonetheless, this is a great reminder, Gaye! I think breaking it down into manageable ways we can cut back makes it so much less daunting and people can feel and see the results almost immediately. Great, practical post, my friend!
GC says
Thanks so much, Beth. I am definitely a one-step-at-a-time kind of girl!
Gaye
Maria Malaveci says
I think everyone should read this! I am going to post it on my FB. Thanks so much!
Maria Malaveci says
Pretty Living PDX sent me! I think I am going to post this on my FB. I think that everyone should read this!
Thanks so much
GC says
Thanks so much, Maria.
Gaye
Tara P. says
Just stopping by to say hello! Pretty Living PDX sent me! ๐
GC says
Thanks for stopping by, Tara!
Gaye
Shane says
Such a great message everyone should read!! xo
GC says
Thank you, Shane!
Gaye
Paula V says
Just stopping by. Pretty Living PDX sent me.
GC says
Thanks for stopping by, Paula.
gaye
tyler says
I definitely needed this … my time seems to just disappear!
GC says
Thanks Tyler! I love the name of your blog! I’m definitely going to check it out.
Gaye