Mastering the Art of Juggling: Tips for Thriving in Overwhelming Seasons

I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I am doing that right now. What is “that”? Juggling too many plates. I currently have three (if you include this blog, it’s four) jobs right now, and am helping to plan my son’s summer wedding, as well as take care of my home, have time for my husband, have time for my mom, and friends, and and ……

How do you manage when you have lots of things you must maintain in your life? Do you bury your head in the sand and let plates drop? Do you rush around trying to keep them all in the air? I have found a few things that really help me not drop any plates, while also not feeling overwhelmed by it all, and in this post I’ll share some tips that might help you if you are in a season of “a lot.” 

First, recognize it’s a season. I won’t always have three (four) jobs and be planning a wedding. Reminding myself that this season really won’t last very long helps me not be overwhelmed, and helps me desire to do my best. It’s ok if my house isn’t as clean or tidy as I would normally like it to be, I have other things that are a higher priority. 

Second, prioritize. When you have lots to do, having a list of priorities is crucial. In this season, my first priority is time with Jesus. If I have that as my number one, and it’s the first thing of the day, I can enter the working part of my day grounded in the truths of Scripture and reminded of God’s love and care for me. My next priority is my husband. Making sure we are on the same page, and have enough time together is key. I’d love to be able to tell you we have a standing weekly date, but the reality is we don’t. We do prioritize each other, and time together, it’s just not a date night. My next priority is work– I’m still juggling how to figure out my work schedule for the week as I adjust to my new rhythm(s). Another priority for me is caring for my mom– I make sure I have time to go shopping for my mom and deliver her groceries. That’s usually the same day of the week, so it’s always on my calendar. We also do dinner with my mom and my husband’s parents one night a week, so that’s always on my calendar as well. When you are prioritizing, schedule in some self-care. For me, my two favorite self-care things are pedicures and massages. I try to schedule a monthly pedicure, and a massage every quarter (happy if it happens once a year). But it definitely won’t happen if I don’t schedule it!

Third, write it all down! I have one work planner, and one home planner. The work one gives me hour by hour grids during the workweek to write in where I am working, and if I am working from home, what I’m working on. I try to do task batching as much as possible. For me, that means I’ll try to block out a few hours and get as many blog articles written, or social media posts planned out. I do all my laundry in one or two days (sometimes it takes three ;)). My home planner has several lines for each day for me to list my to-do’s for that day…most of the things I need to do for our home, for the wedding, etc. When I put things on this list, I can look at them and see where I can delegate tasks to help keep me from feeling overwhelmed. Some things I routinely delegate are cooking (luckily, my husband loves to cook), shopping (I usually shop online and my son will pick up), and cleaning (everyone pitches in to help keep the house clean). I also keep my google calendar up to date, as I rarely take my physical planners with me when I leave the house. 

Fourth, each night before you go to bed, look at the next day’s calendar and to-do list. Just having in mind what tomorrow will look like helps me settle down and get to sleep. However, if your to-do list will overwhelm you and keep you up, maybe you should skip this step. In any case, I have everything for the day written out, so I know I’m up and getting my coffee and devotions first, then working out and showering, and starting either my work or work from home next. My errands and to-do’s are all there so I can check them off as I finish them. My menu plan for dinner is on my home planner, so I can just look there and see what I’m making for dinner (I usually cook Monday and Wednesday, and my husband does the rest of the week!). 

Last, and maybe the most important, learn to gracefully say no. This is a hard one for me. I am a high capacity person, and I want to say yes to every opportunity to help or bless someone or some ministry, but in this season especially, for me, I need to say no. It makes it easier for me to go back to the beginning of this post and remember that this is a season. I won’t always have to say no, but for this season, I do. One of the ways I like to frame it, is to say, “Thanks for asking me. I can’t do that right now, but feel free to ask me again in the future.”

As we navigate the juggling act of life, it's crucial to remember that seasons change. What feels overwhelming today may not be the same challenge tomorrow. Embrace the ebb and flow of life, recognizing that some plates may need more attention at certain times. Prioritize with intention, and remember that it's okay to let some things wait. Take a deep breath, stay organized, and focus on what truly matters. Juggling can be an art of balance when approached with grace and a well-planned strategy. So, keep those plates spinning, and may you find joy in the midst of life's intricate dance.