Springtime Snowball

Here it comes… Just when snowballs have left our mind and our décor, here comes one last snowball. It is the snowball of Springtime. From here until the last school closes its doors and the last graduation party has taken place, almost every woman is getting ready to be overwhelmed by one thousand little things. It is the end of the year field trip, the graduation party, the rush to register for summer camps, the mother’s day cards that need to be purchased, the last batch of cookies to be sent in for the 100th time this year. All these little details come rolling toward us like a gigantic snowball.I am not sure why the blooming of flowers and the return of warm weather equates to chaos, but somehow it usually does. The good news: if your life operates on a school calendar, you are on the final stretch. Here is the choice to make: Will I be proactive or reactive? Will I just let all the minutia run over me or will I determine my attitude and pace?Here are three ways to finish the year with your sanity intact:1. Make a listYep. I said it. Make a list. Whether you are single, have a kindergartner, or are an empty nester, you can simplify life by taking one organizational step. Instead of making a dozen trips to Walgreens or Hallmark, slow down long enough to think through your needs in the next few weeks. Weddings, birthdays, graduations, showers, teacher gifts, mother’s day… all are coming at us. List out what you will need to bring or send to each of the upcoming celebrations. Get specific and think through all the things that usually send you into a panic. Don’t forget the gift wrap… there’s nothing worse than having to stop and grab the forgotten tissue paper on the way to the celebration!2. Focus on what mattersWith so many celebrations on top of the normal pace of life, it is easy to just get overwhelmed and jaded. While the number of events can be discouraging, each represents a reason to celebrate in the life of friends and family. Spend less time worrying about the gift and more time making sure you communicate what is important. We rarely tell people how much they mean to us frequently enough. They will remember your kind note much more than whether you had the most adorably wrapped gift.Above all, what truly matters is how you love people. You will not do that well in your own strength. This is not the season to skip on your time with the Lord. Prioritize your relationship with Him and guard it at all costs.3. Schedule at 85%This is a lesson I am trying to apply to my own life. I usually try to maintain all my normal activities while adding dozens of other events to my schedule. What if we wised up on the front end? It is a busy season, so put off anything that is non-essential. If you have children in school, it is so tempting to try to squeeze a few more projects in before the kids are home. What usually happens is that we are scheduled to capacity and then are overwhelmed when one or two unplanned events creep up on us. Plan for the unplanned and you will be much calmer when something unexpected comes your way.