This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FindItInFrozen #PickUpFoodThatFits #CollectiveBias

You can simplify busy schedules by balancing your responsibilities, keeping a detailed calendar, preparing simple mid-day entrées, taking breaks throughout the day, and ordering your groceries online.

You would think that springtime would make life slow down a little. No major holidays to celebrate back-to-back, school is going smoothly for the kids, work is calm for Richard, and somehow, I feel busier than ever. I am the kind of person who never stands still. Between blog work, substitute teaching, starting up my photography business, and volunteering at my kids’ school, there is always something to do, something to schedule, an email to write, a phone call to make. And what often gets lost in all of that is time to care for my basic needs, which is why sometimes, I need some shortcuts to help me get through the busy day. Here are some tips to simplify busy schedules by balancing multiple jobs, volunteering, parenting, managing your home, and creating some time to enjoy life!

Hover over the photo below in order to click through and purchase the item.

SIMPLIFY BUSY SCHEDULES: BALANCE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

With marriage, parenting, and working multiple part-time jobs comes an abundance of responsibilities. It’s a challenge not to feel like I’m drowning in my “to do lists” sometimes, so what I try to do is figure out in advance what I am capable of accomplishing each week. If blog work is busy, I substitute teach less. If I plan to volunteer at my children’s school multiple times in a week {field trips, class parties, fundraising events}, I try to take on less blog work or photography gigs. If I want to do a date night with Richard, I try to work in advance on my obligations so that I can enjoy time with him without stressing out. There’s a balance to a good work flow, and it has taken me years of feeling a little off-balance to really master getting it right. Always a work in progress!

SIMPLIFY BUSY SCHEDULES: KEEP AN ORGANIZED CALENDAR

What saves me from feeling overwhelmed is my planner. This particular planner is great because it’s actually a teacher’s lesson plan book, so it has monthly calendars with small spaces and weekly calendars with lots of room to write daily tasks. I keep track of my finances {both what I am earning and what we are spending in bills} on the monthly calendar portions, then write out specific photos to take, blog posts to write, fitness classes to attend, times to volunteer, doctor’s appointments, etc. in the weekly sections. I also keep a small sticky note pad around to jot down deadlines quickly if I don’t have time to sit down and transfer all of them to my calendar. I know some people prefer online calendars, but honestly, there’s just something about writing it in pen and crossing items off “to do lists” that I find very rewarding. Also, I highly recommend using erasable pens! You just never know when plans will change.

SIMPLIFY BUSY SCHEDULES: PREPARE SIMPLE LUNCHES

Since I feel as though I’m always coming and going, I need either quick lunches I can prepare at home or lunches I can throw in a bag and bring to my children’s school when I am either substitute teaching or volunteering. STOUFFER’S® FIT KITCHEN® is a great option! STOUFFER’S FIT KITCHEN and LEAN CUISINE® entrées can deliver solutions that fit a variety of dietary needs and busy schedules. Within minutes, you have a prepared entrée, with varieties that are high in protein, meatless, gluten-free, and made with organic ingredients, so there’s something for everyone. This STOUFFER’S FIT KITCHEN Teriyaki Chicken contains 24g of protein, no artificial flavors, and is made with white meat chicken, rice, and vegetables in a savory teriyaki sauce. Preparing a high-protein entrée can be quite time consuming, so this is a really good midweek shortcut.

SIMPLIFY BUSY SCHEDULES: TAKE BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Physical breaks and mental health breaks are super important ways for me to just chill out and collect myself before continuing on with my work. A great way to do that is to enjoy a meal outside. My patio area is super relaxing. I can hear birds chirping, enjoy the sunlight coming through the trees, and relax briefly before returning to work. Make time to get in a good stretch, listen to a few songs, enjoy nature – whatever helps to remove some of that feeling of being too busy.

SIMPLIFY BUSY SCHEDULES: ORDER GROCERIES ONLINE

If you’re really looking for a time saver, order your groceries online through Walmart Online Grocery. Simply search for the items on your shopping list, place them in your basket, and pick them up at the designated pickup area. This saves you the hassle of walking through the store, trying to find all the groceries on your list, and possibly forgetting a few along the way. Buying From An Online Fishmonger is a great way to simplify busy schedules!

What’s your favorite easy-to-prepare high-protein meal?

Pin these ideas to Simplify Busy Schedules!