Planning is an effective stress management tool. Some may think of planning as yet 'another thing to do,' but it opens up both time and energy.
Think of it as mental clutter that you're clearing out by integrating planning into your life. When you plan, you'll at least have some sense of what's coming up instead of running about not knowing what the next step is, which is overall a time saver.
There's a bonus to planning. By focusing on the task at hand instead of worrying about what happens later in the week, you engage in mindfulness. Think of it for a moment. You're concentrating on what's in front of you instead of darting about worried about tomorrow's dinner. Creative mindfulness in action!
A few benefits specific to meal planning:
Take the daily chore/angst out of what's for dinner by knowing ahead of time
Save money by not wasting food
Eat healthier, which benefits everyone in the family
Other things you may be able to plan:
Backlogged on balancing your accounts or cleaning up the paperwork? Make a date on your calendar to tend to those
Think through what is on your agenda for tomorrow and make a plan for it the day before on a list that will eliminate running about trying to remember everything the following day
Plan time for yourself. Your life can be hectic, so add a 'me' date to your calendar, even for the smallest amount of time
Your days can get hectic, and time doesn't always allow for everything you'd like to get accomplished. Planning opens up time and energy and gives way to mental clarity. Calm mind – happier heart.
Life passes quickly, and our days can go by in a flash. What's important to you – really? Manically speeding through your days? Or finding ways to adjust so that you have more time for the important things like the chats with your loved one, the call to a friend you haven't spoken to in some time, or perhaps even that long soak bath you've been meaning to get to.
And by all means, don't forget to breathe. Take time, rather make time, for a couple of long deep breaths throughout your days. A quick and easy technique that can clear your mind and center your energy, giving way to calm and clarity. Which pairs perfectly with your new routine of planning!
Hugs,
Cyndi Mariner
Breathing Spaces
