You guys, May is possibly the busiest month of the year. Can I get an Amen on that! Also, we are tired. Summer is so close and yet so far away. So here’s the deal. You have 31 days. Just 31 days until June hits and you can do it. You can sail through this month like you own it. Here are my tips on making this crazy month just a little easier…
1. May Day is over. If you didn’t do May Day baskets and are starting to feel guilty, get over it. There is no re-do.
2. Say “No.” Get this… it is okay to say “No” to things this month. So if your best friend is throwing a Norwex party… gracefully say no. There are no prizes for doing things that you don’t have the capacity for.
3. Buy your cards in bulk… today. May is full of birthdays, graduations, and let’s not forget Mother’s Day. Think ahead what cards you need, purchase them, pick an hour this week to write them out and then cross it off your list. (Just don’t forget to send them.)
4. There are a billion cute ideas on Pinterest you can use to thank your kids’ teachers for spending the year with them teaching and them all the things. Stay away. From a close friend of mine who used to teach second grade, “They just want gift cards.” So see #3 on my list. Get a card, get a gift card, make your child write a thank you, and move on with your life.
5. Have low expectations for Mother’s day. (Enough said)
6. Give yourself permission to not attend every event your child has. If your oldest has a baseball game on a Tuesday night and it is adding undue stress, don’t go. It’s okay. There are so many more. Spend that time with your middle catching up on homework, or folding the piles of laundry as you mentally tap out while listening to a podcast. It’s okay. Create space.
7. If you see an empty spot on your calendar, BLOCK IT OFF. Again, create space. If there is an evening with nothing planned, intentionally grab it. Have a sit-down dinner at home, go for a family bike ride, watch a movie with popcorn… or while folding laundry. Family takes priority so don’t neglect it in the busyness of the season.
8. Give yourself permission to make meals easy. I rarely feed my kids hot dogs. And yet, in the month of May, they make their way into my refrigerator and are used for dinner. Get this… my kids love them. It’s a win, win. You can make gourmet, healthy meals in June.
9. This month the birds are like little chirping alarm clocks before the sun is even up. So wake up with them out of the dark days of winter and try to get two more things done before breakfast. Maybe that is working out or spending quiet time in the Bible. I am not a morning person, but with the birds singing and the sun peaking out, it’s just a little easier.
10. Be present. Don’t tap out because you are overwhelmed. Slow down. Breathe. This is my favorite month. Even though my birthday was on my graduation day and my cake had to multitask and say “Happy Birthday Graduate,” it’s still my favorite. Enjoy it. Go easy on yourself. After all, summer is just around the corner.
