{"id":100241,"date":"2020-07-09T13:37:49","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T19:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/?p=100241"},"modified":"2020-07-09T13:37:49","modified_gmt":"2020-07-09T19:37:49","slug":"weekly-schedule-overload-3-questions-to-ask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/articles\/topics\/marriage\/marriage-challenges\/busyness-and-stress-challenges\/weekly-schedule-overload-3-questions-to-ask\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Schedule Overload? 3 Questions to Ask"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

The cadence of our weekly schedules matter. Especially now that we\u2019ve enjoyed a respite from most activities outside our homes, the big question hovers: what will I welcome back onto my calendar?<\/p>\n

I often find myself reminiscing over the activities of childhood. Dance class and other calendar items filled my soul and shaped who I became. But in prioritizing those activities, I also chose not to prioritize others.<\/p>\n

For instance, singing with my city\u2019s children\u2019s choir was a treasured slice of my weekly schedule. We traveled to festivals, serenaded wedding guests, and sang at professional sporting events.<\/p>\n

But then my sophomore year rounded. Optimistic as we were, one week of racing to the car after class to avoid a tardy mark told my parents choir would have to go. It wasn\u2019t worth the stress.<\/p>\n

And while I missed this joyful outlet in my week, the Lord filled my time differently that year in future-shaping ways.<\/p>\n

Your weekly schedule is in your hands<\/h2>\n

With the break from activity summer brings, it\u2019s also a great time to reevaluate how your family spends their time the rest of the year.<\/p>\n

Some of us will be tempted to revert, word for word, to our old schedule: Husband\u2019s Thursday night racquetball \u2026<\/em> Wife<\/em>\u2019s Wednesday coffee with friends \u2026 Child 1#\u2019s Tuesday\/Thursday soccer practice \u2026 <\/em>You get the picture.<\/em><\/p>\n

But others would rather leave this activity-free life untouched. (I\u2019m right there with you.) Yet all the old demands are resurfacing, and we have choices to make. What will we say \u201cyes\u201d to?<\/p>\n

As you pray through what\u2019s best for your family, here are some questions to consider when looking over your weekly schedule:<\/p>\n

1. Does this activity benefit the person involved?<\/h2>\n

While this addition to the weekly schedule may make you (or your child) jump for joy, it\u2019s good to think through the plusses and minuses of how it might affect them.<\/p>\n

For instance, would this activity leave them enough time to rest? Knowing the emotional, mental, and physical toll a lack of rest can take on us, sleep and downtime should be prized and safeguarded.<\/p>\n

Also consider whether this family member is mature enough to handle the environment. And I don\u2019t just mean the kids. For example, I\u2019ve heard some baseball horror stories of coaches screaming at parents and vice versa. The items entered into our weekly schedules should give space for character building, not character tearing.<\/p>\n

Additionally, would this activity leave time for their other priorities? If school, chores, or even going to church have gone by the wayside, maybe it\u2019s not the greatest fit.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Receive more encouraging content like this delivered to your inbox!<\/i><\/span> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>\n

2. Is this activity a strain on the family?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s helpful to ponder how the weekly schedule might influence the collective family.<\/p>\n

Growing up, my sister and I were regularly involved in extracurricular activities. But it wasn\u2019t until high school that they occasionally interfered with family dinner. According to my mom, it worked only because we still carved out family time before turning in.<\/p>\n

Every activity was pushed through this grid: does this promote or discourage consistent family time?<\/p>\n

Another thing to think about: do the benefits of the activity outweigh the sacrifices made for it? As with my family\u2019s decision to drop my choir involvement, factors as simple as stress are valid enough to cut something.<\/p>\n

Maybe your bottom line right now is the price tag. Some things are undoubtedly worth the investment and some aren\u2019t. Is this activity one of them? Or maybe the timing\u2019s off. Would it make a difference to your family if you commit to this activity now vs. later?<\/p>\n

Family values make a great standard if you\u2019re unsure of the fit. Don\u2019t have a clear set of family values? This quick assessment<\/a> can help with that!<\/p>\n

3. What are your motivations driving this activity on your weekly schedule?<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s one specific monster that threatens my weekly schedule. I\u2019m referring to FOMO \u2013 the Fear of Missing Out. Maybe you\u2019re acquainted.<\/p>\n

I hate the thought of not being in the group photo or for years hearing about that great time I missed. While it\u2019s not bad to desire memories and community, I have to assess whether it\u2019s really my insecurity or pride driving that desire.<\/p>\n

Even when it comes to ministry opportunities, I must ask God to search my heart for any impure motivations. Am I jumping at every chance to help for prideful reasons? Am I saying \u201cno\u201d because I\u2019d rather do something else? In both the \u201cyeses\u201d and \u201cnoes\u201d we must ask the Lord and obey His call.<\/p>\n

And lastly, have you considered how tightly your or your child\u2019s identity is tied up in this weekly activity?\u00a0Exercising the gifts God gives us is a beautiful thing, but if we begin placing our worth in them instead of Christ, we must consider if continuing is good for our heart.<\/p>\n

Your family\u2019s weekly schedule is no small matter. Trust that the Lord will give you wisdom when you decide what to say \u201cyes\u201d to (James 1:5<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\n

Copyright \u00a9 2020 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lauren Miller serves on staff with FamilyLife as a writer in Little Rock, Arkansas, though she\u2019ll always be a California girl. She graduated from Biola University and the Torrey Honors Institute where the Lord first planted in her a love for family and marriage ministry. As a single, she loves serving the youth at her church, watching British dramas, and reading a good book in her free time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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