By Lydia Walker Athey,
singer-songwriter, worship leader,
Rustic Songbird podcast creator

Do you ever see others around you who seem to be “doing all the things” and wonder if you’re missing the mark?

Maybe there’s some kind of secret code you don’t know about, with how to get everything done and still have flawless makeup and perfect hair?

I believe there are moments of chaos and moments of clarity in our lives. Sometimes the moments of clarity are caused by the chaos. Let me explain what I mean by that.

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to over-commit ourselves, and constantly be running ourselves ragged. Our schedules are full and we’re multitasking to fit it all in. But eventually, that lifestyle causes us to burn out.

Our schedules might make us feel like a hamster on a wheel. We feel like if we step off the wheel, everything will crash around us.

I’m here to tell you: Step off the wheel!

Take a breath; Press pause. Because guess what? It’s not the end of the world. Life keeps going, even if we take a break to rest.

Spoiler Alert: Doing it all doesn’t exist. Even people that seem to be doing #allthethings have to find balance and can’t do everything. 

It’s not about doing everything, but doing what’s most important. If we only do what’s most important to us, and leave the rest, it’s surprising how much time we have.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day. How we use it is up to us, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. That’s why it’s super important that we use the time we have for what matters most. Life is just too short.

I used to think that being busy was a sign of success, like a badge of honor. The thing is, we can be busy doing the wrong thing. You can be working hard in the wrong direction.

Being successful looks like doing less, but making more of an impact. Doing more of what you love, and less of the trivial things. That mindset shift helps to clear the clutter in our lives and on our schedules.

As humans, we are made to need space. Space to think, and to breathe. To give ourselves room for creativity, and for deciding what truly is important in life.

Finding balance means constantly adjusting. If you listen to your gut instinct, you will know when something is too much, or when it aligns exactly with where you want to go.

Too many times we try to do what we think others want us to do, or what’s expected.

I’m a yes person. I love to help people, I never want to feel like I’m letting people down. But one thing I’ve realized is that not everything has to be done by me. This was such a freeing thought!  Some things will turn out better… if it’s not done by me!

So, I would encourage you to ask yourself these questions when deciding what’s most important:

-Is this something that brings me joy, or do I cringe at the thought of it?

-Is this something that has to be done by me, or would it be better for someone else?

-Would doing less of this give me more time to do other things that matter to me?

Tips for Finding Balance:

As a busy mom of 2 little ones, making time for my songwriting, managing my podcast and leading worship at my church requires intentionality to stay balanced. Here’s some tips I’ve learned along the way that have made a big difference for me: 

1. Making a daily list of only my TOP 3 priorities to get done each day. Starting this habit was a game changer for me!  I now feel more productive without having a running To Do list that just got longer each day.  (See books in reSOURCEs at bottom to learn more).

2. “Time blocking” - Focusing for a certain amount of time to finish a task without getting distracted or trying to multitask.

3. “Content batching” - Doing a big chunk of the same thing before moving onto the next.  A personal example for me is filming multiple videos one day, editing them another day, and uploading them another day.

4. On-line scheduling ahead – If your business depends on social media, learning to automate your posts, emails, podcasts, etc. relieves the stress of manually doing things at a certain time.

5. Being consistent about getting enough sleep (e.g. going to bed early, on time), drinking enough water, eating when I’m hungry, and taking time to think.

6. Asking for help - Whether it’s a babysitter for my little kids, a house cleaner a few hours a week, or a video assistant to help me with my projects, I’m learning that it takes a village! To do big things without losing your mind, you need a team. 

7. Relying on God for daily strength, and giving myself grace as I’m learning to say no or putting new routines into place. It doesn’t have to be done in a day, it’s a process. With God on my side, I’ve got this!

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2

Prayer:

“Lord, guide me in my daily decision making, and show me what to say yes to, and what to say no to. Give me clarity on what is your will, and what is of the flesh. Lead me to only do what will leave the impact and the legacy that I was created for. May my life be a reflection of your strength, wisdom and grace. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

About Lydia Walker Athey

Lydia Walker Athey is a singer-songwriter and worship leader from Middle Tennessee. She is the host of the “Rustic Songbird” Podcast that features interviews with songwriters about their craft and process. She is passionate about music and motherhood. Her latest CDs are original "Lullabies", and a collection of songs for moms called "Made For This". You can find her podcast and products at www.rusticsongbird.com .

Girlfriend reSOURCEs

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less - “This book shifted my mindset on what priorities mean, and how to create more space in my life, by doing less better.” – Lydia Walker Athey

The Best Yes (Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands) - “This book will help you learn healthy boundaries to say no when you need to, so you can be more fully present for every yes.” – Lisa Hentrich