Too Much

Does anyone feel like there is simply too much in their life right now? Too much to do, too much stuff, too many responsibilities.

Ben and I stayed up late talking last night about parenting issues we're having after reading this article. Our conversation turned to we can reduce the stuff in our life and increase our gratitude, both for ourselves and the kids. I've been reading a lot about minimalism and have been really inspired.

Then this morning I woke up with a mile long to-do list rolling around in my head. I just laid the kids down for naps and sat down with a huge sigh. Where did all this come from?! I was managing so well and then suddenly I get overwhelmed again. Summer is supposed to be a time for long free days, but I'm not feeling like that at all.

I'm making it a goal to reduce stress, eliminate clutter, and find time for what is important. Here are a few specifics for me:

Intentional Mornings: Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you I'm not a morning person. I hate getting up before 8 am, and I stay in my pajamas as long as possible. I've discovered since having kids, though, that mornings are crucial to how our day turns out. If I'm cranky and tired our whole day is off. My goal is to get up half an hour before the kids do and try a few of these ideas to improve my mornings.

Dedicated Productivity: At this moment, I'm grading papers, writing this blog post, going through photos, and answering emails. I'm going to take a wild guess and say I'd get a whole lot more done if I was doing one thing rather than all four at the same time. I am hoping to restructure my free time (do you hear my laughter? free time?! come on!) schedule so that I get more done. I'm thinking nap times for grading papers, evenings after the kids are in bed for blogging or reading, etc.

Simpler Clothes: A lot of bloggers have been posting about capsule wardrobes or pairing down their clothes lately, and I'm really loving this idea. I spend way too much time in the mornings wondering what on earth to wear, so I find I end up in yoga pants most day. I'd like to look presentable but not put a lot of effort into it. I'm thinking it's time for a "Momiform" if you will- basics that I wear most days to help me stop wondering what to wear every morning. I haven't quite nailed this down yet, but so far I've got my Everlane t-shirts, Gap Factory jeans (exact), and some simple jewelry from Target. I'm hoping to post more on this soon.

Declutter: I LOVE going through things. I find such a satisfaction in getting rid of things I don't need. After reading The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up I know that Marie and I could be best friends. That book made my soul sing. It's actually a problem to the point that Ben going through stuff before I donate it. It's funny, though, how much stuff we still accumulate. Our toys are out of control and I have stuff tucked away that I need to go through. I'm hoping to take some evenings this month to declutter at a more basic level. I'm asking myself "Do I need this now?", not wondering if I should keep it for years to come.

What about you? How are you simplifying your life this summer?