Ever feel like you are drowning in the circumstances of life? Yep, me too. My taxes are clamoring to get done, a pile of writing assignments is sliding off my desk, and a sick husband needs some orange juice from Trader Joes. And, oh dang, I just noticed that my printer is out of paper.

Here are 4 things you can do when faced with a day that seems out of control:

1. Smile and say,

“Oh well, not everything is going to get done today, but it will still be a good day.”

God knew my agenda today before I did, and apparently, my version of the agenda was outdated. (Noted and attitude adjusted.)

2. Decide what doesn’t have to get done today

Then give yourself permission not to do it.

Three months from now I won’t even remember what I did or didn’t do today. So this morning when the panic button was hit, I chose what I felt were the most important things needing to be done and delegate the other chores to another time. (Big sigh of relief.)

3. Call in reinforcements

Really—even a little help can make a difference. Only comic book heroes save the world alone.

I called my prayer partner, Vickie, for prayer support and assigned dinner to the crockpot.

4. Allot a certain amount of time to finish one project 

Then focus on what is before you. Turn off the phone and avoid your social networks until you have finished. Then give yourself a 10-minute break to check your Twitter updates and Facebook stream. But be ruthless—at the end of your well-earned break, begin the next project.

Still a ways to go before I hit my second break, but I’m getting there. The taxes will get my attention shortly.

And yes, Tom did get his orange juice from Trader Joes.

Now it’s your turn: If you could add one more thing to my list, what would it be? (Click on the “comment” below to share your thoughts.)

Susan Gaddis, Helping you build your spiritual legacy

To find more on this subject; see my post on How to Get Something Done When You Don’t Want to Do It.

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