The season is upon us!

Markets and Bazaars.
Events and Experiences.
Performances and Pop-Ups.

The temptation is to fill the calendar and cram in as much as possible because the desire to see and do it all is so great. And then comes the overwhelm and burnout, where every conversation includes, “I’m SOOO busy!” and the season feels heavy and, well, kinda of burdensome.

This year CAN be different.
This holiday season CAN be filled with activity AND balance; joy AND peace. How? Intentionality.

Before filling your calendar and responding to invites, take some time to pray about what God wants in your holiday season; for wisdom and discernment. Consider what non-negotiables you have and decide NOW how much busyness you really want, and how much is healthy for you and your family. Define and know your priorities.

Curate a calendar with activities that include family and friends and yourself. Curate a calendar with flexibility for the unexpected. And curate a calendar that intentionally promotes time with the Lord and time to relax and refuel.

Opportunities abound and they are popping up on feeds en mass. Pull out a blank calendar or simple piece of paper and make a list of things that are drawing your interest. Plot it ALL out so you can see how things overlap or run back-to-back, what the cost of each activity is, and how much time or distance is involved for each activity. Then you can get a real sense of how the upcoming weeks may look and feel.

It is so tempting to try to do it all. That usually leads to chaos. Intentionally curate your calendar so the calendar does not control you. Saying “no” is okay. Protect your family and/or personal time and your peace.

A carefully and creatively curated calendar calms the chaos and captures more joy of the holiday season.

Start this holiday season with the right focus and purpose, and may it be a true blessing to you and yours.

#loveonpurpose and #LiveYourFaithBoldly