Traditionally, January bustles with activity, making it one of busiest months of the year. We are starting week three, and if these past weeks have been anything like mine, it hasn’t been easy for you either. How do you keep your shit together when it is crazy busy?

Here are some tips to help along the way. Hopefully, they will keep you from slipping over the edge to crazy.

1. Embrace the word NO! This may not be your usual style, yet it will help keep you sane. Does it feel uncomfortable? It may, saying no is not natural for some of us. It’s a learned skill. The more you use it, the easier it will become.
2. Be choosey. Do the things you need to do and the things you want to do. You are allowed to say no (see 1.) You don’t have to have a reason and you don’t need to justify it to anyone. If you don’t want to do it – don’t.
3. Take some time for you. I am not saying take the day off; it could be 15 minutes a day for you to center yourself for the rest of the day. Every morning I get up a bit earlier and have coffee on my deck before the day starts. Sometimes, this is the only time I have alone until the kids go to bed and I won’t give it up for anything.
4. Resist the urge to do it all. Here is the deal – you can’t do everything, no matter how much you think you can. You need to make choices based on what you want. Don’t let that voice in your head tell you otherwise. If you try to do too much, you end up losing. Things end up being half-assed and you’ll be on the verge of losing your mind.
5. All work and no play make you crazy. Even when you’re swamped, take the time to do something fun. Laughing, being silly and enjoying yourself goes such a long way. You have to take time to enjoy life, not just putting your head down and getting shit done. It’s all about harmony – I think balance is bullshit, I strive for harmony. Some days I work too much, and some days I don’t. I look at the big picture versus the day to day).

These are just a few tips to keep you off the crazy train. As you are going through your day remember, this is your life, and it’s your choice on how you spend your time. Take a moment, check in with yourself before you keep going.