The Moment I Stopped Overscheduling My Life

One day, when my son was in elementary school, I had scheduled a dentist appointment for him immediately after school. I had allowed just enough time to pick him up, race to the office, and rush inside. I told him ahead of time so he’d know we needed to be quick.

As he got into the car, I said, “Hurry! We’re going to be late!”

I sped off, sighing and muttering under my breath, already feeling the stress build. Then he asked me, “Mommy, what happens if we’re late?”

I paused.

I tried to calm myself and come up with an intentional answer. And when I really thought about it, I realized… basically nothing would happen. The worst-case scenario was that we’d have to reschedule and come back another day. We weren’t in any real danger—yet my tone, body language, and anxiety were telling a very different story.

That moment stopped me.

It made me realize how often I was creating unnecessary urgency in our lives—and how much it was costing me (and him).

So I made a decision: I would no longer schedule back-to-back activities, appointments, errands, or anything else on my calendar.

It’s just not worth the toll it takes on my mental health.

Here are three ways I avoid overscheduling now:

1. I use an old-school weekly calendar.
I intentionally spread out chores, exercise, appointments, Zoom calls, errands, self-care, coaching, and therapy across the week instead of stacking them into a single day. I keep my daily tasks separate from my entire to-do list.

2. I build in extra drive time.
I add at least 10–20 minutes to any commute to account for wrong turns, parking, or walking to the door. I’d much rather sit in my car for a few minutes than rush to get there.

3. I coach myself out of perfectionism and people-pleasing.
I remind myself that it’s okay to say no if my plate is full or my battery is low. I am not responsible for other people’s emotions. I am allowed to prioritize my needs.

If you would like support around this topic, or something else, please schedule a free consultation to chat about working together. I look forward to working with you.