I feel like at this time of year it’s so easy to get lost in all the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday season. We spend so much time focusing on work parties, overnight guests, and finding that perfect present for our family members we forget that maybe all they really want or even need is our time. This year I wanted to be sure that one of the things I focused on was my family. Today for my Simplifying the Season series I have Brooke from Silver Lining sharing some thoughts on how to focus on the family, all year long.
how I simplify to focus on family–from Brooke at Silver Lining
When I found out I was pregnant with twins, the name of the game at our house was simplifying. We consciously found ways to make our lives more simple and streamlined, which left more quality time for our family. Now that the twins are 3 months old, I’m getting back into a good groove with everything – and I’m so addicted to simplifying that I want to keep up our new habits.
recognizing I can’t do it all
I’m inspired by the idea that, as a mother and small business owner, I can do anything, but nobody can do everything. I have to pick what’s most important to me.
For example: I started paying every single bill automatically, online, the first day it comes out. Setting up auto bill pay has eliminated lots of time and mental energy that used to be spent remembering deadlines and writing e-checks each month.
choose what’s important
It also means choosing what’s important. At a recent church party, I signed up to bring two dozen cookies. It was a crazy crazy week, and it came down to the last afternoon before the party. I knew I could either spend an hour making two dozen cookies, or I could spend that same hour comforting my very sad toddler. I chose my toddler, and we swung by the grocery store for two dozen cookies on the way to the party. And guess what? Nobody even cared that our cookies were store bought! Nobody even noticed! But I’m willing to bet my toddler noticed, and her day was noticeably different because I simplified and chose family.
These pictures are from a recent family walk we took in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. It’s right across the street from us, and we love to put everything down and just get outside for a little bit. Family walks are one of our favorite ways to simplify and be together as a family.
Brooke is a blogger, photographer, wife, and mother to three (including infant twins). Her family currently calls Arizona home and you can find all of her archived blog posts at www.silverliningtheblog.com. All of the beautiful desert pictures included in this blog post are courtesy of Brooke.
How are you simplifying this holiday season? How do you choose to focus on family?
You may also like these blog posts in my Simplifying the Season series:
Simplifying the Season: What it Means to Me
What a Christmas Tree Taught me about Simplifying the Season
13 Responses to #SimplifyingTheSeason: focus on family
Simplifying can def. be hard! In today’s world we are so go-go-go, we forget to step back and breathe. Sounds like you are doing a great job!
I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off before the holidays even started. I really am looking forward to a few days hanging out with the family. I hope your twins have a beautiful first Christmas Brooke!
Love this post! We’re doing something very similar this season and even taking away the mass amount of presence and making sure to do activities instead!
Focusing on my daughter is my favorite way of simplifying! When my day is crazy, I love to stop and watch her figure something out, or laugh at the dog. Great points in this post!
Since having kids myself I am all about simplifying my life. Even now as they are 8 and 14, simple life is better. I love having the extra time to give to my kids instead of worrying about a to-do list a mile long.
I love this. With four kids now, including our own set of twins, things get crazy around this time of the year especially!
I love your tip about paying bills online. I do that too, and you’re right it eliminates so much stress for me. Also, store bought cookies are around for a reason, nobody really cares who made the cookies, just as long as you can dunk them! Haha! Great job.
Love this! Simplifying life in general is key. I’ve been applying this principle to my life as well. Great post!
Great advice! It’s important to choose our priorities and family comes first 🙂
This is beautiful! I have been very drawn towards minimizing and simplifying all things in our lives since my second was born. It is definitely a work in progress but I feel it’s so important these days. Our holidays are all about family and finding joy in the season together. Nothing else matters as much.
I think during the busy and stressful holiday season it is more important than ever to simplify to appreciate the small joys!
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