As I was working in my yard yesterday, I was struck by a metaphor.  Weeds had taken over a neglected area in the back of the yard.  With all the recent rainfall and the long summer days, they had spread rapidly, filling in every inch of open space around flowers and bushes. I knew if I didn’t remove them, they would rob the good plants of all the nutrients and sunlight, eventually choking them out.

There are activities in our lives that are like weeds.  If we aren’t careful, they’ll fill every bit of available space.  For me, these things include cleaning, laundry, yard work, emails, social media…things that are okay and even necessary to some extent, but that can easily expand to fill time.  These activities generally don’t add meaning to my life, and they aren’t really that enjoyable, yet they’ve been known to take over entire weekends.

We had been talking about leaving town this weekend to visit a friend who lives a few hours away, but late in the week, we decided that we shouldn’t go.  We were feeling behind, and tired.  We had to tend to the weeds — literally and figuratively.  This was a conscious use of time that improved my mental and emotional state.  I feel more calm because I’ve caught up on some things at home and don’t feel overwhelmed by them, and I still made space for social time and relaxation.  But if I don’t plan, I could spend every weekend puttering around my house, always adding more tasks to the to-do list and never reaching the end.  Weekends like that don’t leave me feeling rested and ready to tackle Monday.

I’ve found the solution is to schedule my free time.  Though some people might find that unappealing and lacking spontaneity, I’ve learned that it’s essential if I want to strike the right balance between enjoyable, meaningful activities and mundane tasks.   A few minutes of quiet contemplation on my drive home on Friday, or right after I wake on Saturday, can go a long way toward making my weekend more satisfying and rejuvenating.

There are two approaches to planning that can keep the weeds confined.  The first option is to think about the things you really want to do with your time, schedule those, and then force the weedy activities to stay in the margins.  The second option is to schedule the weedy tasks, but be strict about end times.  Tell yourself you will spend exactly one hour doing the most pressing chores, and when that hour is up, you’re done.  The rest can wait for another day.

Planning my free time helps me to realize how much free time I actually have.  It makes me feel less busy.  When I use my time intentionally, I don’t feel overwhelmed.  Instead, I make sure I spend at least some time in true leisure, saving space for creative pursuits, relaxation, social time, quality activities with family, and hobbies.  Instead of mindlessly hopping from task to task as I see things that need to be done, I can be more present and enjoy what I’m doing, knowing that the most important things will be done in due time.

Do you plan your evenings and weekends? How do you get the most out of your free time?

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