Courtney Burkholder

Sometimes it feels as if I’m living in the midst of a tornado. Jobs, projects, meetings, appointments – they whirl through my day at lightning speed, then just when I’m ready to check one off my list, it comes twirling back again with another demand on my time. That’s the way most of us live our lives – on the brink of overextension; verging on breakdown; barely able to keep it all together, and at times, falling flat on our rears and screaming “I just can’t take it anymore!” I don’t dare leave home without my calendar - my right arm - for fear of suffering a brain lag and missing something important.

So how do those other women do it? You know the ones. They’re put together from the top of their sprayed, coifed hair to the tip of their painted toenails. They arrive at 8 a.m. meetings dressed to the nines and with full make-up. They have a full-time job, volunteer in their children’s classrooms, sit on several important boards, and still find time to attend book club and prepare healthy, delicious meals for their family.

Oh, and they have a smile on their face at all times.

What am I doing wrong that they are doing right?

I’ve been doing some snooping lately. I’ve watched these women from behind my sunglasses and taken notes. I’m determined to learn their secrets. Perhaps they have a magic wand tucked in their purse, or a full-time assistant on staff like all the big stars. Alas, no magic wand and no full-time assistant. But the constant smile is a sure sign that these women have found the secret to maintaining their sanity in a crazy world. Here are some things I noted as top priorities in their lives, and things we can add to ours:

Time management: Start your day a little earlier. Falling out of bed, scrambling through breakfast, then racing around as you get the kids ready for school will make the calmest person feel frazzled. Give yourself 20 extra minutes to have a cup of coffee, look over your day, and get organized. Having a simple plan of action can make an overwhelming day seem more manageable. Which brings us to our next goal …

Prioritize: As you’re planning your day, take care of the most important things first. You will feel less stressed if you have those big things out of the way early. But try not to procrastinate with the small things. If it’s on the calendar and on your list for the day, then do your best to get it done. An errand can carry over for a day or so, but don’t let it hang around on your “to do” list for weeks and weeks. Get it done.

Organization: That which is on my list gets done. That which is floating in and out of my mind does not. Write it down. Making lists is the key to keeping your busy day organized. Personally, I keep a special notebook for all my lists and I mark through each item as it is completed. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and keeps me plugging steadily along through my day.

Positive Attitude: Smile, ladies! No one is interested in your bad mood, your tired legs or your mile-long list of things to do. Everyone’s busy; everyone’s stressed; but not everyone has the ability to look past their own world and see how their attitude affects the world around them. “Those other women” we so admire “get it.” They’ve learned to smile in the face of chaos, and we can, too!