When talking with Prince families from all different stages of life, there seems to be a common theme. Everyone is extremely busy. From lower school to middle school to high school, no family is exempt from having a to-do list that seems to never end. Finding the balance between school expectations, co-curricular activities, church events, and family time can be a challenging but important task. Here are some tips to help achieve a healthy balance.
Prioritize:
As a family, identify what is most important to you and allocate your time accordingly. Make a schedule that includes schoolwork, cocurricular activities, church activities, and family time, and stick to it as best as possible.
Communicate:
Communicate as a family about your schedule and commitments. Talk about what is required of your time and what is not. This can help the entire family understand the priorities and make arrangements accordingly.
Make Use of Downtime:
Find ways to use downtime effectively, such as studying during your commute or doing homework during breaks in between co-curricular activities. Sometimes using technology as a time-wasting, escape activity can consume downtime before we realize it.
Using downtime for priorities will prevent the stress of priorities from piling up.
Be Realistic:
Set realistic expectations for yourself and your family and don’t overcommit. Remember, it’s okay to say "no" to certain activities or events in order to prioritize church, school, or family time.
Be Flexible:
Be open to adjusting your schedule as needed to accommodate unexpected events or changes in priorities.
