May is the climax of spring in all her glory. It’s graduations and purple blooms and recitals and weddings and concerts and planting seeds and the wrapping up of allllll the things. May is the month of celebration, but it can be overwhelming if we aren’t intentional with how we walk through it. Let’s talk 5 Ways to Simplify May.
5 Ways to Simplify May
Do a Brain Dump
This is my go to tool when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I grab a notebook and write down every date, to-do, and random thing hanging out in my mind. If you’re more of a digital gal, open your Notes app and make a list. A Brain Dump relieves our minds of holding all the information and gets it in one spot. It helps us successfully achieve tasks before the tasks become emergencies. A Brain Dump is one simple way to relieve stress before May gets here.
Get Alllllll the Things on the Calendar
If you’ve done a Brain Dump, this is a great next step. Sift through the Brain Dump list and put all the things on the calendar. Programs, recitals, birthdays, graduation parties: get all these things in one place on a paper or digital calendar. This will ensure nothing will be forgotten.
Purchase Gifts and Cards Now
If your calendar is up to date, this is an impactful way to simplify May. As we know, there is a lot going on in May and many times there are gifts and cards to purchase for all the celebrating. Make a list of gifts and cards you need to purchase for the next month. End of year teacher gifts. Graduation cards. Wedding and birthday and Mother’s Day presents. Make that list and set aside some time to purchase and prepare those gifts and cards now so you it doesn’t sneak up on you in May.
Monthly Meal Plan
Meal planning. Whether you love it or loathe it, this may be the month to embrace it. I usually do a weekly meal plan, but in May I will do a monthly meal plan to make life simpler. I have 31 days of dinners planned out and while they aren’t specific with the actual date, I will have all the items on hand at the beginning of the month so I don’t need to think about dinner. Yes, I still have to prep and cook, but the brain work is already done.
A monthly meal plan will be a stretch for some of us (it is for me). If that’s the case, think about a meal delivery service like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron or prepping some freezer meals to have on hand for busy nights. We all operate differently when it comes to dinner time. Although a monthly meal plan isn’t the way our family normally does dinner, it helps to simplify this month for us.
Prioritize
We’ve all heard this word and it’s probably extremely overused. However, when it comes to May, this is the name of the game. Prioritize what actually needs to get done and let go of the rest. Each one of us will have different priorities based on our preferences, values, and what is on our calendar this month. A practical way to get clear on priorities: Look at your Brain Dump and circle or highlight things that need to happen this month. This is a good time to do a gut check and reflect if these are the things that are actually important to us. Be okay with letting everything else wait.
For many of us a Mother’s Day card for our mom is a priority. For most of us, doing a basement overhaul won’t be a priority this May. If you’re like me, you might have a fantasy to-do list. Let’s put that aside for this month and pick it back up after our calendars feel a little lighter.
May is the month of celebration. Let’s embrace and be present for all the celebrations both big and small. Let’s simplify, plan, and prepare so we can enjoy this month with the people we love. How will you simplify May?
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