My therapist suggested this week that maybe my life is too full. You think? I have three kids, I work and I go to school. In the cracks I manage to fit in several hefty hobbies and a half-decent social life. And I juggle all of this with a chronic illness.

I love my life, but it’s no secret that I am maxed out more often than not. I tumble from deadline to appointment to bed with hardly a breath in between. If it wasn’t for some coping techniques I’ve developed over the years, I might go insane.

(Full disclosure: I might already be insane.)

One practice I’ve had for years is to not schedule more than one extra item in any given day. So if I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday, I try to arrange to meet a friend for lunch another day – any other day. Sticking something outside my normal routine into my day means I’ll be expending more energy than usual. If I don’t want to run out, I need to plan carefully.

Another scheduling technique: I always leave one day a week with nothing scheduled. That doesn’t mean I don’t do anything that day; but it means I don’t have to do anything, be anywhere, or get dressed. I usually spend that day (Sunday, most weeks) cleaning the house, catching up on laundry, catching up on homework, catching up on sleep, catching up on my favorite shows or trying to catch up to my children. The point is that my brain gets a vacation that day – I have no deadlines, no appointments, nothing to worry about.

Also on the weekends: I avoid caffeine. I need it during the week, to function, stay awake, or stave off migraines, but it takes a toll on my body. I give my system a break for a few days each week to avoid turning into a jittery wreck.

I make sure to plan things into my life that I find rejuvenating. Writing, cooking, reading, swimming; things that may serve a practical purpose, but also minster to my inner soul.

Finally, I say no. I’ve learned how to tell when a commitment is pushing my limits while not delivering enough benefit to make the stress worth it. It’s taken some practice, but I’ve gotten to the place where I can say “no” without guilt to social obligations, school activities and even work projects.

If I let any of these practices slide, I end up in a place where I “can’t even”. I’m emotional, nonfunctional, and not very happy. But with a little care and intention, I manage to pull off what most people see as an impossible feat.

What techniques do you use to help you “even”? How do you balance your responsibilities with your needs? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!