How to Live Life at Fullest When We Are So Busy?

i have 2 little ones and i try to make everything fun. of course house work isn't fun but dancing with the music on helps. running errands isn't fun but letting them have a special treat, like gum, helps. i also try to spend at least 1 morning dedicated for real fun. beach, park, happy hallow, bouncy house etc. at least 1 day is just for the kids. i think it's important to do the chores and errands with the kids so they know that is part of life. not everyday can be spent doing fun things, but you can make even the boring things fun! also, we plan 2 vacations a year and really get the kids involved and excited so there is something to look forward to. as for accomplishing things for myself, i dedicate 3 nights a week for workouts, and i have a "to do" list that i try to get 1 item a week done from. and i don't get down on myself if i don't!

My husband and my kids are my priority, everything else gets done when I feel like it! My house doesn't have to be spotless, phone calls/emails don't have to be immediately returned, I NEVER feel obligated to do what I don't want to, etc. We are all busy and have a lot going on but I guess I have gotten to the point that I realize how short life is and I figured out my priorities. I don't need to talk to my mom every day on the phone for her to know I love her, my kids know that if something were to happen to me that I will love them forever and want them to live a happy life, my husband is well taken care of...you get the picture. You can't stress about those things, you just do the best you can each day to make it as possitive and happy as you can for those who are most important to you. Everything else will get done when it does. =)

I completely understand how you feel!!! I make sure to talk to my parents (mom especially) daily. I usually talk to or see my dad a few times a week as well. I keep in touch with all my close friends by phone, email or FB. For now that is the best I can do since we all work different schedules/have kids at different ages. We make sure to plan something with all of our friends and their families every few months. I participate in Girls Night Out once a month to reconnect. I tell my hubby how much I love him every day and make sure I leave little notes or texts when I'm not around so he gets it. But I do also get caught up with cleaning house, straightening up, etc. Most of the time during the week, I do not spend a whole lot of time 'playing' with my kids...but I usually get an hour in each day of playtime so I figure that's good. I make sure to read to them nightly so they have a good bedtime routine that they will hopefully keep in their memories as they get older. I also scrapbook so all the big (and not so big) events in our lives will be captured for my children and their children. I feel lucky because my husband is home with the kids during the week and has his own time with them then I get that on the weekends while he's at work. I miss my kids, but do not feel guilty being away from them because I KNOW it's good for all of us! At least 1-2x a month my husband and I take one kid and have a special outing (or just playtime at home) so we are each connecting with them as individuals. So sorry no tips that I can offer more than that. Oh one thing I do is journal every month or so - I caputre all that has happened in the past month with our lives. It's fun to look back a few months ago and see what direction we were going with whatever (adding on, moving, TTC, etc).

I will be going off my birth control pills shortly so I realize that our lives will change once I do become pregnant so I'm trying to live each day NOW to the fullest..I am often looking to the future and what it will bring, so I am attempting to focus on what we have now! Thanks for reminding me to do that :)

Ecclesiastes 3:1, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Just be present in where you are, when you are there. It's simple. :-)

I have 4 kids one of which is now grown and out of the house (at least for now :-)
Another is grown but still at home and two are in still in school. The family as a whole is pretty involved in our church (we serve as needed) and we also are active in the Christian Motorcyclists Association (ministry) and DH and myself volunteer a lot at the high school on behalf of the Athletic Boosters. Despite all the busyness we have though there is one rule that is adhered to: FAMILY FIRST. If it's a choice between serving at church and being at an event for one of our children our kid comes first. If one of the kids has the option of hanging out with friends but a family member has something going on then the choice is made: FAMILY FIRST.
I tell my immediate family members that I love them EVERY time they leave the house or that I talk to them.
Both of my parents are gone now-they died when i was a kid and a young adult so I don't have the responsibility of talking to them :-(
I've never been a "neat freak" but my house is not my top priority. We clean the bathroom about once a week or so (or when company is coming :-) and I vacuum or sweep a couple of times a week. I do my best to encourage everyone to put away their things as soon as they are done with them and dishes are done daily, but other than those things my house is not ever going to be a showcase home and that's okay.
We don't have to do special things to make each other feel loved- we sometimes just spend an evening watching a couple of movies together or we'll play board games or even video games. Sometimes we just sit around our fire-pit in the back yard. Just being together is enough. But I do agree with what someone else said:
Whatever you are doing be there 100%

What a great question... feel the exact same way (never thought about it as a midlife crisis, but you may be on to something there! ). One friend gave me advice that was awesome... .regarding trying to balance working outside the home and having kids (and oh keeping your marriage healthy)... She said, "wherever you are, BE THERE 100%. Do you best in the moment (at work, w/ kids etc). The example you set for them when you are with them and NOT by how you treat others, and live your life is what they will remember and cherish. It helps to slow down a bit some times (at night before bed... maybe) and mentally or physically list all you are thankful for... the list is always longer than I think and I know then I need to slow down. The only other advice I have is to do what you are doing... make certain things a priority and say "no" sometimes to things that aren't

I think it is great that you are aware and making this a conscious decision in your life. That is probably the most important step. I am also committed to trying to live a balanced and happy life for me and my 7 year old son. After a divorce from his dad after ten years of marriage, my priorities became even more crystal clear. After much thought and effort I have created a life in which I work for myself doing something I love, I have built and maintained friendships with people that I love and who enrich my life and try every day to be the kind of mom, daughter, sister, friend that those in my life truly deserve and can count on. Yes, sometimes the rat race catches up with me and draws me in to its never ending cycle, but I just have to hear my son ask me to play with him or my pets to rub up against me to realize that I've lost focus on what truly matters. I think if you start everyday focused on who and what is most important to you, maybe in the shower or even blow drying your hair, it helps keep it at the top of your mind. I think at the end of the day it is also helpful to think about the special moments your shared with someone you love and be thankful for all that you have in your life then you go to sleep remembering what matters most. It helps me to keep a notebook by my bed to write down things you want or need to do the next day so you can keep your mind free of chaos and have a good sleep to be recharged for what the day ahead will bring. Enjoy and cherish everyday and everyone that is in your life and remember at the end of it all, the most important thing is the impact you made on those in your life and the world around you.