If you find yourself questioning if your schedule is too full, likely it is.

Feeling off, not yourself, lacking the zeal you once had for life, or that something is missing can contribute to feeling out of control. Crowded to-do lists and plans can be detrimental overtime on a life. But God did not design us to be continually moving, to be constantly exhausting ourselves.  He created us to rest in his love.

So here are 7 clear signs that your schedule is too full.

1. Your Mood Is Off

Finding yourself irritable, cranky, or emotional can be a side effect of a schedule that is too full.

Reactions to stress or overstimulation will vary from person to person. For some they will find themselves short-fused, not being able to catch their sharp tongue before it lashes out. For others, even a small inconvenience or frustration can result in tears.

Ongoing feelings of being cranky or grouchy are also signs that it is more than just your mood that needs help adjusting. It is natural when we feel stretched thin that our demeanors will become very sensitive to even the slightest issues when they arise.

Remember deep breaths and perspective are hands to hold when we need them. Placing things in their proper view and even stepping out of the situation for a moment of prayer, or quiet meditative breaths help bring stability when things feel engulfing.

2. You Have Trouble Being Present

Like Pavlov’s dog we have become trained to react at the sound of a bell or chime, but a schedule that is too full does not only have us trained in reaction, but taken away by distraction.

Even focusing on one specific topic or event becomes increasingly difficult as so much is swirling about in your mind.

Overcoming this requires intentional change. Shutting off a phone or electronic or placing aside, capturing wavering thoughts, or slowing down in general can assist in better focus on what is in front of you.

When you are able to be present in your life you have the opportunity to better enjoy your life.

3. Your Quiet Time Is Limited 

Our brains require free space and downtime beyond mere sleep at night. Having quiet time during the day brings better balance and ability to refocus your brain.

If your schedule is overly exhausted having a quiet moment or time away spent in prayer, Bible study, or reflection is likely very limited or non-existent. The results of this limited downtime can be detrimental and plague you with anxiety, depression, or feelings of little control in life.

Consider reserving time during the day that is non-negotiable for a moment alone in the morning, evening, or even during a lunch hour. Apps such as the Abide app provide guided scripture and prayer-based meditations to center and calm the brain.

Make it a priority that you give yourself time to connect with God and yourself so that you can find peace even during stressful times.

4. Your Sleep Schedule Is Off

Every human requires sleep, the human body is intrinsically designed to need a resting period daily. Often when our lives are beset by business the time to sleep is stifled, and even falling or staying asleep is a struggle.

During the day, you may find yourself always exhausted or tired leading to the evening with little hope for a full night’s sleep. Tossing and turning or the inability to turn off your brain enough to fall into slumber may occur, and likely stressful nightmares will pop up during the night.

Natural supplements such as melatonin can be very helpful to ease into rest, or the playing of soothing sounds. Make sleep important to your life, because without it health can decline.

5. Your Health Is Declining

Full schedules and declining health go hand in hand. Gaining or losing weight, increased blood pressure, anxiety, depression, or other health issues often occur from overworking.

Eating a healthy diet and moderate exercise are also a need for the body to retain health. If the only running you get is running from appointment to appointment that is not enough.

You get one body in this lifetime, so take care of it!

6. You Haven’t Seen Friends or Family

When schedules are too full it is likely that you have not spent time recently with those you care about.

Keeping up with family and friends is important, man was made for relationship with God and with each other. Even in Eden God sees Adam alone in the Garden and says it is not good for man to be alone, so He makes him a companion to connect with.

From the blueprints of man, it is evident that it is not good for man to be alone, and those schematics have not changed all these years later. Carve out time to connect with those important to you.

At the end of your life you will not find yourself wishing you had worked more, but you may find yourself wishing you had invested more in loved ones.

7. You Have No Passion

Passionless ruts of the mundane perhaps are the most prevalent sign of a weighed-down schedule. When the brain is constantly working and on the go at the same tasks, goals, or problems to solve it is easy to burn out.

You may have started off running and reaching successes quickly, but over time have found yourself uninspired or miserable.

Without the passion to keep going, it can be hard to continue. Take assessments of life and seek where you can find new passion or rearrange schedules so that burnout does not occur.

What Can You Do?

A full schedule in the world of today is not a rarity. We live in a society that operates and fuels itself on running on all cylinders all the time, but that is not what man was created to do on-going.

Make the decision to give yourself freedom and grace to reduce what all is on your schedule. Make your well-being spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially a priority.

You get one life on this planet, so spend it wisely.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes

Author C Logan