There’s a reason they call it the silly season. The calendar fills up fast, and suddenly your schedule is looking like the loungeroom floor on Christmas night and wondering how you ever thought that was a good idea.
But here’s the thing — this can happen at any time of year. It’s not just an end-of-year phenomenon. New seasons of life (like a new job, school term, family shift, or fresh goal) can kick off a wave of enthusiasm that sees us saying yes to more than we can actually handle. I’m definitely feeling it right now — my work schedule has picked up, and I’m noticing the telltale signs of overcommitment creeping in.
New seasons — literal or metaphorical — can bring fresh energy. A change in weather, a new school term, or a shiny opportunity at work can make you want to say yes to everything… until your calendar starts wheezing.
I’ve definitely been there. In fact, I’ve been known to go from decluttering a dusty garage in my activewear to a swanky dinner in heels with full make-up and hair, doing a complete wardrobe change in the busy car park of a shopping centre. Not ideal. But when your week is packed wall-to-wall, you make it work. Sort of.
It’s this kind of “say yes to it all” mentality that sneaks up on us — until we realise we’re racing from thing to thing without pausing to ask, Is this how I want to feel?
Whether you’re staring down your kid’s dance recital, a friend’s wedding, your own work deadlines, or all three in one weekend — this one’s for you.
Let’s talk about calendar clutter.
Time Management Is Really Just Energy Management
Sure, you can physically be in three places in one day. But will you be able to show up as the version of yourself you want to be? Energetically, mentally, and emotionally?
Overcommitting doesn’t just drain your time. It depletes your decision-making capacity, your emotional bandwidth, and your ability to rest.
So, when planning out your time, ask yourself:
- What will this cost me (in energy, not just money)?
- Is this the version of me I want to bring to this event or task?
- Who put this on my calendar — was it the me who wanted to say yes, or the one who didn’t know how to say no? Or the me that was feeling like Wonder Woman rather than the peri-menopausal potato I will be on Saturday afternoon?
Don’t Let Past You Set the Whole Agenda
We’ve all had moments of overzealous optimism — “Future Me will definitely be up for this four-hour workshop followed by dinner with friends and an early meeting the next day!”
But Past You didn’t know how tired Present You would be.
When you open your calendar and feel the dread, pause. Ask: Do I still want to do this? Is this still aligned with what matters most to me right now?
You’re allowed to renegotiate. Especially if the thing you booked was aspirational, not essential.
Leave Room in Your Schedule for White Space
We don’t just need time to do the things. We need time to think, reset, snack, scroll, recover from the hard things, and celebrate the good ones.
If your calendar looks like Tetris, with every block touching another — it’s time to declutter.
Create breathing room. Add buffer zones between appointments. Keep whole days blank when you can. You can even colour-code “unscheduled time” so it’s protected.
Decluttering Commitments vs Letting People Down
Let’s get real — sometimes what’s on our calendar isn’t just a time block. It’s a promise. A favour. A relationship.
This is where it gets uncomfortable. But boundaries aren’t about shutting people out — they’re about showing up well when you do say yes.
If your calendar is so full that you’re showing up frazzled, forgetful, or resentful, you’re not really serving anyone. Including yourself.
You’re probably forgetting to follow up on things between events, and then the snowball gathers speed as it rolls down the hill towards the town of Burnout – population: you.
How to Gently Say No (Even to Past You)
You don’t have to burn it all down. You can:
- Reschedule something for a less stressful week
- Decline the optional parts of a bigger event
- Ask someone else to take your place
- Let it go entirely and offer your sincere apologies
Sometimes the best way to honour your commitments is to admit when you’ve taken on too much.
Reminder: It’s OK to Miss Out on a Few Things
The Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is real — but so is the Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO).
You don’t need to do it all. You don’t need to be everywhere. And you don’t need to explain why you’re choosing rest, space, or stillness.
Apply the D.C.L.T.R. Method to Your Schedule
If your schedule is feeling cluttered, here’s a quick way to bring it back in line with your priorities using my D.C.L.T.R. framework:
Dream
Start with your dream week — not your idealistic one where you’re running marathons and batch cooking on Sundays, but your realistic dream. How do you actually want your days to feel? Calm? Focused? Spacious? Picture what balanced time looks like for you. That vision becomes your compass.
Curate
Take a hard look at your calendar. Which commitments genuinely move you toward your dream — and which just fill space? Curating your time means choosing what stays and what goes. Declutter anything that doesn’t serve the version of you you’re becoming.
Ask yourself:
- Is this essential or just habitual?
- Am I doing this out of joy or obligation?
- What would happen if I let this go?
Learn
Notice your patterns. Do you tend to overfill certain days? Say yes to the same kind of energy-draining tasks? Learning your rhythms helps you manage energy, not just hours. Maybe you’re sharper in the morning or crave downtime midweek — build around you, not the clock.
Try
Experiment. Try time-blocking, batching, or theme days. Play with how long things actually take. Set timers. Use the Pomodoro method or my favourite — the “I’ll just do 10 minutes” trick. Remember: progress beats perfection every time.
Reset
Every week (or every season), step back. Does your schedule still align with your dream? What needs to be adjusted or released? Resetting is how you keep clutter from creeping back in. White space is productive — it’s where ideas, rest, and joy have room to breathe. (More on Resetting here)
Need Help Decluttering Your Schedule?
Book a free call here: https://laurenwinzar.com.au/free