Systems, Systems, Systems! All systems go!

Welp, three and a half years into the pandemic, we finally got Covid. My husband was taken down first and then the three-year old and I got it simultaneously, followed by the baby the next day. Woooo. It was rough. It lasted about two weeks and all I can say is I am so grateful we dodged it this long and we were not in lockdown with a toddler at the peak of the pandemic – two weeks was plenty!

I’ve talked about systems before but our systems were what kept me afloat the first few days of getting knocked out. Our fridge was stocked because I meal planned and shopped; our house stayed (relatively) clean because we have a system in place for maintaining it daily and even feeling pretty crummy, we kept up with the minimum; and, I wasn’t derailed by internet shopping (which was all I wanted to do when I was laid up in bed) because we have a spending plan. My calendar system allowed me to seamlessly move things around and only tackle the absolute necessary. These systems were my rock.

I often hear people say that their life is too chaotic for systems. When it calms down, then they will be able to put systems in place. But the reality is that systems contain the chaos. They allow for structure when everything is changing because changing is the status quo. While it ebbs and flows, change will never not be. Something in life will also present a challenge or feel hectic. Systems are the backbone to keep everything together amidst the chaos.

On the other hand, when everything is going well, systems operate seamlessly and unnoticed in the background. They give you space to focus on more important tasks, think more creatively, and operate more exceptionally. Systems clear up mental space.

When things are not going well, systems provide the room to obtain control. When things are going well, they let you operate at an even higher level – leaving small decision making behind and giving space to focus on what’s important.

It wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t have systems in place and frankly, wondered what they were! Today, I look for opportunities to implement systems that might make aspects of my life a little easier and give me more time for the things that really matter.

What systems do you have in place and how do they support you?