Recently I packed up the greater portion of my children’s toys. I was tired of the mess, the clutter and the constant bickering. I was also tired of the repeated nagging requesting them to clean up their room. I wasn’t sure of what the result would be. I expected some complaining, but I wondered how long it would take for them to tell me that they were bored. I was surprised at the results. They play longer and better. They have only asked for one or two specific toys, and they are willing to clean up when asked.
In a lot of ways this is a good comparison to cleaning up our priorities and putting first things first. As we look at our lives are we allowing so many things into our lives, that we are struggling to accomplish anything? Are we overwhelmed by the mess and the clutter of being too busy so that we don’t get the most important things done?
If we are feeling overwhelmed, it may be time to declutter. We can choose only the activities that are the most important and cut everything else out of our lives. We can do the same for the activities that our families choose to participate in. It is important to choose the things that are the most important. When I packed up the toys, I let my children pick their five favorite things. Similarly we can pick our favorites.
Of course it is important to put the Savior and the gospel first in our lives. This will help you to accomplish more in your life. And you will have a greater sense of peace and purpose in your life.
As I have gone through stressful times in my life, I’ve found the necessity of paring back on the other stuff. My husband often asks why I do certain things when I just don’t have to. While it is beneficial to attend story time, play group and girls’ night out, if these things are getting in the way of having a good family life you may need to skip them. (At times these things also support having a more balanced peaceful life, but there are times when they may not be.) It is important to find a good balance for yourself.