Free your schedule one day a week

Pick a day, any day

Before you can obtain a free day, you have to determine which day will work realistically. Your boss probably won't approve of making Monday the day, and certain obligations such as your son's soccer Saturdays may have a similar bearing, as well. Pick a day that has the least obligations and ones that are most flexible (for example, grocery shopping can be done any day of the week).

Combine and conquer

If you are spending several days a week running errands, consider how you can either consolidate (do you really need to go to three different markets for certain specialty items?) or combine them. Write down all of your weekly errands and lump them into groups of location or convenience so you don't have to waste several days a week simply driving all over town.

Trim the fat

Dance lessons, foreign language classes, tickets to the theater, pet socialization classes... the list goes on and on. If your schedule is packed with activities for you and your children, think about trimming one or two. (Trust us: Your dog won't miss his socialization classes. Just be sure to take him for an extra walk around the block every now and then!) Check in with your children -- ask them to rate their favorite activities and do the same for yourself. Shave off the obligations that you aren't absolutely in love with or that you cannot fully commit to. Do you dread your monthly book club because you haven't actually finished one of the books in months? When you cut the extras loose, be sure to explain your reasoning behind it, so when you do find the time to pick up a book, you'll still have some girlfriends to discuss it with.

Stop being a "yes" woman

Ever stop to think that, perhaps the reason you are too busy in the first place is because you hate to say no? It's OK. You can still be a superwoman without committing to everything. When you are approached with a new commitment (say a neighbor asks you to join her cooking club), don't feel obligated to respond right away. Ask her a few important details about it (how often do they meet, what is required of the get-together, etc.), then let her know you'll think about it and get back to her.

Revel in your free day

We hereby give you a guilt-free pass. Do not for any reason feel guilty that you have cleared your schedule for one day a week. Use this day to replenish yourself and reconnect with your family. Plan a fun, stress-free outing such as a picnic, or simply challenge your children to a game of Go Fish. But whatever you do, do it fully. Be in the moment, and don't spend one single moment of that free day creating your mental to-do list for the upcoming week. After all, there's always tomorrow.