Making decisions and prioritizing your time and energy are important, but sometimes it's the little things that can really save your sanity. If you're looking for small ways to simplify your life and keep things a little more manageable, here are eight "hacks" - ways of doing things a little simpler and easier - that can help:

1. Put the most important things on your calendar today!

Decide on the things you really want to do as a couple or a family, and put them on your calendar now - before it gets out of control. This simple step will help you keep things sane and manageable. So do it today!

2. Take a day to work on Christmas preparations by yourself

Try to find one day when you can devote the entire day to Christmas preparations - shopping, cleaning, cooking, whatever you need to do - by yourself. I know this is hard to do, whether you work outside the home or in the home caring for your children. But if you can figure out a way to do it, you can accomplish so much in that one day! So think about what it would take to make that happen. Consider taking a vacation day from work, swapping childcare with another mom, or enlisting your husband to keep the kids - anything that will allow you to spend 8 or 9 hours tackling a big chunk of your Christmas "to do" list.

3. Cook the turkey the day before your holiday meal

My aunt always cooked her Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey the day before the holiday meal, and now I do it too. It saves a lot of hassle on a busy day and frees the oven for other dishes. Cook it, let it cool a bit, wrap it well and refrigerate it. The next day, slice it just before the meal, arrange the slices on a platter and warm it up.

4. Clear the counters, empty the dishwasher, and fill the sink with soapy water before you start baking or cooking.

When you're getting ready to bake Christmas cookies, make food gifts, or cook a holiday meal, take a few minutes to get organized first. Clear and wipe down the counters, empty the dishwasher, and fill the sink with hot, soapy water, so you can rinse or quickly wash items you'll need to reuse. These simple steps will save time, stress and clean-up hassles.

5. Shop online as much as possible

A great way to reduce stress and save time is to shop online for as many gifts as possible. If you want to support local businesses too, then shop online for "big box" items and locally for unique and specialty items.

6. Make foil-lined baking sheets for kids to use when working on Christmas crafts or cookies.

Before working with children on Christmas crafts or baking projects, line large baking sheets with foil (those extra-wide rolls of foil work great for this). Then let each child work on a baking sheet to "contain" his or her project. (This is especially good for projects that involve glitter!) Cookies can be baked directly on the foil-lined sheets, and craft projects can be cleaned up by wrapping the mess up in the foil and throwing it away.

7. Make hot drinks for a crowd in a Crockpot

When you're hosting a family dinner or holiday party, make wassail or hot chocolate in your Crockpot. For Christmas dinner, I make a simple wassail with apple juice, cranberry juice, oranges and spices. I serve it in a Crockpot set up away from the main cooking area, along with a few simple hors d'oeuvres. That way people can serve themselves a drink and some snacks without getting in the way of the dinner preparations!

8. To save time on regular family meals, cook double batches of as many things as possible.

Unfortunately, my family still expects regular meals, even when we're in the middle of Christmas preparations! Yours probably does too. It's extremely inconvenient! So whenever possible, cook a double batch and serve it for several meals or freeze half for another meal. Crockpot meals like shredded beef for tacos or sandwiches and pulled pork are easy to double, as are many soup recipes.

Bonus hack just for fun - Make "Christmas dust!"

Grind traditional peppermint candy canes to powder in your blender or food processor and transfer it to a container that seals tightly. Use it to add a touch of peppermint to hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, and yogurt! Kids will love adding "Christmas dust" to all of those foods and more!

Editor's note: This article is an excerpt from Gaye Groover Christmus' free ebook, 75 Healthy Ideas for Your Life and Marriage this Christmas. It has been republished here with permission.

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One of the things I want to plan well this year is how to manage my weight during the holidays. Because, let's face it, the next few weeks are some of the toughest weeks of the year when it comes to eating well, controlling portions, avoiding mindless eating, and keeping emotional eating at bay.

Tough, but not impossible. I think it's entirely possible to eat well, enjoy holiday foods, and prevent weight gain during this busy time of year. And it hinges on taking just four steps, none of which are difficult or complicated.

Are you looking for a way to manage your weight too, as you navigate the next few weeks? If so, join me in taking these four steps to better health, less guilt and more peace of mind.

1. Don't allow the holiday season to become a six-week "eating season."

Yes, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas provide a lot of opportunities to eat - at family dinners, parties, church events, shopping trips, and many others. But those events don't happen every day - many days between now and New Year's Day are normal work, school and family days. And most days that include special events don't require you to eat holiday foods all day long. So don't let every day become a "holiday eating event," and don't assume that the next few weeks are a total loss with regard to managing your weight.

Sure, you want to eat Christmas cookies at the neighborhood cookie exchange. But you don't have to eat them the day before, and the day after ... and the day after the day after. And you want to eat dressing and mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes and pie for Christmas dinner. But you don't have to keep eating them in the days that follow - even if you have lots of leftovers. And just because someone brings holiday treats to the office or to your house, you don't have to keep eating them. Make a plan for eating normal, healthy meals and snacks on most days, and do some prep that will allow you to eat well in between the special meals and events.

2. Eat the holiday foods you really love, and avoid the ones you don't

Everyone has favorite holiday foods. Two of mine are pumpkin pie and ginger cookies. (And dressing. And sweet potatoes.) Maybe for you it's your mother's Christmas cookies, your neighbor's homemade candy, or your special coconut cake. So enjoy those foods, the ones that make the holidays special for you. Eat them, savor them and don't feel guilty about them. (I, for example, will be enjoying pumpkin pie with real whipped cream on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and maybe a few days in between!)

But many holiday foods don't hold a special place in your heart. And some of them are worthless junk that doesn't deserve to be eaten. You know, like the packaged cookies your co-workers keep leaving in the break room? Or the candy your kids bring home from various parties? It's junk - and you don't need it. So avoid those foods (get rid of them if possible) and save the calories for the ones you really love.

3. Move your body every day

Your body needs to move and be active every day of the year, but even more so during the holidays. Regular physical activity helps you deal with some of the downsides of the holiday season, including worry, fatigue, the "blues," and excess calories. It reduces stress, helps you feel energized, burns calories, and generally makes you feel great.

At this busiest time of the year, you'll think you don't have time for it. But make time - it's worth it. You don't have to go to a gym or do anything complicated. Instead, fit movement into your day and combine it with other activities. Walk for 30 minutes at the mall before shopping, walk with your husband after dinner, walk while your kids are at soccer or choir practice, work out with a DVD before your day begins, ride bikes or take a hike as a family on the weekend, or visit a walk-through holiday lights display. Schedule time for moving on your calendar - you deserve it, and you're worth the effort it takes to make it happen!

4. Drink lots of water and eat real food most of the time

Stay hydrated - it keeps you feeling great and helps your body function well. (Sometimes when you feel tired or hungry, you're actually dehydrated.) So carry water with you wherever you go, and keep a bottle or glass handy at home or work. If you don't like plain water, make fruit waters. I don't enjoy drinking water, so I have to remind myself frequently that my body needs it. And eat as much real food as possible. When you're not enjoying your favorite holiday foods, eat primarily fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, whole grains, and healthy fats.

This article is an excerpt from Gaye Groover Christmus' free ebook, 75 Healthy Ideas for Your Life and Marriage this Christmas. It has been republished here with permission.

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If the holidays often feel stressful to you, consider giving yourself and your family six special gifts this year. I can almost guarantee that these gifts will bring you more joy over the next few weeks than anything you will buy in a store.

1. Give yourself and your husband the gift of deciding

Instead of just letting things happen this year, work with your husband to decide what the holidays should look like for your family.

2. Give your children the gift of a mother who can relax and enjoy the season

Your children don't care if everything is perfect; they want the time and attention of a mother who is relaxed and happy. So let go of some things and enjoy your children's Christmas. When our children were young, I stepped back from the Christmas dinner preparations (even though they were taking place in my kitchen!) and let my mom and sisters who didn't have children do the bulk of the work. I felt guilty, but I thought that enjoying our children on Christmas day was more important than spending the day in the kitchen. And my friend Christina at Jugglig Real Food and Real Life has established an Advent book and reading tradition in her family that allows her to spend time relaxing with her children every evening of Advent. It's fantastic - I wish I had known about it when our boys were young enough to enjoy it!

3. Give your husband the gift of your time and presence

Christmas preparations will grab all of your time and energy if you let them, and husbands often get pushed to the side. So make plans several times a week to enjoy spending time together. Do some of the Christmas errands together and turn them into a date, like doing some shopping for the kids and then going out for coffee or dessert. Or do something fun or relaxing that has nothing to do with the season (sometime you just need a break from it!). If you can't get out of the house, put the kids to bed and watch a Christmas movie or another favorite movie. And be sure to make time for sex regularly, remembering that sex is about you too, not just your husband, and that it can be exactly the stress reducer you need!

4. Give yourself the gift of "enough"

At some point in the season (long before December 24!) decide that you have done enough, bought enough, planned enough, and prepared enough. Yes, some things will still need to be done, but at some point you need to start "gearing down" on preparations and "gearing up" on enjoyment. Because, as we all know (but somehow struggle to remember), everything doesn't have to be perfect. As a matter of fact, everyone in the family will enjoy the season more if things aren't perfect.

5. Give your family the gift of outdoor activity

Everyone needs exercise, so why not make it fun? Go outside almost every day as a family and walk, bike, hike, skate, sled, play soccer - whatever makes sense in your part of the country. The kids will burn off energy, you'll burn calories and reduce stress, and everyone will feel more relaxed.

6. Give yourself the gift of relaxation

Don't work yourself into a state of exhaustion every day, then collapse into bed every night! Take time at least every other day to do something that really relaxes you. Take a long bath, read a book, take a walk, drink a glass of wine, watch a Christmas movie, or have a cup of coffee with a friend. And be sure to do at least one simple thing to take care of your health every day.

This article is an excerpt from Gaye Groover Christmus' free ebook, 75 Healthy Ideas for Your Life and Marriage this Christmas. It has been republished here with permission.

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While you can't eliminate all the stress of the season, you can control and manage much of it. Here are six strategies for creating a calmer Christmas season for you and your family this year:

1. Assess your schedule, plans and expectations

What things are causing you the most stress? Are those things truly important, or could you let them go? For example, attending your children's school music program and planning Christmas dinner for your family are truly important, but finding perfect matching outfits for the Christmas Eve service and attending all of your neighbors' holiday parties probably are not. Take some time to identify the truly important things and to reconsider expectations that may be unrealistic. (You know, like my dream of serving a Christmas dinner that looks like it came from the pages of Southern Living!) If your goal is to enjoy a joyous, peaceful Christmas with your family, taking this step is essential.

2. Organize and prioritize your Christmas "to do" list

Once you've established your priorities, make a list of the things you'll need to do to accomplish them. Put the most important items higher on the list. Then use the list to plan your schedule for each day and week. Plan to accomplish most of your high-priority items before you devote much time to low-priority tasks. And try to group similar tasks, or those that can be done in the same location, together - you don't want to be running to the same mall or store 3 or 4 times if you can possibly avoid it.

3. Tackle one thing that's annoying you that can be done in 30 minutes or less

This might be a Christmas thing, or it could be a regular thing (maybe something on your Little Annoying Tasks List). Either way, pick something that's bugging you, something you can accomplish in 30 minutes or less, and just do it. Try to do this once or twice a week, and enjoy the satisfaction of being done with something that's been weighing on your mind.

4. Make time for your marriage

When things get crazy, it's easy to let your husband and marriage drop to the bottom of your "to do" list. But taking time to connect with him and spending time together can actually reduce your stress, rather than adding to it. And don't forget that sex is a great stress reducer! In addition, be sure to involve your husband in the Christmas plans and responsibilities, rather than becoming the "Christmas Commander" and trying to do everything on your own. Sharing the burdens (and fun) of the season with him can reduce your stress level too.

5. Go outside and take a walk

If you're too busy to take a walk every day, you're too busy. Really. A 30-minute walk is ideal, but a 15-minute walk is a good place to start.

6. Take care of yourself

Take a warm bath, read a book for pleasure, listen to beautiful music, watch a relaxing TV show or movie - anything you enjoy that relaxes you. Again, if you're too busy to do this at least every other day, you're too busy. Cross some things off your to-do list or assign them to someone else.

This article is an excerpt from Gaye Groover Christmus' free ebook, 75 Healthy Ideas for Your Life and Marriage this Christmas. It has been republished here with permission.

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Let's be honest. The six weeks between "getting ready for Thanksgiving" and "putting away the Christmas decorations" are some of the most tiring and stressful of the year. Most women feel exhausted just thinking about them.

But does it have to be this way? Does "the most wonderful time of the year" always have to turn into "the most stressful time of the year?" I don't think it does. At the very least, it doesn't have to become six weeks of total stress and complete fatigue. I think that we, as women, wives and mothers, have the power to make it more wonderful and less stressful. But we need to acknowledge and understand that power, then harness it to benefit ourselves and our families.

If you're yearning for a holiday season that's more about family, fun and joy, and less about obligations, money and stress, here are 5 things you can do to move in that direction. Consider taking these steps to enjoy the holidays now, before things really start to get crazy.

1. Figure out what you and your husband really want

What does an ideal Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas look like to you? What does it look like to your husband? Talk about it openly and honestly, and listen to what he has to say. Don't be surprised if your ideal holidays and his look very different. For example, decorating the entire house may be important to you, but mean nothing to him. And watching football with his family after Thanksgiving dinner may get him in the holiday spirit, but bore you to tears. So bring all of your hopes and expectations out in the open, and encourage him to do the same.

2. Establish your priorities

Now that you know what's important to both of you, establish priorities for your family. Make a list of the three or four things that are most important to each of you. Maybe for your husband it's spending relaxed time as a family and choosing gifts that will allow the family to have fun together. Maybe for you it's starting the holiday season with a clean, uncluttered house and entertaining small groups of friends. Let each other know, "This is what's most important to me over the next few weeks." Then agree to honor each other's priorities and make them happen. And recognize that, in doing this, each of you will probably have to forgo two or three of your "favorites." If you don't, you'll be right back to trying to do everything and driving yourself crazy.

3. Let go of things that don't fit your priorities

This is where things start to get difficult

In order to create the kind of holiday season you and your husband envision for your family, some things will have to go. You can't attend every event, accept every invitation, make every gift, create every craft, and decorate every inch of the house - not if you want to relax a bit and enjoy the things you determined are most important. Obviously, some activities are required - your children's Christmas program, your boss's holiday drop-in, shopping for gifts, cooking holiday meals. But some are not. So you may have to say no to your neighbor's dessert buffet, your aunt's Christmas cantata, your daughter's friend's skating party, or your sister-in-law's all-day shopping trip. Because you can't do everything, and this year you want to do the things that will make the season fun, relaxing and memorable for your family.

4. Plan the activities you really want to do

Choose one or two activities that each family member especially enjoys and schedule them now. Put them on your calendar, because that's the only way to make sure they happen. (In addition, when other things come up, this strategy allows you to say, "Sorry, we already have something scheduled.") Maybe your son likes to go for a hay ride and cut down the perfect Christmas tree, your daughter enjoys seeing the lights display at the local zoo, your husband wants to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and drink hot chocolate, and you love for the entire family to bake cookies together. Schedule those things and other favorite activities now; that way, you're certain to make room for them in your busy schedule.

5. Ask for and accept help

Chances are, your husband doesn't want you to drive yourself crazy over the next few weeks. And more than likely, he wants to help in ways that will prevent that from happening. But you'll have to tell him what you need. Yes, it would be great if he could just figure it out on his own, but he probably won't. Not because he's dumb, but because he's not you. So ask for help, then let him do what needs to be done. For example, for many years my husband has shopped for the Christmas gifts for our sons. We always talk about what we want to get for them, but then he does the shopping. Great - that's one less thing on my list. He's willing to help with other things too. I just need to ask, then get out of the way and let him do those things. Your husband is probably willing to do the same.

This article is an excerpt from Gaye Groover Christmus' free ebook, 75 Healthy Ideas for Your Life and Marriage this Christmas. It has been republished here with permission.

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But deep down, you know that you and your husband both long for love and intimacy and connection, and that those things are just as important as the other demands on your time and energy (maybe even more so). Sometimes you may feel a bit worried, even guilty, that your marriage isn't getting the attention it deserves. But you just can't see your way to making it a priority right now.

I want to encourage you, though, that you can in fact make it a priority - and not by turning your schedule upside down or completely exhausting yourself. (Although, at some point, you and your husband may want to rethink the way you manage your family's schedule.) Instead, make your marriage a priority by making very small changes in your daily routine. These changes can, over time make a very real difference in the joy, happiness and connection in your marriage.

Are you willing to give it a try? If so, here are 5 simple ways to strengthen your marriage today:

1. Give him a real kiss

Remember the way you kissed early in your relationship and marriage? Kiss him like that today. One good, long kiss that says, "You still do it for me. You're still the one for me."

2. Do one thoughtful thing for him

Over time, thoughtful acts really add up. We do them for our children, our sisters and our friends, but over time we tend to stop doing them for our husbands. So today, do one thing that will make him smile or make his day a little easier.

3. Thank him

As life gets busier and more hectic, we tend to stop appreciating the things our husbands do. We start thinking that those things are just normal, adult responsibilities and tasks that he's "supposed to do." And in many ways they are. But a sincere "thank you" still goes a long way. So thank him today for one thing he does for you or your family.

4. Unplug from electronics and social media

Sometimes, time and energy spent "plugged in" detracts from time and energy invested in our marriages. And believe me, I'm pointing that finger squarely at myself! At the end of a tiring day, my natural inclination is to fall into bed and scroll through email and Facebook. So if my husband and I haven't connected that day, I have to remind myself to put my phone away and spend time with him. So today, put down your phone, tablet or laptop and focus for a little while and focus some time and energy on him.

5. Touch him

It's ridiculously easy to get so busy that we don't actually touch our husbands for days. But our marriages need physical touch, both sexual and non-sexual - it's a big part of the glue that binds us together. So be intentional about touching your husband today. Hug him, put your arm around him, hold his hand, rub his leg with your foot, sit close to him on the couch, rub his shoulders, make love - anything that builds your connection with him.

Let's say you give it a try and do all of these things today. Then what? Then, do them again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. They aren't difficult, and they don't take a lot of time. But the effect of doing them regularly will add up over time, strengthening your connection and letting your husband know that he is one of your top priorities.

What do you think? Can small actions make a difference in your marriage? Have you tried making these or similar small changes?

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Calm. Healthy. Sexy. It has been republished here with permission.

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Are you worried about losing the "couple" part of your life for the next 9 months? Here are 10 ways to connect with your husband and keep the "couple" part of your life strong when things get a little crazy:

1. Establish your marriage as the primary relationship in your family

Have you and your husband set your priorities for this school year? If you value your marriage and want to keep it strong in spite of a hectic schedule, set a priority to establish it as the center of your family life. You won't be taking anything away from your children; you'll be adding to their sense of security and helping them understand what it takes to create a lasting marriage.

2. Control your family's schedule, rather than letting it control you

This doesn't mean your children shouldn't do activities, but it does mean you and your husband should talk and decide which activities are reasonable in terms of your family's time, energy and finances.

3. Make time to talk every day

When things get busy, it's easy to go for days without talking about anything other than schedules, carpools, pick-up times and errands. Be intentional about taking at least 15-20 minutes every day to really talk with your husband about what's going on in both of your lives. You can do it in the morning, right after work, before bed - whatever works for the two of you. My husband and I drink coffee in bed for about 20 minutes every morning and talk while we're waking up and preparing to face the day.

4. Go to bed at the same time, every night if possible but at least several times a week.

Going to bed together allows you to talk and unwind together and paves the way for sex and intimacy. Speaking of which"¦

5. Make love regularly

Yes, it takes time, and you're often tired. But it's critical if you want to stay connected as a couple. And it doesn't always have to take a lot of time - while a long romantic interlude is great, sometimes a quick romp provides all the connection you need!

6. Set one evening a week as "parents' night."

Pick one evening each week and let the kids know you and your husband won't be available for extracurricular activities, homework help, school project disasters, or anything else (other than true emergencies) that evening. Put young children to bed as early as reasonable, and let older children work quietly on homework or other activities. Then spend some time relaxing with your husband. Ideally, this should be a set evening every week - you want your kids to learn to say, "No, I can't __ tonight. It's 'parents' night.'" But realistically, it may need to change as work and school schedules change.

7. Plan at least one face-to-face activity (which many women prefer) and one side-by-side activity (which many men prefer) every week.

So, for example, you might enjoy a cup of coffee and some conversation at the kitchen table on Saturday morning, then paint a room together on Saturday afternoon.

8. Do some everyday tasks or errands together

Once children come along, couples often "divide and conquer" the mundane tasks of everyday life. She gets groceries and runs by the post office, he drops off the dry cleaning and picks up a prescription. It's efficient, but boring. So once in a while, do some of those tasks together. If you have grandparents or a teenage neighbor who can watch the kids for a couple of hours, use them! And when your kids are old enough to stay home for a short time, let them! Run some errands together, then do something fun, like stopping by a coffee shop or frozen yogurt bar.

9. Exercise together

Walk, jog or bike together. Train together for a charity walk or race. Take a hike. Anything that gets you moving together, preferably outside.

10. Plan regular dates

At least once every two weeks, enjoy a date with your husband. It doesn't have to be the typical "dinner and a movie," just something that gets you out of the house and lets you have fun together. If you need some inspiration, check out these fun and healthy dates or ideas for adding some adventure to your marriage.

How do you and your husband stay connected as a couple when life gets crazy?

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Calm. Healthy. Sexy. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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If you're striving to live a reasonably calm, healthy and sexy life, you may find yourself in frequent conflict with your family's schedule - the jobs, responsibilities, chores, relationships and activities that make up your family's day-to-day life. For many families, the number of tasks on that schedule has become overwhelming. Mom and Dad work hard (at work and at home), Dad serves on a church committee and volunteers in the community, Mom chairs the PTO and coaches a soccer team, John plays baseball and football, Anna plays soccer and takes dance and piano, and little Kristen just started gymnastics. Whew! Add in cooking, shopping, cleaning, maintaining the yard, helping with homework, and spending time with friends and family, and it becomes almost impossible for a family to live simply and feel relaxed.

Families in the 21st century can choose from thousands of activities, opportunities, and entertainment options, more than any previous generation of families. But is this smorgasbord of choices a blessing or a curse? Certainly the opportunity to play an instrument, compete in a sport, volunteer, travel, and enjoy entertainment can be a blessing. But if it comes at the expense of family time, relaxation, relationships, good health, and marital intimacy, it can easily turn into a curse.

The ideal schedule will differ from family to family, year to year, maybe even season to season. The real issue isn't the specific schedule you adopt, it's that you and your husband choose your family's activities and manage your family's schedule - rather than allowing it to manage you. It can be done, although it isn't easy. So if you're feeling tired, stressed, and overcommitted and are longing for a bit more sanity, put these five strategies in place during the new school year:

1. Analyze the situation

What is causing you the most stress? Which activities are required and which are optional? (Really think hard about this - some activities that you are treating as required may in fact be optional.) Which activities provide little "bang for the buck" (not much value, but a lot of hassle)? In the ideal scheduling situation, which activities would you drop and which ones would you keep?

2. Ask yourself why the situation is occurring

Why are you running from one activity to another, with no time to think, slow down, or take a deep breath? Is it just that you've allowed the schedule to get out of control, without really thinking about it? Are you afraid that your children will miss out on something if they don't participate in every activity? Is it because you don't know how to say no? Do you feel pressure to do what everyone else is doing? Do you feel a need to be busy all the time? Some of these are hard questions, but you may need to answer them before you can figure out a way to control your family's schedule.

3. Identify the things you would like to do, but can't

What is your family's schedule preventing you from doing or enjoying? Do you want to exercise and get in shape, but never have enough time? Do you want to cook healthy meals and eat dinner together as a family, but find yourself picking up fast food almost every night? Would you like to take a weekend to play together as a family, maybe hiking or biking, building a campfire, or playing games? Would you like to relax and enjoy some intimacy with your spouse? Make a list of the things you'd like to do, if only your schedule weren't so hectic.

4. Talk with your husband and enlist his help

Controlling the family's schedule is a big job, and both parents need to be on board in order for it to work. Does your husband feel stressed too? Would he like to do something different, if only there was enough time? Is he feeling the need for some down time? Talk it through and agree on a goal. My husband really took the lead in managing our family's schedule when our children were younger. He just wasn't into that whole "running somewhere every minute of every day" thing! He wanted to have a sane family life and a sane marriage, and he wasn't worried that our kids might miss out on that one great activity that would change their lives forever! So, even though our schedule was busy when our boys were in elementary and middle school, it wasn't completely insane. Maybe you need to take the lead on this initially, but you may find that your husband is more than happy to get involved.

5. Eliminate some activities

This is the hard part. If you want to take control of your family's schedule, open up some time for relaxation, and live at a slightly slower pace, you can't continue to do everything you're currently doing. Unless you have the resources to hire a maid, a gardener, and a driver, you're going to have to let some things go. What is most important thing at this stage in your life? If the children's sports activities are most important, then let other children's activities go. If scouting is most important, then focus on that - but music or sports may have to go. If having a parent serve on PTO is important, then that parent probably can't serve as a community volunteer or president of his or her civic group.

Have you been able to keep your family's schedule under control, or is it running you ragged? If you've been able to tame it (at least in part), what strategies have worked for you?

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Calm. Healthy. Sexy. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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On my blog, I shared 10 tips for staying connected with your husband and preventing outside activities from taking over your life. Since then I've thought of some additional tips and read several great blog posts that inspired others. So, before your life gets too crazy this fall, consider 8 more ideas to help you stay connected as a couple. Between these tips and the previous 10, I hope you can find two or three that will help you connect with your husband and keep your marriage as a priority.

1. Spend some unplugged time together every day

Put away your phone, tablet and computer and spend time together without the electronic distractions. And if you need a reminder of why it's important to focus less on our gadgets and more on the people we love, check out this great reminder video, "A Silent Message for All of Us."

2. Kiss him like you mean it

After a few years of marriage, the 'hot and heavy' kissing we once enjoyed often disappears. Add a couple of kids and a busy schedule to the mix, and kissing tends to be relegated to a pathetic peck on the lips a couple of times a day! One way to stay connected to your husband is to kiss him like you mean it - every day!

3. Touch base during the day

If your schedules allow it, talk on the phone at least once a day, just to see how things are going for both of you. If talking isn't feasible, send a brief email or text, just to let him know you're thinking of him.

4. Crank up your sexual energy

I'm not talking about having more sex (although that's good too!), but rather about infusing your marriage with sexual energy - the communications and actions that say "I want you." Sexual energy "boosters" come in many forms - texts, nicknames, code words, quick-but-steamy kisses or touches, planning and anticipating sexual activities, trying something outside your comfort zone, and anything else that keeps you connected sexually.

5. Speak your spouse's love language

You probably know about the five love languages, but are you speaking your husband's language consistently? When your schedule gets crazy, maximize your connection by showing him love in the way God designed him to receive it!

6. Step out in faith together

It's easy to get stuck in our daily routines and miss the needs all around us, needs God is often calling His people to meet. But maybe God is calling us and our husbands to break out of our routines once in a while and do something for Him. Stepping out in faith to do God's work is a great way to stay connected, while meeting real needs in our communities. For couples with young children it could be something simple, like serving together at a soup kitchen once a quarter. For those with no children or older children it might be something bigger, like working regularly in a homeless ministry or taking a mission trip together.

7. Let go of small things that interfere with your connection

Do you hang onto small annoyances, things your husband says or does that really bug you? I try not to, but sometimes it requires putting mind over emotions, making a conscious choice to let it go. It's hard to maintain a positive connection if you feel annoyed with him frequently, so consider making the choice to let some things go. I'm not talking about serious issues in your marriage (those need to be addressed), but rather the small things that just aren't worth the anger or frustration you invest in them.

8. Work on projects together

Rather than always focusing on your own projects, change things up sometimes and work on projects together. If he always does the yard work and outside projects, for example, work together outside one Saturday. Or if you do all of the interior painting, ask him to work with you one weekend to paint a room. Or work on a project you both enjoy (like gardening) or share the "pain" of a project you both hate (like cleaning out the garage).

How do you and your husband stay connected when life gets crazy?

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Gaye Groover Christmus' blog, Calm. Healthy. Sexy. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

The post 8 ways to connect with your spouse when life gets crazy appeared first on FamilyToday.