As a busy sports parent, do you often find yourself wanting a break from constantly being on the go? Maybe that won’t happen, because your child is immediately moving into another season.

If there is no end in sight to your busy schedule and you wonder when you will have time to catch up on everything you need to do, I have a few thoughts that might help you make it through the busyness with a little less stress.

Re-evaluate your schedule. Is there something you can eliminate? When I was in the busy seasons, I would try to never say yes to something unless I said no to something else. It’s okay to weed out things that are not as important to you or your family.

Don’t “should” yourself. It’s easy for sports parents to feel guilted into doing things that will add stress. I should be doing this or that is not a good reason to do something.

Lower personal expectations. Let me say this: it’s okay if your house is a little messy, the laundry is not done every day or that backyard project is neglected for a few months!  Those tasks will always be there. Focus on what is truly important in your lives in this season—your kiddos! Give yourself permission not to be supermom or dad!

Your kids are not going to care when they grow up that the house was always clean or that the yard was never overgrown. They will remember that Mom and Dad were present.

Plan to plan. One of the best ways to help alleviate stress is to plan. Plan meals for the week. Plan the practice pickup schedule for the month. Keep a detailed family calendar on up on the wall or fridge so everyone knows what’s coming.

The moments you take to plan ahead are never a waste of time. Fifteen or 30 minutes of planning can save you hours of worrying and stress.

I understand that busyness is not always what you intend; it usually sneaks up on sports parents! As you wade through this busy season, try to always keep chasing the joy that this brings you and your kids. Save the dirty dishes for another day.

Janis Meredith is a family life coach who wants to help all parents raise champions. You can find out more at rcfamilies.com.