I do not know what you will make of this but here goes...
you mentioned the idea of simplifing your life and asking were to cut?? perhaps it is not JUSt a reschedualing that is needed. Perhaps, it is more ? Perhaps it it the amount of energy you put into each activity, the amount of comittment.
For myself I cannot give less than 110% - hence how I got into my worst periods of depression... Work, Family, Studies, Husband, Volunteering, Hobbies... I wanted every one of these things in my life to be -perfect-. Slowly I learned that each is a part of me but I am more. Does this make sense? I do this things because I want them as a part of my life but... my life is something above.. so I went looking for some way to understand what I AM. From there I was able to choose what I wanted right now, in one year, in five years. I am and never was particularly ambitious, so I have settled on a JOB. Not a career. I go in do MY THING, MY WAY. That is is. My family is the most important center right now! So I give all I can to my husband and children. I avoid volunteer work like the plague, because there is need and their need drains me. Can can offer only a small bit of me... so for now this is my choice ... I have not abandonned the things that I hold close. Only, I am not available for now...
So what do you want to simplify? Are you academic goals too ambitious? If no, this is great... if yes, perhaps you might want to stretch your time out over and extra, or two etra semesters? Would you feel comfortable cutting your commitmitment to your church for a time to give you a chance to pull in some energy? Would a two hour activity for the children on weekends give you some space? -just a notion-
in other posts recently, the notion of building a home has come up repetedly! somehow there is a sentiment of root-less-ness, a feeling of not being secure and stable. There is a lack of social-something.
sorry. i am so not well these past few days and all my thoughts were flushed into my intestines with the effexor and seroquel.