If this is the only thing you read on my website, hear me here. If you want a calm, orderly day, start it with God. I put no qualifications on this advice. Simply put, talk to your heavenly Father. You can make it a grand affair with candles, journals, paint markers, soft music and a great big Bible, if you want to. But time with God, cradling a warm mug and soaking in the silence may be your season. Do whatever you need to do to hit the pause button and say Hello to the Wonderful Counselor.
Once you get this turned into a habit, you will find planning your day is a piece of cake. Mostly, I plan my day for myself, not being a self-motivator, a plan is really needed! For years, as a young, stay-at-home mother, I did not understand what a day plan could do for me. Here I was wafting through my days, with little focus or energy, and no motivation. It felt like I was constantly running behind and never getting to what I wanted to do. There is a clear memory of the evening it all began to change.
It wasn’t a whoosh into a new life. It was the first step on a new journey to understand myself, and how to be intentional with my day.
I was feeling very overwhelmed, to the point of exploding. I had to get a handle on the days. And what I did with them. So, I am sitting on the floor with pens in hand and a large piece of butcher paper in front of me. This paper was so big I had to scoot myself across the floor to reach both ends. I began to draw lines, make boxes and fill in details of my week. Where I had to be, what I had to do, where I had to get little people, and when I had to keep one important big person happy. This was a big production. It was so big it made a strong impression on my school age children.
There were murmurs that mom has lost her mind! L. O. L! The big person responds, no, she’s just trying to find it!
They were plotting against me! All this ADHD wanted to rule my days. As long as I was available to keep them company, to feed them, to supply clean clothes, to encourage them. The list went on and on. There was not one inch of space in my days for me. I called “foul”! This stops now! They did not need every minute of my day. I wish I could say I ran to Jesus and allowed him to lead me out of my misery. But that comes much later in the story.
Slowly, I became aware that I was an introvert, not energized by the company of others, but by my own company. Important tasks in my days began to come under my control. Anchors in my day were set up. Times of the day where I could lay down all the responsibilities and just breathe and do something I wanted to do. To read more of this story…
So, if you learn from me. Set your days up in a way that benefits you. And helps you meet all your goals. A current down fall is packing too much into ours day’s. I only project 2 or 3 activities in my days. I like to knock out a good amount of work in my mornings. And take a rest in the afternoon. If I take a rest in the morning, I get nothing done. Take time to study yourself. When do you feel energized, mornings, afternoons, evenings? Plan your work for that time of day. I promise you can craft your days to suit you. We’ve been doing it for generations!