How to Live with Intention This Fall
I discovered last fall that over the course of the spring and summer, with a global pandemic, volatile election season, historic social movements, and multiple waves of lockdowns worldwide, it seemed that there was always something new and urgent demanding my time and attention. As a result, my phone not only become my source of news and information, but also a misplaced form of comfort and connection. Without being able to see my friends in person, I had unintentionally started the habit of reaching for my phone when I felt lonely, sad, bored, or stressed.
I knew this fall, that I wanted to make a few changes in how I spent my time. My goal is always for my actual life to reflect what I hold dear, but while it’s easy to have priorities, it’s infinitely harder to make sure that your time and attention actually align with those priorities.
When I look at just a few of the things I value, they include:
- deepening my relationships (husband, kids, family, friends),
- growing in the Lord (bible study/prayer, memorizing scripture),
- personal growth/learning (reading, listening to podcasts, journaling),
- investing in my physical health (nutrition, strength training, exercise),
- meaningful work (writing, researching, designing), and
- managing my home (organizing, cleaning, & systematizing).
And there are a lot of things that didn’t make this list, like homeschooling, serving the community/church, making healthy food for my family, etc…
Needless to say, there are far better ways to spend my time then pouring over the latest news story or scrolling Instagram or Facebook.
What about you?
Have you noticed any time-stealing habits lurking? If you created a time log of your day, would your actual time reflect your heart priorities?
If you are like me and your daily habits are in need of a makeover, here are some simple steps to take back your time.
One. Make Your Mornings Sacred
Mornings are my best time to be proactive in setting myself up for the day–it’s my time to soak up God’s word; think through and write down the most important tasks of the day; as well as shower, dress, and make a healthy breakfast. It’s my time to pull myself together so I feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually ready to take on my day. However, I’ve learned by experience that there is no better way to get sucked into the abyss of the Internet then to look at my phone first thing in the morning. It can be so innocent–I’m just going to check the weather or order a box of granola bars on Amazon–but one little task can create a total rabbit hole time suck that takes me from adding granola bars to my online cart to frittering away 30 minutes scrolling cute fall sweaters and wasting precious time that I won’t get back before the rest of the family gets up. Because those early hours are my best investment in my faith, which trickles into all areas of my life, I know that safeguarding the first few hours of the day is an important habit to cultivate.
Two. Work from Pencil and Paper
If you keep your to-do list, grocery list, or calendar on your phone, try a hybrid system for managing your time and tasks by using a mix of digital and analog. I love using a paper planner or planning sheet for my day, in tandem with a list app. I use Trello to keep my master lists updated and then each day I write down my 3-5 most important tasks of the day. Then I create a time-blocked to do list outlining my time and scheduling these tasks. From there, I’m working throughout my day from pencil and paper so I’m not distracted by all the shiny things online. This method works well whether you work in an office or from home.
Three. Designate Time Slots
Place your phone out of sight during the day. Phones are like magnets–if it’s in view, chances are that you’ll want to check it, tap at it, or listen for it. Because social media, online shopping, etc…can actually provide our brains with dopamine, do yourself a favor and simply eliminate the temptation by keeping your phone in a drawer or seldom used room during the day. Plan to check your phone at certain times during the day, rather than just leaving it out waiting to be grabbed.
Four. Know Your Why
With a soon to be 14 year old, I’ve learned that time passes so very quickly and seasons with our kids are over in the blink of an eye. I don’t want to look back with regret realizing that I wasted precious moments, preoccupied with things that didn’t matter and missed the gift that was right in front of me. Watching two friends go through cancer battles with their children over the past year has taught me the fragility of life. That time is not guaranteed and is worth guarding. To not let the relentless pull of the news, the latest Instagram updates, cutest new trends, or best deals be a thief of the few things that actually matter in life.
