Taking Inventory
December 31, 2009 by Marci
I will be taking a blogging break to be with family for more holiday festivities! Enjoy this previous post that can help with your planning for this new year. I’ll be back Monday January 4 ready for a new year of Overcoming Busy!
Whether you think you are not very busy or you know you are way too busy, this simple exercise can help get your priorities in order. I did this just last week and it really opened my eyes! Make a list of your activities and responsibilities. Start with places you volunteer and the different roles you play there. For instance, you may volunteer at school as a room mom and as a library helper. Next, right down all your extra activities, even if they are fun. Do you have a Bunco night with the girls? Do you go to the gym? After you have written down your activities, write down your kids’ activities. Those could be dance, basketball, girl scouts…any class or activity outside normal school time.
Now that you have your list, sit it aside for a bit and think. What is most important to you and your family? What are your goals as a family? Do you want to have a deep relationship with your spouse and children? Do you want to set a Godly example for your family and those around you? Do you want to serve others effectively? Do your kids want to be basketball stars? Whatever your goals, you have to ask yourself “Do my activities reflect that?” Which activities and responsibilities line up with your goals? Which are just extra stuff? (clutter, if I may say so)
With your goals in mind, look at your list of activities and responsibilities. Cross off those that are just “busy work”. Do this without guilt. These are time and relationship wasters. Even if these are “good works”, they might not be the “best” for your or your family right now. You will be able to enjoy your family and those activities that build your relationships with a more open schedule. If you are having a hard time deciding what is important to you and your family, pray about it and ask your family what is important to them. You might be really surprised.
Try making your list this week. Let me know how much time “clutter” you can get rid of.
