Time Well or Poorly Spent

Hi friends,

I always look forward to spending time with you all. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to spend a little of it with me. I’ve been looking at my priorities lately. Particularly as I deal with continued and increasing health issues. It is times like this that it makes you sit back and really think the best way to invest your time.

I took the last few weeks and kept track of how I actually spent my time. Not what was in my calendar or what I hoped to achieve, but how that time was spent. I realized several things:

I’m overcommitted, which makes me overwhelmed. This is where stress and anxiety take over and I struggle to be still and know He is God. It detrimentally affects my health, my family, my peace, my faith, and my ability to write the strongest story I can.I’m spending time on things I should have said no to. I seriously want to hear how you say no. I don’t think of myself as a people-pleaser, but that factors into my inability to say no the majority of the time. If you are able to keep good boundaries around your priorities and don’t sweat profusely when saying ‘no,’ I want to hear from you!I’m having to work later to finish up what needs to be done. Which takes time away from my family, from relaxing, and doesn’t allow me to give my best to the things that deserve the best because I’m so tired.

I miss seeing my grandbabies more. Life is busy for my daughter and her family and I know I can’t be at everything they do, but if I managed my time better, I probably could see them a bit more.

I miss time with good friends—phone calls, voxes, Zoom chats, coffee outside, etc.

I miss a peaceful, cozy house. Okay, those who know me will laugh at this because my house has always been ‘organized chaos.’ I have a framed picture in my kitchen that says, “I don’t have ducks. Or a row. I have squirrels. And they’re at a rave.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m noticing a pattern, particularly on the last three. I’m missing my priorities—faith, family, friends, my health and my writing, which blesses me more than I can say. So, I’m readjusting how I not only schedule, but how I actually spend my time.

Reader Question: I’d love to hear from you. What areas do you struggle in? What areas do you excel in? How do you say ‘no’ without feeling guilty?

Can’t wait to hear your feedback!

Best, Dani