My word for the week is INTENTIONAL

2-3 min read

…And that’s what got me right here…right now. I am being intentional about being more intentional with my time 😉 Some days, I find myself thinking, “what have I been doing for the last 2 hours!!” Don’t get me wrong, I think restful days are needed and doing a whole lot of NOTHING is good for you… sometimes.

But…most days, at least for me, if I fail to plan, I plan to fail… So, I plan my day the night before. The saying is true; a great day starts the night before! Going to bed early also sets you up for a successful tomorrow!

Making a schedule is different than having a to-do list… a schedule has specific things you want to do and a time slot allotted for just that. First put on the schedule the MOST important things to you. Then fill in the rest of the time for other tasks. When you are working on a task, FOCUS on just that task. Put your phone away and avoid other distractions. Add breaks to your schedule since you will/or should be taking them and that way, you won’t feel guilty and you will stay on schedule!

If having schedule makes you feel too restricted, remember, if needed, you can ALWAYS adjust it! I often change my schedule for a last minute hike with a friend… I typically prioritize relationships over pretty much everything else.

Here’s a fun tip that will help you keep you going: Give yourself a reward for accomplishing a task! When you get a reward, your body releases dopamine, which is addicting so it will push you to do more!

Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, came up with this cool illustration of big rocks, pebbles and sand being put in a glass bowl.

It goes something like this:

Think of the rocks as the most important things, the pebbles as other responsibilities/interests and the sand as allllll the other stuff you want/need to do. If you put the sand and pebbles in first, you will not be able to fit all the big rocks. However, if you put the big rocks in FIRST, then the pebbles, then the sand, you will probably be able to fit it all!! So, the lesson to be learned is prioritize the MOST important things and all the other stuff will fall into place. Or, possibly, you won’t be able to fit all the sand but that’s okay because you already got the most important things in! You may even need to learn to say “NO” to some of the sand so you don’t even need to try to fit it 😉

Being intentional is not just for your time but also for your words, your reactions, and your diet–which is not only what you eat or drink but also what you allow in through your eyes and your ears.

So…I encourage you to be INTENTIONAL with your life. It will make a big difference in your happiness and accomplishing your goals!

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15&16