Priority Success?

I have not been faithful with it lately. But it is something I need to get back into. I would block Wednesday nights off. I wouldn’t schedule anything. I would not turn on my computer, TV, radio, etc. I would spend the night reading either a book or the Bible, or listening to some podcasts (guess I would need to open my computer then.) But it was a great way—even if just a few hours—to get refreshed and refocused during the week. I miss that and need to put that back on my schedule.

I also write my workouts in my schedule. Since I’m anal about about not flaking, by writing my workouts in my schedule, I am mush less likely to skip them.

So, I admit it. I am a Sidetracked Home Executive (S.H.E.) I was blessed to have a wonderful example in my mother as a well organized homemaker. Somehow, it didn’t transfer over to me. I “know” what I need to do to keep things in order, I am just lazy. My Mom came upon this book (The Sidetracked Home Executive by Pam Young & Peggy Jones) early in her marriage and it worked great! I’ve recently tried to implement it as well. I have a huge desire to be hospitable, and have my home inviting and welcome to all. I love having people over, entertaining, cooking dinner. But when I’m disorganized in my home life, that can’t happen. So this whole thing is based off a card system (or computer calendar if you so desire). You basically break everything you need to do in your home down to different cards/tasks. Most things, when you break it down like that, only take 10 min or less. You schedule all the cards for the month, and everything is spread out. Not so overwhelming anymore. Once you do the card, you file it for the next time its due. It also has you stick to a weekly schedule. This helps me keep my priorities (my family) in order. If someone calls and wants to get together on a Monday for lunch, I already know my answer: no, because that’s my cleaning day. Like we’ve been talking about, it helps me keep my margins. I’m not at full potential yet, but I’m certainly on my way. My house has been staying clean, I’m cooking dinner and we are sitting down as a family, I don’t feel so embarrassed when someone stops by….all things that I have desired. It’s been great. If anyone would like to know more about this system, just let me know! I’d be happy to share it with you. I have a friend that is doing it too, so it’s been great to do it with someone else in the same situation.
—brandi

Tim and I have 2 or 3 main priorities, firmly set and more important than any thing else in our day to day life. So one thing we do is ask ourselves, ‘how does this or that purposed activity meet or help build our top priorities in life’, we do this before buying anything, accepting invitations or obligations, or adding anything to our calender. At times it seems trite, but it really keeps us on track. The only trick is you have to have well defined goals that you really believe in and that you are willing to pay any price for. Sometimes things that I used to think were important, fall by the side, and that can be frustrating, but in the end our bigger goals get met.