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Creating Space in Your Daily Schedule

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Creating Space in your daily schedule


What does that mean?

We all want more space in our schedules, but what does that really mean? Over the past few years, God has been working in my life to slow the drive to keep moving, and to be still with Him. Don’t get me wrong, having a strong work ethic is important, getting things done is important, but when it takes the place of value over Christ in our lives it is in the wrong place. Creating space means to clear, to pause, to be intentional about making room. It’s a process of sorting, evaluating and prioritizing what is important. The idea of Creating space can imply that our life is full, maybe too full, and so we need pause to create that boundary, buffer, openness in our life.

Now, if you’re an extrovert, the idea of clearing space and making room might be the opposite of what you gravitate towards. If you thrive on a schedule that has a lot going on, be intentional about finding the ratio of rest and activity that works for you. Even if you thrive off hopping from one thing to the next, that time to look at the world from a different perspective is important. Creating space can mean more time to spend with the people who give you energy. It can also mean space to yourself.

 

Why is it important?

If we are not intentional with our time, someone else will be happy to take hold of all of it. It’s important because time is not a renewal resource. We all get 24 hours in a day, but the way we choose to use it will determine our course.

The little ones in our life, in my case it’s younger sisters and nieces, are watching us. If you’re with your kids all day long, or if they’re with a nanny/daycare part of the day, they are soaking in the world around them. At the appropriate ages, showing them – not just telling -, how setting healthy boundaries around your time is life giving, and that rest is an important part of life just as much play, and other areas. If you didn’t learn that growing up, don’t feel guilty about that. You came today to learn, and I encourage to continue your learning journey!

 

How do we tangibly create space in our schedule’s?

Get Clear on What you Want

    • If you’re not clear on what you want your life to look and feel like, it’s really hard to make it happen. Now, this does mean that we’re realistic with what we want our life to look/feel like and also being ok with the fact that it may change over time, but you have a theme you’re shooting for, you can be intentional with your day. Bring your plans and hopes for the day to God in prayer. Like with any practice, it can take time to develop, but it’s worth it.
    • An example: If one of your feelings/theme words is peaceful, but yesterday felt like anything but that – your 2 year old dumped flour all over the kitchen, your 4 year old decided to start trying makeup, your 6 year old decided he wanted to be superman off the sofa…but where can you find peace, or create peace in those moments? Maybe rather than panicking, it’s joining them in their moment of play, or using those as teaching moments both for them, and getting curious about what God is teaching you in those moment too. Maybe your role in that moment is to bring peace to your shocked child.

Make Your Day Visual

    • Put 90% of things on your calendar – if your detailed write it out, if you’re more spontaneous, use blocks of time
    • If you don’t know where your time is going, take 1-3 days to track it. Average person is spending 2-3 hours just on social media, without even knowing it.

Declutter

    • Once we know where our time is really going, it can be overwhelming, but it also gives the opportunity to be intentional with it.
    • Whether you feel excitement and joy about a commitment, or duty and regret, it will come out in how we interact with the world.
    • This step of decluttering is important because that is what frees up the space to breath in our week.

 

I would love to say do these 3 things and your life will magically be organized you’ll always have space in your schedule. The truth is that it’s a journey. There will be challenges to overcome, hard decisions between seemingly great things, and conversation to have. These are starting points; things that work to get you jump started on your adventure of discovering what works for you in this season.

 

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

 

Let me know in the comments:

  1. What does creating space in your schedule mean for you in this season of life?
  2. Share and write 3 feelings/ themes that you want to embody when you live out your schedule.
  3. What is one thing you need to remove from your schedule today?
  4. What is one thing you need to add to your schedule today?
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