Getting Refocused on What Matters Most

As sat and meditated on what I should share this week, my heart turned to all the beautiful women out there who have no idea where to begin in taking steps to get balance and order in their daily life. So in keeping with my mission and passion: to help women manage their time, so they have more time, to invest that time in the things of God; I wanted to provide a basic list to help any woman get refocused on what matters most. So I decided to take one crucial nugget from each of the eleven steps in my book to help you get started; here are the first five steps:

1. Pray often for balance, order and God's daily guidance; in addition, come to realize that God is in control of every aspect of your life. His desire is that you prosper in all things according to his will and that you are in good health.

2. Develop a morning and evening routine and stick to it (at least 80% of the time). This means that you have a set time for going to bed, and a set time for getting up in the morning. Also, consider extending your routine to things you do less often. For example: get hair or nails done the second and forth Tuesday of every month; or grocery shop on the first and third Thursday of every month.

3. Learn to say no to unreasonable and excessive demands on your time. If you feel guilty about saying no, master the art of suggesting that someone (other than you) would be perfect for that task.

4. Take care of yourself (eat right, exercise, etc.) because the health and well-being of so many are dependent upon your health and well-being. Listen to your body and try to get the right amount of rest each night that your body requires. Most people need between six to eight hours per night; and probably a twenty to thirty minute cat-nap during the day.

5. Conquer your clutter, and realize that everything you have is not necessary everything you need; if it does not have a home, consider letting it go.

6. Never stop learning, the Bible says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all your getting get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). In addition, pace yourself when working on high-level goals, by establishing low-level goals that will show progression over time toward accomplishing your high-level goals.

7. Dedicate special and consistent time each day (or week) to laugh with and enjoy the people God has blessed you with. Have a sit down dinner with your family; lunch with a friend; read to your child or have your child read to you; take a walk in the park with your spouse; etc.

8. Learn to harness your emotional spending by understanding where your desire to spend comes from, and then make a commitment to live within your means.

9. Read your Bible daily. More specifically: seek God’s counsel by searching the Word of God for His perspective on whatever you may be struggling with or how you should be using your gifts, talents, and passions to glorify Him. The Bible says: “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge…” (Proverbs 15:14).

10. Cherish yourself, and keep in mind that you are a beautiful woman of God, who has worth and value in the eyes of God. This will require you to create or stick with your daily affirmations to remind yourself often of your worth and value. In addition, continue to seek encouragement from Spirit-filled women; and to strive to have balance so that you are not traveling from one extreme (being overly controlling) to the other (trying to please everyone) which affects your self-esteem and self-worth.

11. Reduce the stress in your life by taking time each day to do something that bring you peace and joy. You may feel guilty in the beginning for wanting that time (especially if you have young children), but decreasing stress, increases your ability to effectively lead, serve and obey God’s promptings.