How to feel productive with unpredictable schedules
How to feel productive with unpredictable schedules
Are you a list maker? I am! There is something that feels so productive about having a solid plan. Laying out the steps to success.
Lately, things have been different. My best-laid plans seldom come to fruition. I guess that is why Proverbs reminds us that “we may make our plans, but God has the last word”.
Society places too much emphasis on success, without considering what success might mean for the average person.
It is a useful tool to plan ahead because projects DO seem to have a better chance of completion when we have a solid strategy in place. Where, though, does our success lie in seasons of inability? In seasons of transition? In seasons of reflection?
Truth my friends, straight up.
While I still love planners, lists and every form of outlining goals… I’ve been in a very long season of unwanted, constrained pause. That came with some deep thinking and soul searching about what success means to me. What effects planning without completion was having on me…
What I’m learning from not planning ahead
As the months have ticked by, marking well past a year, the disappointment has mounted while goals sit gathering dust. My brain and body not getting on board to get stuff done.
No matter HOW much I was able to plan on paper? Very few things were getting checked off. That left me fretting with 3 F’s sitting on my shoulder, whispering in my ear.
Failure. Frustration. $@*$&%.
Nothing very productive about that, right? I realized my definition of success hinged upon accomplishment. Something needed to change, for my sanity and spirit.
Can you relate? Perhaps you homeschool and things just never. seem. to. catch. up. Or you work from home but the needs of the household interrupt your flow. Or your team isn’t headed in the direction you feel gets you to the goals. Or you live with chronic illness, and unpredictability is the only sure thing. Or you are a wife who feels like all her efforts just aren’t measuring up. Or a mom who thinks other people are doing a better job.
How to feel productive at home
I set out a few weeks ago to find a new way to gauge whether the day was a complete wash, or actually quite satisfying! As much as I adore planning, and will pick it up again when I am able, an old idea offered me a fresh start. Perhaps it will help you too…
When my children were young, and I was just starting homeschooling, it was hard. Delightful, but a whole new world to learn about.
When health and moving and teaching became overwhelming, an experienced friend suggested a simple idea that changed life in a huge way.
She helped me change my perspective! We tend to see things as good/bad. All/nothing. But life, success, progress, wonder, and joy are found in the middle. Stretched out between success and failure.
A bridge that allows us to find a comfortable place to see things differently, and take a few steps right or left to find a better balance.
The concept is SO simple
Pick up any spiral-bound notebook and a pen. For each day, keep a running ledger of everything you did. In the end, you’ll find that you probably did much more than you knew! I sure did.
That list helped me to see that I was teaching in ways I almost missed.
It helped me see my efforts with a sense of satisfaction. (Plus, did you know we expend a ton of mental energy stressing about the undone? Imagine using that same amount of time to be amazed by our moments! What WAS done.)
A change in perspective redefines success
The boundaries of our efforts often cross over with others, but we miss the pleasure of those accomplishments because we might not be looking for them with intent.
When I remembered this old story, I decided to try it again and see what I could learn. Instead of feeling like I was wasting my dreams, useless and a burden during this season of health challenge, I saw a gratifying perspective of my hours. 3 new words filled my heart, replacing the F-words.
Surprise. Contentment. Pride
This stone of discouragement around my neck (my beautiful planner) became a lovely, polished necklace of satisfaction.
A simplified planner in reverse. Written after the fact. The unplanned becomes the encouragement to embrace the surprise of tomorrow.
A planner can be a celebration of the done, instead of the frustration of the unfinished.
There is infinite value in goal setting and planning, of course! Yet, if you are in a season where that isn’t working out for you…for whatever reason…consider stepping back.
While it is true that my plans are all on hold, my days are no longer “wasted”. Sometimes we seek out margin, sometimes it is given to us in overabundance. While this isn’t a season I would “choose”, it IS one I have learned to be grateful for in unexpected ways.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Reassess your pursuits and embracing a new definition of achievement. The days will still move on, whether we feel we are successful or failures. But the choice of how we view our moments is entirely in our hands.
Let’s choose to find fulfillment in the progress instead of the perfection of our dreams.
P.S. This article from My Fruitful Home, as well as ideas of setting goals with illness by Grace Is Sufficient . While these are specific to chronic illness, I think you can change that out and fill in the blank with YOUR unique to you challenge ♥.
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I love this! When I quit working to stay home with my kids, it was an adjustment for both my husband and me that I could be in the house all day and yet not seem to get as much accomplished as it seemed to both of us that I should. So I started keeping a “to-done” list and listed everything I did, including feeding the baby, holding him, working on nap time, changing diapers- it changed our perspective. It’s such a great way to reframe everything we do in a day- I should get back to that, thanks for the reminder <3
What a great list title, love that (I might call mine that too!). Enjoy those “done” moments, and making the most of the special bonding time with babies
A very cool perspective! I can see how this would be incredibly useful and encouraging to someone in a season of the unexpected. Sharing with a friend who can relate.
With four little boys and home, and one more on the way, I don’t even MAKE to-do lists anymore, but my MENTAL list always goes back to the “reverse” as you mentioned…thinking back on if I spent individual time with my kids today, if I said “yes” to them enough or handed out too many “no’s”…i think back on if i heard them laugh…if I was the one to make them laugh…no, i didn’t get the bathroom mopped, no, the mudroom is still a disaster… but in reverse…my to-do list isn’t as important as these little people that surround me…because that’s my season… and THAT was a hard place to get to, but so glad I can see it now.
Awww, your story just made me smile. LOVE to hear how your perspective has shifted. BLESS you with your growing family, that is such a gift. Your choices are hard to make, but memories are made in the messy sometimes, yes? ♥
I love this! When I quit working to stay home with my kids, it was an adjustment for both my husband and me that I could be in the house all day and yet not seem to get as much accomplished as it seemed to both of us that I should. So I started keeping a “to-done” list and listed everything I did, including feeding the baby, holding him, working on nap time, changing diapers- it changed our perspective. It’s such a great way to reframe everything we do in a day- I should get back to that, thanks for the reminder <3
What a great list title, love that (I might call mine that too!). Enjoy those “done” moments, and making the most of the special bonding time with babies
A very cool perspective! I can see how this would be incredibly useful and encouraging to someone in a season of the unexpected. Sharing with a friend who can relate.
Thank you so much Stephanie, I really appreciate that!
With four little boys and home, and one more on the way, I don’t even MAKE to-do lists anymore, but my MENTAL list always goes back to the “reverse” as you mentioned…thinking back on if I spent individual time with my kids today, if I said “yes” to them enough or handed out too many “no’s”…i think back on if i heard them laugh…if I was the one to make them laugh…no, i didn’t get the bathroom mopped, no, the mudroom is still a disaster… but in reverse…my to-do list isn’t as important as these little people that surround me…because that’s my season… and THAT was a hard place to get to, but so glad I can see it now.
Awww, your story just made me smile. LOVE to hear how your perspective has shifted. BLESS you with your growing family, that is such a gift. Your choices are hard to make, but memories are made in the messy sometimes, yes? ♥