Living with Intention

Have you ever really wanted to do something but find you never have the time to get it done?  Have you gotten to the end of the work day and not finished what you set out to do?  Have you thought this is the month to get your exercise and eating under control, but it ends up being the 31^st and it didn’t happen?  We all have busy lives with lots of demands.  For a long time, I would say, “When things slow down, I’ll do….”.  In the near future, that isn’t happening for me and I am guess not happening for you! 

So how do we make sure we get the things done that are really important?  I believe it has to do with living an intentional life.  One in which we define what is really important and make sure it happens.  Easier said than done though. Right?  As a leadership team, we read “The 4 Disciplines of Execution”.  In the book it talks about the whirlwind of life that just happens.  The whirlwind might include cooking meals, taking kids to practice, cleaning the house, doing errands, doctor and dentist appointments, and on and on.  At your job, there is a whole different whirlwind that takes up much of your time.  The key is to step outside of the whirlwind and be able to focus on what’s really important.  What are the 1 or 2 things you wish you could do better or would make your life look different? 

With 3 kids, a husband, and 5 business locations between us, I live by a schedule most of the time.  I am a believer in what gets scheduled gets done.  Things that are important to me and our family get allotted time on the calendar.  This includes workouts, meal prep, studio time, and 1 on 1 time with my team, Jeff and my kids, and downtime.  As a mom, there are times when I have felt I just don’t have time for myself to work out or do other things.  I have come to realize this is flawed thinking.  If you don’t take proper care of yourself, it won’t be long and you can’t take care of anyone.  You have to schedule time for you.  It isn’t selfish, it is needed.     

Here is my challenge to you.  Don’t wait until January to make goals.  How do you want to finish the year? Here are a few steps to finish well.

1. Make a list of goals and things you want to accomplish (start with this week and then think long term.  Jeff and I just filled out this 5 year plan and it was fun to do together to make sure we are going in the same direction.
2. Put a time frame next to each and put them on your calendar
3. Double check – are they realistic? Do you have margin in your schedule for the really important things and people? 
4. Get an accountability partner to check on you
5. Each week, set aside 15-30 minutes to check on your own progress. How are you doing?  If you got off track, why?  Remember the whirlwind of life will happen if you are not intentional.

No one will create the life of your dreams.  That is up to you, but remember it is possible with intention to what you need to make happen!