This post is from contributor, Stef
That’s really the question we all have, isn’t it? How can I be successful?
How can I: homeschool, blog, raise children, get dinner on the table before dinner time, keep my inbox empty, be a friendly neighbor, teach bible studies, shower every day, finish the laundry, floss, get healthy, and enjoy quiet time?
It’s a long list, huh? Maybe we should back up a step or two and ask ourselves a different question.
Do you even know what you want to be successful at?
If you had a list of 3 things you’d love to be successful at, what would those things be?
Parenting? Serving? Discipleship? Blogging? Homeschooling? Writing? Marriage? Speaking?
I once asked my husband what was the most important thing he needed to have cleaned? You know – cause I was running through the house like a maniac a half hour before he got home, trying to do it all. His answer surprised me. What I had been focusing on wasn’t even in the same room or anything he even noticed.
Are you focusing on something that really isn’t part of the main thing?
I encourage you to write down some “main things.” If it’s blogging, homeschool, parenting, running, or home management – write down a few things you want to focus on and spend your time doing them. Then do them well!
Here are some “main things” for me:
How can I be successful in … MARRIAGE:
We started walking together every night to spend some (much needed) quality time together without interruption.
We turned off the tv at night in an effort to talk and plan for the week – getting on the same page.
I no longer say “yes” to more activities than we can handle during the week.
How can I be successful in … HOMESCHOOL:
I decided to teach a science co-op so I was more focused and intentional with the subject – hitting a home run.
I prep Sunday evenings for the whole week rather than struggle each morning to find what I need.
How can I be successful in … BLOGGING:
I realized with Facebook’s ever changing rules – I shouldn’t even bother keeping up with a blog page. So I ditched it. I realized I was having far more success with Pinterest and started building up some boards.
I created a few “sneeze pages” which have gotten more traffic than just getting a blog post up to have a post up.
I started adding filters to my email account so my inbox didn’t look like the emergency room every morning.
These are just a few of the things I did after I prayed and asked for direction! Sometimes, what we think is the main thing isn’t really the main thing!