Balancing Life Demands
Let’s face it, balancing life demands can feel like a juggling act at times. Some days you feel like you’re winning, other days you feel like you’re losing. You are trying to keep balls in the air, and to your dismay, certain balls are dropped - whether intentionally or unintentionally. Much like money, how time is spent can reveal the heart of a person. What they value. What they prioritize.
Art of Hope defines life balance as giving appropriate amounts of time and attention to the different areas of life. It’s not necessarily about giving equal time, but appropriate attention and care to these areas. This can be a very nuanced subject, and may look different for different people depending on the season they are in.
I would consider myself to be in a season of “newness” for various reasons, one of them primarily being motherhood. Being a new mom is everything I expected it to be - incredibly demanding but oh so rewarding. Motherhood is a gift I don’t take for granted, but man can it be hard on some days. Balancing my artistry, part-time work, caring for my son, marriage and so much more could easily be all consuming, but by God’s grace and wisdom He has helped me. God is teaching me how to continually let go of certain expectations of myself and productivity due to the season He has me in, so that I can better invest in what needs to be prioritized. Aside from my time with the Lord and husband, caring for my baby boy is my priority in this season. It doesn’t mean I neglect time to cultivate my artistic passions, it just means this time may look different and takes extra intentionality.
Ultimately, I had to cast my eyes back on Christ and trust Him with my time and limited capacity. A posture of daily surrender has been my prayer.
Out of the overflow of this posture, here are some places to start when it comes to healthy time management.
Ways to wisely manage your time:
Know your specific priorities based on the season you’re in - some may never change, but others may depending on the season
Gain clarity on your motivation behind your time management
If you habitually overbook your schedule, why do you tend to overcommit yourself?
If you habitually tend to not want to engage in rhythms or activities you know you should, what is behind your lack of commitment?
Intentionally find ways to leave margin in your schedule for rest, recovery and/or to just breathe
Time management is one of the top things clients seek out coaching through Art of Hope. Many may know what needs to change, but there is a disconnect between knowing and doing. Art of Hope is here to help.