A FOCUSed Routine
2020 for me was about creating routines to try and live in this “new normal.”
2021 was about repeating the routines to try and figure out what worked best for me.
2022 is now finding a rhythm with my most helpful routines that keep me FOCUSed on what matters most.
And what matters most for me in this season, is finding a “balance” between everything or what I like to call, “peace.” Not the perfectly quiet or tranquil kind of peace, but a peace in my heart and soul that I am living my best in all areas of my life, the way God intended for me.
To figure out what those routines are that I want to FOCUS on to be living my best life, I like to first think about what kind of person I want to be. That’s the ongoing FOCUS that sometimes shifts and changes with the seasons of life, but that is what helps me to determine what to focus on, and what to let go to become more like “that” person.
For example, if I want to be a faithful believer, a strong and generous individual, a loving wife, a positive mom, a grateful daughter, a respectful and humble leader for my team and community, and a joyful and honest friend, then I need to figure out what I need to do monthly, weekly, daily, as part of my routines to get myself into a rhythm of life I can have peace with. AND that means actually putting it in my planner as part of my daily, weekly, and monthly routines. It needs to be practiced until it becomes a rhythm in my life. Let’s break it down to dive deeper.
A faithful believer - For me it means sticking to my morning routine of spending time meditating on the Word and praying with God daily.
A strong & generous individual - For me it means sticking to my daily routine of moving my body and fueling it with things that give me energy so that I can be a generous person because I have the strength to give to others. This looks like a walk, jog, stretch, dance, or hike and good food choices that work for my body and other things in moderation.
A loving wife - For me it means intentionally sending an uplifting message to my husband every day, or thanking him after work for caring for us. It means letting him go on weekly adventures so he can refresh and have fun, and also scheduling monthly date time fun just for us two!
A positive mom - For me it means living by example since my kids are always watching and observing. Everything from how I am when I drive, how I go about my daily chores with a positive attitude and train them to help since having these chores is a privilege from dishes, to laundry, to cleaning. To how I work at home while helping them with their homework to the fun stuff like my joy for reading and sharing it with them.
A grateful daughter - For me it means making time every week to either see or talk to my parents and still be open to listening to them and what they may still want to teach me. It also shows my own kids that as an adult, I am still learning and open to the care and advice from my own parents.
A respectful & humble leader - For me it means taking time every week to listen to my team. To hear their ideas, their struggles, or just simply go in and observe what they are working on, ask questions, offer advice, give a knuckle bump, or some praise. And also a balance of stepping away to give them the opportunity to make mistakes, a chance to learn and grow on their own, and build something that they can be proud to share.
A joyful & honest friend - For me it means scheduling time for fun to do the things I enjoy with people I enjoy being around. Having daily reflection time helps to keep me on track to make sure I am doing things that truly bring me joy and spending time with people who I can honestly be my authentic self with and they can be the same.
Do I get this perfect? No way! Do I lose my rhythm? Absolutely! But knowing our FOCUS on who we want to be, what matters, and the kind of peace in all areas of our life we striving for, helps us to know what our routines ahould be so we can find our way back to a rhythm that works.
I hope that as you first FOCUS on what kind of person you want to be, you begin setting up for yourself routines to foster what will help you to find your peace in the process of becoming that person. OR may you find continual peace in the rhythms you created for yourself that work for you, in this season. Stay FOCUSed on what you know works for you. Right there with you my friend!
