Yesterday I shared my new grocery list pad. It is working well for me- how did yours turn out?
Today I am going to share another organizing tool that I made: a daily schedule.
I know these last few posts may be boring, but without organization, my world is, well, disorganized.
I made my daily schedule to help me with my time-management. This is a daily ongoing struggle for me. I used to think that having a set schedule each day would really stiffle my creativity, but it is not true! Having a schedule actually frees me- I know when I can and cannot do things. It helps me to tame my wandering thoughts/ideas, and my sporatic behavior, and provides time for fun things I want to be able to do.
It also carves out specific time for myself and for my art. I always pushed that time back and put other people and whatever else first, and then frantically tried to squeeze in time for all my projects. This was not working for me at all. I do love to spend time with my friends, but now I am (attempting to) schedule that 'fun' time around my art time. Recently, a friend said to me that if I believe that Christ gave me these gifts and talents to be creative, I had jolly well use them for his glory and make them a serious priority. So true! Thanks, friend, for speaking wisdom and truth to me.
One more thought on time- time is a gift. God is really changing my attitude about time these days. Some of you already know this, but I don't have a full time job, or children. These things that I do not have may seem minor to you, but when looking around at other women- even within my own circle of friends- I used to feel so uncomfortable and out of place. My friends are either successfully working in their careers or becoming mamas. I often wondered where I fit in my community.
Well recently I have been asking God to change my heart, I have been reading different books about growth and grace and I have been spending more time in His word. I have been learning that time is a gift- not everyone has it, but everyone wants it. Time to spend with family, time to finish tasks, time to rest or go on vacation, or just more time to get dinner on the table! My eyes are opening to the fact that I have time. I have time to serve my church, my friends, and time to work on all the projects I have been meaning to get to. So if I have time to do things in this current season in my life, how can I use that time to bring glory to Jesus? One way is to use the time I have to use the talents he has given me. This is where the weekly schedule project comes in to play. If I can have a visual reminder of the time I can use for different tasks, I can be a better wife, a better friend, and a better Johanna. Instead of filling my time wondering why I don't have what my friends have (jobs, children) I can use what I do have to bless those around me. This makes a more joyful use of my time.
Well, let's get to it, then!
I used an old frame I had from my big bin of frames and boards. I added some burlap for texture and glued my blank schedule to it. Then I cut out little pieces of cardstock in soothing grays and creams to make my set time chunks: art time, work, church, deep cleaning/laundry, Bible study, and my knitting group. I glued these in the appropriate time slots and put the frame back together. I can use a dry erase marker or a permanant marker to write in things that I have scheduled each week.
I am happy with how it turned out- it is clean and shows me what I am supposed to be doing. Now I just need Mr. Lemon to help me hang it up.
What about you? What are you working on in your life? How have you been using your gifts and talents to glorify God?
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