The year is coming to an end!  Oh my goodness!  It has gone by so quickly (like every other year).

It can be tempting to face the end of this year with dread.  Your age has increased, but not your family (aka no husband).  I distinctly recall a December month when I was disappointed that I was still single.  My hope was that it would have been the year of being pursued by a charming knight, but absolutely nothing was on the horizon.  I encourage you to not let your feelings dampen your present and your future.

Please do not waste the year end.  Your posture can lead you to rejoice and prepare for a year of blessings in the coming year.

Here are 5 Important Things to do Before the Year Ends:

1) Count your blessings

For many people, this year has been rough. Death, isolation, restrictions to socializing, inability to give hugs and kisses to family and friends, changes in church participation, loss of income are just a few of the challenges.  Yet, God has blessed us.  

Here are some blessings which you might have experienced:

• A closer relationship with God.  During the lock-downs, the pace of life became slower.  For me, I have enjoyed unrushed times with God and I am even more consistent with spending special times with Him. 
• The gift of life – if you’re reading this, then you are alive!
• Deeper relationships with your immediate family and close friends- Being stuck at home gave us opportunities to connect with people like parents, siblings, housemates, etc.
• New hobbies like cooking, home gardening, music were started or strengthened.
• New income streams. One of my friends lost her job which led her to become an entrepreneur in an unexpected endeavor. Believe me, she is totally enjoying it!

Take some time before the year ends to count all of your blessings.  Try to recall at least one hundred.  Include even the things that you might take for granted like clean water to drink.  

To help you to count your blessings, get your free 100 Things to be Thankful for by accessing my resource library!

2) Reflect and Evaluate.

This is one of my favorite things to do- sit and think.  My husband finds it rather strange that I can just sit and stare.  But so many “genius” and innovative ideas and thoughts are generated during those times.  As the year ends, designate a day to be still and contemplate.

• What did you do well?
• Whose life did you touch?
• Is there anything troubling you – conversation, event, news, relationship?
• Do you meet any guy who caught your attention?
• How were your interactions with single eligible bachelors?
• How did you deal with conflict?
• What regrets do you have?
• Which goals did you crush and which goals did you need to delay or cancel altogether?

Instead of simply reflecting on your year, write down your answers to these questions.  They will help bring clarity and guide your way forward into next year.

4) Celebrate your growth and successes.

More than likely, you would have grown in several areas in your life.  Celebrate every single victory that comes to mind (the little, medium-size or gigantic goals).

• Better implementing healthy boundaries.
• Eat healthier.
• Shared the good news of Jesus with others.
• Started recycling.
• Improved in conflict resolution.
• Accomplished a goal.
• Did a task for which you were once afraid.
• Graduated.
• Mentor or disciple a young lady.
• Read/listened to X number of books.

Make it a special time of celebration– on your own, or with a close relative or friend.

4) Have a Goal-Setting Time.

Don’t let the new year come upon you without prayerfully considering your faith-sized goals for that year.  Take it a step further and write them down.  Did you know that when you write you remember more?  Your subconscious mind will not forget.  

Tips on accomplishing your God-sized goals:

• Write them down.
• Look at them every day. 
• Pray about them regularly.
• Break them up into smaller daily tasks.  For example, if you plan to improve your writing skills, you should aim to write about 500 words every day.
• Ask someone to hold you accountable.

5) Reach out to three people.

Pray and ask God to show you three people with whom you need to talk, encourage and pray for.  When you are busy ministering to others, your resulting joy and satisfaction will fade away your disappointments.  Instead of focusing on yourself, pour out yourself as a drink offering to bless the lives of others like Paul, the apostle.  You might enter the new year with your heart full of singing as opposed to being bitter about your lot in life.

“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Philippians 2:17 (ESV)

Related Articles:

The One Thing That All Successful People Have in Common 

14 Epic New Year’s Resolutions for a Better You

Summary

Your perspective plays a key role in your success.  As the year ends, you need to choose what mindset you are going to embrace as you enter a new year.  Are you determined to grow and learn through your disappointments and struggles? How can your experiences of this year propel you toward kingdom success in the coming year? 

Don’t forget to grab your free 100 Things to be Thankful for!

What practices do you currently employ as you come to the end of a year?  What new routine or habit are you going to implement this year end?  Comment below and let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

With love & laughter,

Kimberly Garth

Get your free 100 Things to be Thankful for in my resource library!

Complete the form below and get immediate access!

The post 5 Important Things to do Before The Year Ends appeared first on Petals Bloom.

“A plan without a purpose = frustration;

Purpose without a plan = foolishness;

A plan and a purpose without the power of the Holy Spirit = futility” – Campus Crusade for Christ

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

Dave Ramsey, a renowned financial guru, says “a budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” Similarly, a weekly plan will tell your time where it should go. If you fail to plan, you’ll find that your time will be quickly misused and your most important goals remain an elusive dream. Besides, if you don’t have a plan for your time, you’ll be surprised how many others have a plan for it.

Here are nine helpful pointers to plan your week well:

1) Ask God for wisdom.

I find it very useful to spend some time praying to God to ask him for His wisdom before attempting plans and tasks. You may already have some tasks, but He can give you discernment about areas that need your attention for that particular week. He may draw to your attention a relationship that requires some attention or even a reminder that your driver’s permit needs renewal. Since He knows everything, it’ll be good to include Him.

2) List all your activities for the week.

In order to determine your activities for the week, you need to take into account your overall goals (like learning a foreign language) and your tasks for the entire month. Then, you break down this month’s tasks into weeks. 

Each week, the tasks may include the following (but not limited to):

• Devotional time with God – prayer; reading the Word; listening to God; praise; Scripture memorization; etc.
• Self-care time- sleep, meals, exercise, journaling, think time, relaxation, etc.
• Action steps for your personal and developmental goals – courses, reading, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, training, etc.
• Regularly commitments – church, prayer meeting, group study, volunteer groups, etc.
• Other (irregular) commitments – socializing, meetings, entertainment, etc. 
• Items from the previous week that remain undone.
• Projects – personal or business.
• Time to plan for the following week.

3) Determine your priorities for the week.

If you’re like me, you always have a lot to do. But you can’t accomplish all at once, so you need to prioritize. Read “5 Proven Steps to Get Your Busy Life Under Control”  for insight on what you may need to remove or delegate from your list.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How important is _______ in helping you to accomplish your short-term & long-time goals? 

• What would be the consequences if you didn’t complete the task? More important tasks usually carry higher consequences.

• Would it help you in investing in eternity? Remember that eternity will be a LOT longer than time on earth. As such, we need to consistently have an eternal perspective. Hence, your time with God should always be your number one priority.

• How urgent is the activity? Is your car insurance due? Are you in danger of missing an important work deadline?

• Have you given your word? You need to honour your word because you’re a follower of Jesus. Otherwise, people will find it very hard to trust you over time.

4) Rank your priorities.

You might find the following ranking system helpful:

T – Top Priority (time with God, family and self-care).

H- High Priority 

M – Medium Priority

L – Low Priority

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

5) Estimate time for each task.

I am overly-optimistic at estimating time for a task. Some years ago, I read in a time-management book that it’s good practice to multiply your task time by three. Subsequently, I began to apply that rule and it helped me to set more realistic times.

Additionally, you need to keep track of the actual times. Let’s say you usually allot one hour for an appointment with a client. However, after several such meetings, you realize one and a half hours is a better estimate. Going forward, you should make adjustments into your schedule. 

6) Schedule your tasks for the week with their estimated times.

Using the ranking system in point 4, place activities (based on priority) into your schedule. According to Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time”, you should do the most difficult task first (the frogs). Just get it out of the way so that your sense of accomplishment can fuel your motivation to complete other less-daunting tasks. A large project may be divided into smaller manageable tasks.

A guide for your entries:

1. Enter top priority tasks first.
2. Slot in high priority tasks but eat the frog(s) first (the daunting one). It might be one frog at the beginning of the week. Or, if the frog is big (like a thesis), you may need to eat different parts of the frog at the beginning of the day for a period of time. 
3. Add your pledged appointments for the week e.g. mandatory meetings, meeting with a client, etc.
4. Insert medium and low priorities. You should use a different color or shading to separate these priorities. If a higher priority arises, then, at a glance, you’ll be able to see which medium and low priorities can be replaced.
5. Leave time between each task to allow for unforeseen delays; time to take a break; commuting time, your cut-off time, etc.

Be flexible. If you don’t get some things done this week, you can schedule them within the coming weeks. But don’t compromise on the frogs!

7) Set aside large chunks of time for ‘frog-eating’. 

Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time” also recommends setting aside large chunks of time (like three-hours) to devote to your important tasks (the frogs!). It helps to build momentum and focus. This time has to be protected at all costs. It means preparing your work space so that you have everything you need to get the task done.

Also, it requires that you guard that time from distractions like checking emails, messages, social media engagement, etc. When you are focused, you get into “flow” or “zone”. Research has shown that you complete tasks in 20% less time when you remove distractions. It works!

8) Create your plan in advance. 

Before your week begins, take a few minutes to make a plan for the week. As you get into the habit, it gets easier. If you’re using a digital calendar, “copy” and “paste” are your friends. 

Also, every night, take a moment to review the following day’s schedule. The subconscious is very powerful as you set yourself for your next tasks. You’ll also be less likely to forget. 

9) Follow your schedule.

It makes little sense having a plan if you don’t follow it. Keep it before you to guide how you spend your time. However, you need to also allow for some level of flexibility for the unexpected like a family emergency or God might have an assignment for you.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 

Related articles:

10 Ways to Realistically Achieve Work-Life Balance 

5 Proven Steps to Get Your Busy Life Under Control

13 Incredible Tips to Do More in Less Time

Summary 

A little planning goes a long way. When you put first things first, you can sit back and relax without feeling guilty about an unfulfilled commitment or a project that is delayed because of you. It just takes some intentionality and self-discipline. You’re on your way to becoming the most efficient woman that you can be and still enjoy life! 

In order to plan your week well, you need to ask God for wisdom; list all your activities for the week; determine your priorities for the week; rank your priorities; estimate time for each task; schedule your tasks for the week with their estimated time; set aside large chunks of time for “frog-eating”; make your plan before the week starts; and follow your schedule. That’s not too bad, is it?:) Also, remember to depend on the Holy Spirit to help you to do the impossible without giving you a heart failure:)

What are your tips for planning your week? Comment below and share your experiences. If you haven’t subscribed already, click here and you’ll receive my weekly tips to help you grow in your relationship with God and others. You’ll also get your free “Know Yourself” questionnaire straight in your Inbox. Send me an email to say “hi” and share a little about singleness your journey. Take care and thanks for stopping by!

#madetolove

With love,

Kimberly 

Recommended Resources:

“Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time” by Brian Tracy

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The post 9 Helpful Pointers to Plan Your Week Well appeared first on Petals Bloom.

“Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.” –Peter Drucker

You too can have a life like “Sally”. Instead of working longer hours; sleeping less; and sacrificing all your most valuable relationships, there are some practical action steps that you can implement to have a productive but satisfying life. Let’s look at “Sally’s” incredible tips to do more in less time. Some of her tips require pre-work, but it will be worth your savings in time, energy and of course, sanity!

Here are 13 incredible tips to do more in less time:

1) Buy in bulk.

If you were to calculate how much time it takes to go to and from the supermarket; in addition to the time spent searching for items; and them joining a line to pay for them, you’d realize that you spend hours per supermarket “run”. Instead, try to buy items in bulk and limit your trips to supermarkets, department stores, beauty supply stores, etc. This also includes shopping online because it can severely deplete your time if you’re not careful. Bulk buying will not only save time, but you can benefit from bulk discounts.

For instance, I consume a lot of ground produce so I go to the local market once per month to buy items like sweet potato, yam, dasheen, and cassava for the entire month ahead.

2) Prepare and cook future meals..

If you’re a single professional whose aim is to give, save and invest as much as possible, then you may opt to cook your own meals. Cooking and baking can be very time-consuming and can also zap your energy. An alternative can be to set aside chunks of time dedicated to preparing several meals for the rest of the month.. 

For instance, when I return home from purchasing the ground produce (point 1 example), I peel, wash, cut, package, label and freeze. During the following week, I simply remove what I want and then cook or defrost it. This incredible little tip saves loads of time for the entire month. I also cook all my peas and beans and package them into smaller quantities (1-2 servings size) before freezing. 

Action plan:

• Have a list of all the meals that you’d like to prepare for the month.
• Determine which aspects of the meal can be pre-cooked.
• Schedule time to cook and package them.  

3) Have an ongoing list of items to buy.

It’s frustrating when you’re at a department store and you’re trying to recall which items need to be replenished. A better way would be to devise a system of adding items to a list as soon as they finish. On my kitchen counter, I have a notepad that I use to record items that I need to purchase. I also use an app called “Shopping List”, which gives the option of adding different lists for the various stores that I frequent.

4) Invest in proper tools.

The right tools can save lots of time. Research which tools you’ll need to excel in your profession and have a plan to acquire them. If your line of work requires video editing, then you’ll need a computer with a powerful processor. On the home front, I own an electric pressure cooker which has multiple uses. It cuts cooking time in half, especially with beans.

5) Set up automated payments/transfers for recurring payments.

Depending on your country, you can either go to the bank to set up automatic payments or you can use online banking to accomplish the same purpose. For example, if your internet bill is the same amount every month, why should you join a line? That would work if you have a purpose of meeting new people.

6) Use online options to make payments.

A) Online banking

Recently, I had to make a payment for a service from a friend. My friend and I have two different banks. In the past, I would go to my ATM; withdraw the money; and then go to his bank to make a deposit. Instead, it took me less than two minutes to complete the transaction online. 

B) Company apps

Most established companies now provide their own apps to allow quick and easy payments by customers. Why not try that option?

7) Unsubscribe from marketing emails.

A discount is music to the budget-conscious woman. As such, you were willing to sign up for that 10% discount from a store that you like. You say to yourself, “for a 10% future discount, I can handle a little email marketing.” The next thing you know, your Inbox becomes swamped with emails from at least 10 different companies offering your dream vacation at a “steal of a deal” or the latest gadget that you only just realised that you’ve always “needed.” 

Even if you never succumb to their marketing genius, a lot of time is wasted reading, deleting, or simply taking up valuable space in your Inbox. Those seconds turn into minutes and over time, they add up. From time to time, I go through my Inbox and unsubscribe to anything that does not add immediate value to my life. It would have been better never to have subscribed in the first place. 

8) Invest in clothes that require no ironing.

My favorite clothes, which are the ones most worn, are those that require no or little pre-care. Wool, lyocell, silk, denim (some people iron them, but I don’t), cashmere, knits, and spandex are good examples of wrinkle-resistant fabrics.  Another trick is placing your clothes on hangers immediately after using a clothes dryer. Additionally, if you line-dry your clothes, you can use hangers instead of clips (where applicable). When they are dry, you simply transfer them to your wardrobe without the need for ironing.

9) Have a dedicated place for everything that you own.

Lots of time can be wasted when items cannot be found quickly. Let everything have a home of its own. For you to easily recall where your items are stored, place items where they “naturally” belong or what makes good sense to you. An example would be placing all your stationery items in a drawer or container. It will make a world of difference in your level of efficiency. In order for this to be maintained, you need to return items to their correct places after their use.

10) Group tasks by similarity and location.

Having a written to-do list will help you to effectively do this. For example, if you need to write several letters, set aside time to write all of them in quick succession. Also, as you go through your list for the week, you observe that four tasks are to be done at the bank. Your next step is to ensure that you make all the necessary preparations to make one trip to the bank during that week. Poor planning will always result in time wastage. The same goes for errands in a particular part of town. Try to maximize your journeys as much as you can. 

11) Have a “Don’t Forget” Shelf or Basket by the Door.

This little system will help you to remember to take important items with you. It might be a book that you must return to the library; the “thank you” gift for your friend; your mother’s casserole dish that she lent you and the like. When you have systems like these, you’ll make better use of your time.

12) Maximize waiting time.

I had a friend who would always walk with her ‘thank you’ cards, stamps and envelopes. Whenever she had to spend time waiting, she’d pull out her stock and get “cracking.” I usually use my “waiting” time to write a blog post. If you want to spend more time with your best friend, why not “kill two birds with one stone” by doing brisk walking together?

13) Restrict your emails, messaging and social media interactions to pre-set times.

Most of us don’t realise how much time is eroded when we allow constant interruptions of messages and social media posts. I did a short course on LinkedIn two years ago on productivity. The tutor recommended setting predesignated times for responding to emails like every three hours. I tried it with emails and messaging and I was able to get more work done throughout my day. Even the type of work you deliver will improve if you gave it focus. Removing the notifications might ease the temptation.

Related articles:

9 Tips to Prevent Burnout

10 Ways to Realistically Achieve Work-Life Balance

5 Proven Steps to Get Your Busy Life Under Control

Summary 

With so much to do, you need to maximize your time like “Sally”. Realistically, this delicate balance is only possible if you guard your time and spend it on the best activities. Remember, you cannot say “yes” to any and everything. You’re a human being and not a machine. Therefore, you need to work smarter and not necessarily harder.

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Some incredible tips to get more done in less time are buying in bulk; preparing and cooking meals for the month ahead; having a “running” shopping list; investing in proper tools; setting up automated payments/transfers; making payments through the apps of service providers; unsubscribing from marketing emails; buying wrinkle-free clothes; organizing all that you own; grouping tasks according to similarity and location; having a “don’t forget” area; maximize waiting time; and limiting and restricting response times.

Which tips might be useful for you? What other tips can you share with us to do more in less time. I look forward to hearing your gems of wisdom and experience. Let’s create a community of learning together. 

If you’d like to receive more tips on living a life full of meaning and a vibrant relationship with God, I’d like to invite you to subscribe. When you do, you’ll receive your free gift of the “Know Yourself” questionnaire immediately in your Inbox. Also, feel free to send me an email. Tell me about yourself and your singleness journey. I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by!

#madetolove

Like, Share & Subscribe!

With love,

Kimberly 

Recommended resources:

“The New One Minute Manager” by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson 

“First Things First” by Stephen R. Covey

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post 13 Incredible Tips to Do More in Less Time appeared first on Petals Bloom.

Consequently, you can easily find little pieces of paper with scribbles of tasks in your handbag, your desk, and your laptop bag. Can you get your busy life under control?

Recently, a few deadlines have slipped your mind, resulting in unwanted penalties. Your world is out of control and you want to do something about it. Not too long ago, I missed a deadline to pay my registration fees for my postgraduate studies. The late fee was 1000% more. SMH!

As we look at God’s creation, it is an orderly masterpiece. Since you are made in the image and likeness of God, you will be naturally drawn to order rather than disorder. In brief, a chaotic life is filled with inefficiencies and an unnecessary waste of time and resources.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27

Sadly, disorder has described my life from time to time. These short seasons have occurred when major events have interrupted my normal routine, like organizing a huge event; planning a wedding; having a particular busy work season; going on vacation overseas; and the like.

I love being organized so when things begin to slip through the cracks, it just doesn’t feel good. Like you, I have to make a decision – be swallowed up or take action. Eventually, I gather myself together and begin to take control of my life.

Here are five steps that can help you to get your busy life under control:

Step 1: Make a master list.

When you feel overwhelmed by a large number of tasks, you need to see what you’re dealing with in plain sight. This step involves brainstorming and recording all your tasks in one place. At this point, you need to gather all your recorded tasks from your ‘Note’ app, your pieces of paper littered throughout your belongings and anywhere you have made jottings. 

It’s very important that you record/write down all your tasks. Hence, your tasks cannot remain in your mind if they are to get done in a timely fashion. If not, you’re likely to miss important deadlines and feel overwhelmed in the process.

A key point is to have your list easily accessible so that when a task comes to mind, you add it to that one list. 

Step 2: Divide the list into several categories. 

The categories are as follows:

D -Delegate some tasks.

There are people in our lives who would willingly bear some of our burdens. As such, you can delegate to others who have been hired to share the burden, like co-workers. If you like to always be in control and micromanage others, then you’ll always have too much to do.  Instead, entrust some tasks to others so you can focus on only what you can do. 

Imagine what you could do with the extra time if you gave away some control. They may not do it as well as you, but this is an opportunity to coach and develop them so you would not get stuck.

Persons in this category: team members, parents, siblings and friends.

H – Tasks that can be done by hired help.

Somes tasks can be outsourced to others. If you can afford it, it might be better to pay someone to relieve you of certain responsibilities. For this decision, you need to decide which resources you value more – time, energy or money.

Outsourced tasks: cleaning, cooking, shopping, cutting the lawn, and administrative tasks.

Alternatives to hiring help:

• Doing it less frequently;
• Postponing it until you have the time or you have the money to hire someone; 
• Investing in equipment that makes your life easier e.g. a vacuum robot to clean your flooring.
• Making changes that will eliminate the need altogether (for instance, replace your lawn with a more manageable surface). 

There are generally lots of solutions to solve problems if we take time to think, pray and research.

A – Ask for Assistance

You may have a friend who is skillful at a task that you absolutely dread. Perhaps, you can even swap responsibilities with your friends. Furthermore, you can just enlist their help to get the job done faster.

R – Remove some tasks

You need to evaluate if it’s worth your time to do certain tasks. If it is not important to your well-being, growth or overall development, then maybe you need to consider removing it altogether. Don’t overwhelm yourself with futile tasks. If clearing your Inbox is not a priority for you, then leave it undone. I just hope important emails don’t get buried:)

M – My tasks 

This should be a list of tasks that only you can do for yourself. Read on…

NOTE: At this point, you just need to place “D”, “H”, “A”, “R” or “M” beside each task. Strike off the ones with an “R”.

Step 3: Have an action plan with dates.

For the next two weeks (or more), assign 5-10 tasks per day from your master list until none remains. Each day should have tasks with different priorities (high, medium and low).

Indicate the priorities next to each task so that you will know clearly the tasks that should be done first or should be done before the day ends. The ones with low priority can be rescheduled to another day if time doesn’t permit. 

You want to have a manageable number of tasks per day. If you assign too many tasks daily, you may be unable to complete most of them and having to reschedule them regularly.

That, my friends, will not be very motivating. It’s better to make a little progress every day than pretend to be superwoman. Take it from me, being superwoman will cause you to be burnout. Read “9 Tips to Prevent Burnout”.

Also note that some tasks require a lot more time to complete. Therefore, on those days, you may need to lessen the number of tasks assigned for that particular day. 

It is very important that each task has a deadline date. A date keeps you accountable to yourself. If you have no assigned dates, it is very likely that some tasks will remain undone until they become urgent. You might just be spending day-in and day-out wasting time and then rushing into emergency mode when you realize that a task is urgent. 

Step 4: List all recurring tasks.

Some tasks recur daily, weekly, monthly, annually, or every five years (or the like). The daily tasks might have already become a habit, so you need a plan for the tasks that you might be more inclined to forget.

Some possible recurring tasks:

• Pay credit card balance
• Pay utility bills
• Write newsletters to your clients
• Pay car and house insurance
• Renew visa(s), passport, driver’s permit and national identification card

I’ve heard horror stories of people arriving at the airport and then realizing that their passport or visa has expired. With a plan, this does not have to be your story (anymore).

Therefore, a system is needed to cater for recurring payments on the due date. Also, it helps if you also have an alarm or notification for days or weeks prior to the due date to allow for adequate preparation. With a visa application, you need to allow time for preparing documents.

Step 5: Use a scheduling system.

Option 1: Use a notebook or planner .

Acquire an annual planner or use a plain notebook and customize it for your use. There, include dates and at the front and/or back, record all your recurring payments. When you use a new book in the future, you’ll need to transfer this list of recurring payments.

You may also want to use them in conjunction with your smart device to remind you of important commitments via an alarm bell or notification.

Option 2: Use an planner or scheduler app.

I use “Wunderlist “ which has some neat functions like the following:

• Highlight priorities;
• Automatically transfers due tasks to ”Today”;
• View overdue tasks with a quick and easy option to reschedule them;
• Sync across devices;
• Alarms to notify you (if you set them);
• Option to set recurring tasks;
• Ability to tick off completed tasks;
• Keeps a record of completed tasks; and
• Set a reminder time and date before the task is due. (Works well for important meetings).

It makes being organized very simple and easy. Furthermore, it’s available on all platforms. You might want to select an app with similar functions.

Related articles:

9 Tips to Prevent Burnout 

10 Ways to Realistically Achieve Work-Life Balance

Summary

It’s very easy to feel overwhelmed when there’s a lot to do. You don’t need to feel stuck because there is a way out. Stop, take a deep breath and start applying this five-step plan – make a master list; divide your tasks into five categories; have an action plan with dates; list all recurring tasks; and employ a scheduling system.

As you begin to accomplish your tasks, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and your life will become filled with more order. Enjoy the process and celebrate your small victories.

Was this helpful to you? What do you do when you feel overwhelmed with many tasks? Please comment below and let’s all learn from each other. 

Thank you for engaging with this blog! I appreciate that you’ve stopped by to read:) If you’d like to receive my weekly email tips (I’ve heard that they’re quite helpful!), subscribe today. As a gift for you, you’ll also receive your free “Know Yourself” questionnaire. I enjoy hearing from every subscriber, so drop me a reply and introduce yourself.

#madetolove

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With love,

Kimberly

Recommended Resources:

100 Ways to Simplify Your Life by Joyce Meyer

Simplify: 10 Practices to Unclutter Your Soul by Bill Hybels 

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post 5 Proven Steps to Get Your Busy Life Under Control appeared first on Petals Bloom.

Success Stories 

John Maxwell read leadership books for one hour daily for five years with the aim of becoming a leadership expert. He has achieved that goal.

Warren Buffet, one of the most successful investors of the world, reads 500 pages every day. The Buffet formula is “going to bed smarter than when you woke up.” 

Serena Williams trains four hours a day.

In the book “The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, their research has found that a surprising number of millionaires are among the middle class and blue-collar workers, and not among the wealthy or persons having affluent professions. These financially disciplined people live below their means and choose to regularly save and invest little by little over a lifetime.

“Successful people form habits that feed their success, instead of habits that feed their failure.” – Jeff Olson in his book “The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success”

Simply put, self-discipline is the act of doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done regardless of your feelings at the time. In essence, it requires self-control which thankfully, is available for all true Christians. 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. – 2 Timothy 1:7 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

Success in key areas 

As Christians, we want to achieve success in key areas in our relationships (especially with God), our health, our finances, and our personal development. We want overall success and not one-sided success. What’s the sense of becoming the wealthiest woman on earth at the expense of your relationship with God? The grave would only be able to hold your body and a few small items.

Habits are the wings on which self-discipline flies. They go hand in hand. The habits that you form will either advance your life goals or sabotage them. It doesn’t matter how much you pray about your life plans; if you’re one of the best in the field; or if you’ve gotten prophecies about your future greatness. If you don’t become a disciplined person, you will fall short of your dreams and never reach your full potential.

It took me many years to finally grow in self-discipline. I’m not where I’d like to be (still to overcome my bad habit of not eating on time!), but I’m certainly better than where I was. When I was a teenager, I failed at getting a scholarship because I had poor study habits. However, in my current degree, I have earned a high grade point average because I have grown! Yay!

Some other good habits that I’ve developed through the years:

• Memorizing Scripture.
• Exercising 3-5 times weekly.
• Cooking and eating healthily.
• Saving and investing for my retirement.
• Saving an emergency fund.
• Drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily.
• Regularly reading good self-development books.
• Daily journaling.

Related article: “Doing This Changed My Life”

I’ve come a long way. If I can do it, you can too. Here are some tips to help you grow in the one thing that all successful people have in common (self-discipline):

1) Determine the goals and the sacrifice needed.

“No pain, no gain.” Every good habit will require that you give up something else…a bad or unproductive habit. Saving money will require that you spend less. Exercising will require that you give up some sleep time or entertainment time. Reading a good book will require that you don’t watch the series that you love. Eating healthily will require that you don’t bake or buy food from which you need to stay away. 

You cannot do everything in 24 hours. So we must prioritize and make sacrifices. We have to count the cost.

Suggested template (Columns 1-4):

C1: Write down your goals in the area(s) in which you want growth.

C2: State the habits that you need to implement in order to achieve those goals. 

C4: Jot down all your bad or unproductive habits that will prevent you from reaching your goals. (Complete C4 before C3).

C3: Note the gap and record the sacrifices that you’re willing to make to reach your goals.

2) Be aware of your habits.

You need to prayerfully discern if your current habits are helping you or distracting you.

Good, productive habits – habits that support growth in every area of your life.

Bad habits – habits that destroy or weaken your health, relationships, finances, etc.

Unproductive habits – habits that are not evil but they can waste a lot of your time if not managed carefully. Your time is your most precious resource. Once TIME is wasted, it’s gone FOREVER!

3) Start with an easy habit.

In order to become a more disciplined woman, you need to choose a habit that is relatively easy to accomplish. One of my earliest habits as a teenager was making up my bed everyday. Even if I were to sit on it five minutes later, it was still worth keeping the habit. You might think that it was a waste of time because you’re going to sleep on it again in the night. 

However, the very act sets the tone of your day. It wakes you up and prepares your mind to be in a frame of productivity. You need to remember your end goal which is to become a more disciplined person so that you can succeed at life. Good habits propels you to form more good habits until you become an overall disciplined person. You develop self-trust. But you have to be intentional!

Suggested ‘easy’ habits to start:

• Start making up your bed daily.
• If you’d like to begin removing sugar from your tea, every day, add a little less sugar to your tea until you drink it with none. That’s what I did!
• For water consumption, I gradually replaced my sugary drinks with water until I began to love water.

Our bodies can be trained!

4) Set a time and establish a system. 

It sounds good to say that you will begin exercising regularly. In order to make this a reality, you must go a step further. You’ll be more successful in keeping a habit if you set a schedule. Personally, I prefer to do most of habits every day or Mondays to Fridays (when there’s a natural break in routine). Otherwise, I tend to forget. When you have a regular system, it’ll eventually become like second nature to you. 

Here’s an example with an exercise habit:

• Which days would you like to exercise?
• For how long are you going to exercise?
• With which exercise routine will you begin? 
• Are you going to use an app…which app? Are you going to subscribe to a YouTube exercise channel? Which channel? Are you going to join the gym? Which gym? Are you going to walk with a friend? Which friend and when are you going to ask them to accompany you?
• When will you begin? (Date and time of day)

Say that you want to start an emergency fund…here are the questions that you need to answer:

• What is your goal? Is it an amount equivalent to six months’ living expenses?
• Which expenses are you going to cut or reduce until you reach your goal?
• Where are you going to store this money?
• Under what conditions will you withdraw and spend it?
• Will you set up an automatic deduction from one account to an account to hold your emergency funds? When are you going to do it?

5) Track your progress.

You need to know how you’re doing. If you’re doing well, you celebrate! If you’re doing poorly, you may need to reassess the situation and take corrective action. When I started journaling, I began in the morning. But I found that I was always rushing to get ready and my mind could not sufficiently focus on writing a journal entry. Therefore, I tweaked the plan and now I journal before I go to bed when I’m in a relaxed reflective mood. It has worked wonders!

Related article: 10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling Today

When I set my goal to read twenty-four books a year, I used the note app on my phone to record every book that I read. It helped me to track my progress. When I began to study again, that habit ‘went out the door’ because I had to focus on reading textbooks and I had less time for leisure reading. When life changes, we need to be flexible, but try not to throw out the habit altogether unless it is no longer helpful.

6) Don’t give up.

A new year begins and we set new year’s resolutions. I’ve heard people decrying New Year’s resolutions, but I’m not one of them. A new season of life, whether it is a new year, a new job, a new week, or even a new day, is always a good time to make changes in our lives. New represents fresh beginnings for me. The problem is not with the resolutions, but the person making the resolution. If we are undisciplined, we will never keep our resolutions regardless of the time of year we make them. 

Therefore, when you form a habit and you break it, just start again. It is useless to beat up yourself and quit altogether. Simply come to terms that you have ‘failed’ in that instance but get back on that schedule. Refuse to stay down and feel sorry for yourself. Pick yourself up and start again and again until the habit develops. Remember, you have goals to accomplish! 

7) Make it manageable.

Some habits require that you break it up into bite-sized pieces. Let’s say that you don’t like reading, but you want to read more. Instead of sitting down to read a large portion of the book, it might be worth your while to commit to reading 5-10 pages per day. If you wait until you’re in the mood, a habit of reading will not be formed. 

8) Don’t give into your moods.

I think this is the hardest point. Many of us allow our feelings and moods to run our lives. For years, we have allowed our emotions to inform our habits and we are weakened in regards to making prudent decisions. We are at the mercy of our emotions. 

If you don’t feel like drinking water, simply grab that glass, open your mouth and swallow that water. It’s quite easy to do and it’s also quite easy NOT to do. Do not give into your emotions. You rule it and not the other way around. The good news is that when you begin to form good habits, even your moods will come under subjection. Your mind and emotions become more disciplined.

9) Add another worthy habit.

When your small starting habits become set, it’s time to add more challenging ones. You have created some level of self-trust, so you can give yourself a slightly bigger challenge. For example, if your first intentional habit was making up your bed every day and you have been successful for the last 21 days, a slightly bigger habit might be drinking six glasses of water daily. It’s your life so you decide which habit to adopt. 

You can also try habit stacking by adding on another habit after the first habit.

Here an example of habit stacking in my morning routine on a weekday as single woman (H=Habit):

H1: Wake-up 

H2: Make up bed

H3: Drink 2 (8-ounce) glasses of water

H4: Spend time talking with God

H5: Memorize Scripture 

H6: Exercise 

H7: Eat Breakfast (I made my oats mixture in bulk over the weekend)

H8: Shower and get ready for work 

10) Involve a friend.

Most people find this to be helpful in forming habits. You can ask a friend to join you or hold you accountable. If you both want to memorize scripture, at the end of the week, you can recite scripture to each other. You can go walking with a friend if you both have this goal.

Summary 

Ladies, a good habit might take some effort to begin, but after a while, it may actually turn out to be fun. When I visited my friend, I observed my friend’s posture and her flat stomach. I enquired and she told me that she had been doing Pilates. Immediately, I purchased my own Pilates videos with the intention of beginning my workout. I pressed ‘play’ and it looked so easy! Looks are deceiving. It was downright hard. After five minutes, I gave up because I just couldn’t do the exercises. I gave it a break for about two months. Then, I returned to it and I subsequently enjoyed several years of Pilates.

My ten tips for developing self-discipline by cultivating good habits are determine your goals and the cost; be aware of your habits; start easy; set a time and establish a system; track your progress; don’t give up; break it up into manageable pieces; don’t give into your moods; add more habits; and involve a friend. These pointers have helped me and I hope that they benefit you as well.

Questions to consider:

• What are your goals?
• Do you have some steps or habits you need to start today to move closer to your goals, whether relationships, health, finances or personal development?
• What are your current habits that have you aided your success in relationships, health, finances, or personal development?

I’d love to hear your views. Comment below and share your wisdom. Subscribe and get your free ‘Know Yourself’ questionnaire. By subscribing, you’ll receive weekly emails from me in your inbox. Just send me an email if you have any questions or would like to give feedback. I personally answer all my emails. Thanks for stopping by!

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Love,

Kimberly 

Recommended resources:

“The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success” by Jeff Olson

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey

“The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy” by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post The One Thing That All Successful People Have in Common | 10 Tips to Develop It appeared first on Petals Bloom.