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How hard is it to be intentional when distractions call to you? Busyness is almost an epidemic in our culture.
For the last number of months, when I considered what I wanted to do once we dropped off our youngest at college, I pictured days and weeks of quiet time in my home, writing stories, organizing my house after twenty years of raising two sons, and taking life at a slower pace.
Ummm, my fantasy slammed into a brick wall when we arrived home from our roadtrip.
Earlier in the summer, I made several commitments for September. My craved-for quiet mornings have yielded to appointments and the aftermath of organizing after completing home renovations in August.
Here we are in the middle of September, and I’m tired. I’ve done a little writing. But I have a problem: I stretched my time too thin to do everything.
I got distracted.
What does it mean to be intentional?
Rachel, in a post by Weber University, defines being intentional as “making deliberate choices to reflect what is important to us.”
The simplicity of this definition can guide us to be intentional in our choices and how we live our lives.
I believe when we’re distracted by busyness, it’s because either we don’t understand our purpose or don’t believe God’s called us to that purpose.
Consider these questions
- What’s important to us? Why?
- What are we doing right now that reflects that important value/task/belief/goal?
- What distracts us from living this out?
True confession: The “later on” yeses I agreed to in August impacted every aspect of my September. I’m accomplishing nothing effectively because I didn’t prioritize what’s most important.
Instead of writing for a few hours daily, I’ve had to reduce or cut that time. Why? Because I also have jobs around the house and need to complete tasks like sending care packages to our sons. Oh, and spend time with the Hubs.
Because, after Jesus, he’s my most important priority.
This month, I forgot what my true priorities were.
Our choices reflect what’s most important to us.
How to be intentional in our everyday lives
Before we can be intentional in how we live, we need to talk with the Lord to understand our purpose and calling.
Pray for God’s vision
Pray for God’s vision for our lives. He may not show us everything, but if we ask, the Lord will reveal the next few steps (Psalm 119:105). We need to be intentional to walk in those steps.
Gain a clear understanding
Discover a clear understanding of what’s important to us. Until we know our values, callings, and goals, we’ll live into busyness rather than intentionality.
Take time to make better choices
When we find the areas in our lives that are out of balance, it’ll take time to make choices that better reflect what’s most important. Let’s give ourselves the grace to make the necessary changes to become intentional in how we live each day.
Evaluate current commitments
Evaluate our current commitments to decide how we spend our time from here on. We mustn’t fill those calendar squares full. Instead, we must be careful with our yeses. Especially for a calling or goal that requires a lot of time, we must open space in our days to work toward these things.
Have a clear way to see engagements on calendar
Make sure we have a clear way to see commitments on our calendars. If you have a family calendar on your phone or fridge, it can be tricky to see your obligations when mixed in with other family members’ appointments. Especially if their and your appointments overlap, consider creating separate calendars (using different apps if needed).
Make time for our calling
Set an appointment on our calendar so we have time to work on our calling. And honor that appointment. I evaluate my calendar weekly and determine where I will set writing times.
7 Great Ways to Be Intentional in a Busy-Centered World—Accept that we won't be able to do everything we want or feel pressured to do. And that's okay. #tellhisstory #beintentional #identity Click To TweetAccept we can’t do everything
Accept that we won’t be able to do everything we want or feel pressured to do. And that’s okay. Each day, let’s bring our list of need-to-do’s and want-to-do’s to the Lord and ask Him to prioritize them according to what He knows is best.
Conclusion
We’ll face seasons where many unavoidable demands usurp our time, forcing us into a busy rhythm. When this happens, let’s be kind to ourselves. During trials, remember they have a definite beginning and ending. And God walks with us through all of them.
To be intentional doesn’t require perfection or an unyielding daily schedule. If we want to live with intention, we need to be in communion with our Father, Who has given us these callings and dreams.
At the beginning of this month, I realized how impossible it would be to do everything. I’ve scaled back my dedicated writing time to keep up with daily responsibilities. I’ve made calendar changes to help me choose more wisely from here on out. I’m determined to be intentional to follow God’s leading each day.
Will I mess up again? Probably. And if (and when) I do, I’ll revisit my choices with my Father and ask Him to recalibrate my thoughts with His heart.
What about you? What helps you be intentional in your life choices? How do you make decisions that reflect what’s important to you?
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To TweetEach week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
This statement stood out to me: Make choices that better reflect what’s most important. I need to nurture the habit of asking myself throughout the day, “As a Jesus-follower who desires to please and serve him, does this choice reflect what’s most important to HIM? Thank you, Jeanne, for this choice-determining strategy!
Nancy, I love the idea of having a habit of askoing, “As a Jesus-follower who desires to please and serve him, does this choice reflect what’s most important to HIM?” I think I need to adopt that, too. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, Nancy!
Jeanne, hi! I like the fall and the beginning of the year to re-evaluate what I’m doing and why. I’ve learned over time to say ‘no, thanks’ without a whole list of reasons why and say ‘yes, please’ wholeheartedly to just a few things. I’ve lived life the other way and have learned the hard way that it’s an invite to burnout, resentment, and attitude problems.
Hi, friend! I love that you evaluate what you’re doing and why. What a great way to make sure you are being intentional. I’ve had to learn that it’s okay to say “No” without giving justifications for why. SO hard for this recovering people-pleaser. You’re so right. Too many yeses do lead to burnout and disappointment. Thanks for sharing your wisdom here!
Super ways to take more charge of our time and use it more intentionally for those things that are important to us.
Kathy, thank you for being a faithful visitor here. 🙂
Lots of great truth, Jeanne. I have been doing a lot of evaluating myself. But for me, it’s an ongoing issue. I find it entirely too easy to take on too much. And my long to-do lists (really want to-do lists) attest to the that fact.
Donna, our schedules say a lot about our priorities, don’t they? I’m working to be better about what I set as a priority and determining the difference between “need-to-do” and “want-to-do” lists. May we both become more intentional with knowing God’s priorities for us. 🙂
I love the questions you encourage us to ask ourselves, Jeanne. So important. We can so easily lose sight of our priorities. Thank you for sharing your heart. And your photos always refresh my spirit! Love and blessings to you of strength and wisdom in your new season of life!
Trudy, I’ve too often lost sight of priorities. As I grow older, I am beginning to lessen the amount of things that push a sense of urgency on me so I can focus on what’s truly imortant. I so appreciate you, my friend!
Jeanne, I have a t-shirt that says “Easily distracted by plants,” which is 100 percent true, but also doesn’t cover nearly enough! I’m easily distracted by many, many things. The interesting thing is, once I really get focused on a project that I’m passionate about, those distractions fall by the wayside. The hard part, for me, is getting started. And not getting distracted by the possible ways the whole thing won’t work before I even start. I hope October is more productive for you. This empty nest journey is full of opportunities to hold our expectations loosely and learn from each other, isn’t it? 🙂
Lois, your shirt’s words made me smile. Like you, I am easily distracted by many things. Also like you, when I’m focused, I’m all there. It’s just the getting focused that can be a bit tricky. This empty nest journey does offer many opportunities to hold our expectations loosely. I’m so thankful I have friends like you to learn from!
I’ve tried to be conventional,
but that is not to be,
so I chose to be intentional
’bout building Barb a 203.
Not a real one, just a clone
in 37 millimeter,
but when I am dead and gone
I think nothing could be sweeter
than meeting uninvited guests
with something from The Terminator
that they might take hurdle-tests
in seeing who can leap the greater
distance o’er barbed-wire fence
in fear of female violence.
It’s just a flare projector, but a home invader won’t know that.
Andrew, of all the things you are, conventional has never been a descriptor that comes to mind for you. 🙂 Great poem, my friend. You made me smile. I’m continuing to pray for you both.
Living intentionally is something I strive for and I often ask God to guide me in doing so. It really helps me focus on what matters most! I’m so glad we found you. It’s our first time visiting! Thanks for providing this oopportunity to link up and learn from others!
Laura, I’m so glad you visited! You’re so right. Asking God to guide us in being intentional in each day makes such a difference, doesn’t it? I hope you’ll be back again. I look forward to reading your words.
Jeanne, love your article and I am going through this currently. For one I felt God calling me to be present at whatever task I am doing – no multi taking as I am not good at that – especially home time and Huband time. And then next to turn over my tasks and schedules to God. Thank you for your timely post.
Deborah, I’m so encouraged by your words. Choosing to be present in each moment requires a lot of intentionality, doesn’t it?! I love that you’re working on being more intentional in home time and husband time. It sounds like you’ve got a good plan for your intentionality. 🙂
Oh boy, those good distractions that are enemies of the best. They sure can eat into my day. This is needed guidance.
I hear you, Deb. May we both guard against those distractions!
I’m learning what a BIG responsibility it is to have control of my time!
Jeanne, I have found over the years since chronic health issues came to stay that being in a place where my body dictates my every day has altered my choices & perspective of ‘busyness’. Being super flexible on & during any given day is key.
Blessings, Jennifer
I am encouraged by your words and your example, Jennifer. We do need to look at more than our to-do’s when we determine how we spend each day. Flexibility is a skill. I’m still learning that one. 😉
Thank you Jeanne 😊
🙂
Michele, you are SO right!!!
Change is hard. And time can be evasive. You are so correct about the need to be intentional. The season of having children in our home with school and sports and social activities has its own rhythm. And then they go, and it takes time and intentionality to find that new purposeful rhythm. Give yourself so much grace to find your way.
Lisa, change is hard! You’re so right. When children leave the home, the entire rhythm of our days, our mindsets, our hearts changes. Thanks for the reminder to give myself grace as I adjust to our new season.
This is exactly what I needed to hear this morning, Jeanne, “To be intentional doesn’t require perfection or an unyielding daily schedule. If we want to live with intention, we need to be in communion with our Father, Who has given us these callings and dreams. I’m determined to be intentional to follow God’s leading each day.” I too have “intended” to get a lot of writing done, but “little things” have eaten my time up. This morning, upon awaking, I felt prompted I needed to be intentional in setting aside time to write and be diligent in following through with it. Your blog post was a good confirmation to follow through with intentional writing. Thank you! May the Lord give you grace as you finish out your commitments, and may He give you wisdom as you implement your new writing schedule.
Lisa, I’m so glad you found what you needed in these words. 🙂 It can be too easy to set writing as a lower priority in our days. I hope you’re able to set a good schedule so you can do the writing God’s given you to do! And thank you for your words.
Such a needed message, Jeanne. Thank you! All your points spoke to me. Even as believers distractions and busyness take ahold of us. Especially if we aren’t intentional (loved the definition). Our choices and activity really do reflect what’s really important to us!
I try to remind myself to lay down my agenda and pick up God’s will.
Karen, I’m so glad you found encouragement in these words. I almost think that, especially as believers, distractions and busyness can get a hold of us. I think the enemy uses distraction to draw us away from the Lord. I love your reminder to lay down our agendas and pick up God’s will.
Intention is an important focus, especially for us that see “squirrels” everywhere! In my daily journal (and the one I published) the first activity is a daily intention. Often, my intention will be broader, however it helps establish what I will say “yes” to that day. It might be to “seek the Lord in all things” for example. Also, it is so important to give ourselves grace when we feel we failed at our intentions. Keeping the bigger picture in mind helps. Will I wonder how I could have gotten more of a following on social media at the end of my life? Or will I be grateful for all the time I got to spend with my loved ones, including creating inviting spaces in my home for my children and friends? Wonderful points here today!!
Lynn, you offer some great insights here! I especially appreciate your words about discerning our intentions for a day and allowing that to guide our yeses. Very wise!
I know what you mean, Jeanne. I thought when my children left home, I’d have all kinds of time for writing. It hasn’t worked out that way! I try to pray every morning for wisdom in how to use my time that day.
Barbara, your words reminded me of how, when our youngest entered first grade (full day school), I thought I’d have wide open times for writing. Silly me. I’m realizing now, if I believe God has called me to write, I need to be purposeful in opening up time to write. I love that you pray every morning for wisdom in how to use each day’s time. I need to be better about this. Thanks for sharing this!