Stop The Juggling Act And Move Toward Your Dreams
Do you ever feel like you’re juggling multiple objects while shuffling precariously on top of a tiny ball?
Don’t drop anything, and don’t fall!
As single mamas, everything we juggle feels critically important. We have to balance the unmanageable cycle of working, cooking, cleaning, playing, reading, staying healthy, paying bills, maintaining relationships, and maybe—MAYBE—if we’re lucky, sleeping.
<Cue the circus music>
So, how do you manage everything while you move toward your goals and dreams?
As you’re juggling, you'll quickly realize that some objects in your life are like rubber balls—if you drop them, they'll either bounce back or roll away. And that’s okay. Some non-essential things don’t need to be the object of your attention. Letting go of these can actually lighten your load and make you feel less burdened.
However, family, health, friends, and spiritual growth are like glass objects. If you drop one of these, it may get scuffed, damaged, or even shattered.
Here are some ways you can strive for balance and manage your time more effectively because your goals and dreams for the future matter. Let’s ensure you move toward your future while protecting and nurturing your life's most fragile and vital priorities.
Prioritizing Tasks
One of the most crucial aspects of effective time management is learning to prioritize tasks. Here are some tips to help you focus on what's most important. If you have time now, grab a paper and pen (or pull up the notes app on your phone) and take a quick assessment.
Identify Your Priorities
Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish each day. Break each task into three categories: urgent, important, and non-essential. Be honest with yourself. What is rubber, and what is glass? For instance, making your bed could be a rubber ball task, while spending quality time with your children should be a glass ball task.
Identifying your priorities will help you focus on what truly matters and avoid getting sidetracked by less important tasks.
Use the 80/20 Rule
The Pareto Principle suggests that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Identify the 20% of tasks that could contribute to 80% of your progress towards your goals. If you want to move toward your goals and dreams, you’ll need to spend time on the tasks that have the most impact on getting you there.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Setting reasonable expectations is essential for maintaining momentum and preventing burnout. The vision you have for your future is going to take time, and that’s okay. Here's how to set realistic expectations:
Break Tasks into Smaller Steps
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Break your goals into smaller, manageable steps and set deadlines for each part. If you focus on the big picture, you may get overwhelmed, but if you take smaller steps, you’ll make steady and manageable progress.
Consider Your Schedule
Be mindful of your existing commitments and set your expectations and deadlines accordingly. Allocate time in your day or week to focus on the smaller tasks without overloading yourself.
Be Flexible
Raise your hand if your life is unpredictable. Yep, we see that hand. You’re a parent—a single parent—so of course you’re going to need to give yourself a lot of grace. Life is unpredictable, and that's okay. Allow some flexibility in reaching your goals to accommodate unexpected events or challenges. You're not alone in this.
Creating a Balanced Schedule
Proverbs 21:5 says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” (NLT)
Once you’ve established your priorities and expectations, it’s time to create a schedule. Nothing is ever achieved by chance. Where your attention goes, your energy flows.
Here are some tips to help you create a well-rounded routine:
Plan Ahead
Use a planner or digital calendar to schedule your tasks, appointments, and personal time. Planning ahead reduces stress and ensures you allocate time for the most important aspects of your life.
Include Self-Care
Self-care is not a luxury; it's a necessity, Mama. Make time for activities that rejuvenate you, such as exercise, hobbies, or simply relaxing with a good book. Stop the voices in your head that tell you, “That’s not possible.” Set a goal to make it possible. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Self-care isn’t selfish.
Delegate When Possible
Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you can, delegate tasks to family members or consider outsourcing certain responsibilities, such as housekeeping or childcare. If you ever have a friend say, “Let me know if that’s anything I can do,” don’t just say, “Thank you.” Speak up and let them know how they can help.
Remembering Who Holds Your Future
While all of these strategies are good and right, it’s important to remind yourself daily of Proverbs 19:21: “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” (NLT)
At the heart of all your plans, plan to pursue God.
Pray As You Plan
Saturate your planning with prayer and plan to pray over it each day. As you seek God, He will often lead you to something greater than you had planned.
Pursue God Daily
When we seek God’s plan, we’ll have a harder time taking our to-do lists too seriously. God’s dreams are greater than our dreams. He is our great, unshakable guide for our future. As we pursue Him, we find ourselves more open to how our priorities should change.
Sometimes, the best of our goals, dreams, and plans will not come to pass. But those crossed-out hopes and unchecked boxes on our to-do lists can push us into infinitely better places than we could ever hope or imagine. God’s interruptions are better than our best-laid plans.
Embracing the Future with Confidence
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Life can be demanding and unpredictable, but God is always sure and steady. With the right strategies and a heart set on Him, you can confidently move into your future and even inspire others along the way. It’s time to plant your feet on stable ground and drop the crazy juggling act—once and for all.