The Planning Habit

Yesterday was a busy day. My resolve to post every day in January took a back seat to other things. They were good things, but I’ve discovered that, while it’s easy enough to write a post a day, it’s hard to write something worthwhile every day.

Shouldn’t my entire life be about something worthwhile, every day?

Since we moved last summer, I’ve felt like I’m often just responding to the next thing, instead of deliberately planning my days.

I love planning. About twice a year, I spend hours and hours creating lists and schedules. They are beautiful and impressive.

The schedules help for a week or two, and then life hits, and I’m off the schedule, and it’s too hard to catch up.

I don’t need a new schedule this year. I need long-lasting habits. The first habit I want to develop is the habit of planning. Before I do anything else each day, I want to sit and reflect on my day, check in with God, decide my priorities, and say no to anything less important.

Because of my January journaling – and my missed day yesterday – I think I’ve found a 2012 resolution:

Develop a planning habit.

Every day, first thing in the morning, I want to sit in front of a blank, empty sketch page and decide, as simply as possible, how to fill it.

How are you doing on your resolutions? Did you make any?

Comments
5 Responses to “The Planning Habit”
  1. Krista says:

    I don’t know of anyone in Egypt who makes new year’s resolutions….except maybe a few Egyptians that have very strong connections with the US. Hence, ever since coming here I really haven’t done any “New Year’s Resolutions.” We spend new year’s eve together as a church, praising and praying in God’s presence – some year’s it is too difficult for me, especially the year I got married, the same year Heidi left us….I barely made it through that New Year’s Eve, it was just the grace of God that carried me through and lifted me up, his tears crying with me….this year was different for sure – ending 2011 in awe of what God had done through such a turbulent year, excited to see what He’s going to do in 2012, both on a personal level and in Egypt as a whole…we’re seeing the fruit of years’ of prayer, feeling fruitless, waiting, waiting, waiting. I guess my resolutions tend to come throughout the year – resolve to fall back on God’s abundant grace again and again, resolve to dwell on how patient he is with me so I can dish out the same patience on my kids, my husband…resolve to be thankful FIRST and see how much that slows down my tendency to complain, give nasty looks to rude drivers in Cairo streets (or am I the rude one? sometimes I wonder what I’ve become after driving in the streets of Cairo for almost 9 years….come and try it sometime. :o))

    Why am I unloading on your blog? I better stop!!! :))) Love you and I really enjoy and appreciate your posts!!

    • Mom says:

      I really enjoyed your “unloading,” Krista. Getting a better picture of where you are, both literally and figuratively. Do it more often!

      Two of my resolutions are the same as the past how many years. Drink more water. Get more exercise. But I added a third this year. To actually do what I say I’ll do. “I’ll call you tonight.” “I’ll pray for you.”(the hardest for me, just because my memory is so poor anymore. WHO did I say I’d pray for, and what was it I was supposed to be praying about?) “I’ll help you as soon as I get through with this.” “I’ll find out.” Words of my mouth. I want them to be trustworthy.

      • Deborah.J says:

        Ditto what Mom said. I appreciate your comments so much. For some reason, it gives me so much more insight into what is going on there and how it affects you. Plus, I’ve always loved your heart for God – it encourages me!

  2. Courtney says:

    Danny and I didn’t do resolutions, but we each set a few goals. My number one goal was to memorize 24 passages from the bible and actually still know them all at the end of the year. Our women’s bible study is currently doing the new Beth Moore study on James. She challenges you to memorize the entire book of James in six months. I’m not sure that is feasible with an 18 month old, so I decided to pick 24 passages from James to memorize. Now that we’re in the meat of the study, I have no idea which to pick. I might just take the plunge to memorize the book, but give myself all year. I love your idea of filling the blank page each day! Such a great reminder that we are given a blank slate with mercies new each morning. I think you’re onto something and I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

    • Deborah.J says:

      Oh! Courtney, we’re doing the Beth Moore study on James now, too! My sister-in-law wants to memorize the whole book of James! I said I’d memorize a verse a week with her, at least.

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