I talk a lot about how to save time, but it’s hard to break old habits or make significant changes in your routine if you don’t have a really compelling reason why.
Because, even if your current way of life isn’t ideal, it is easier to stick with what we know, what we are comfortable with, what we’ve learned how to survive.
But, if you are reading this post, I’m pretty sure you aren’t interested in just surviving one day at a time. You are the kind of woman who wants to spend her time well and be proud of the way you used your days on this earth.
So, if you needed more convincing, here’s a Letterman-style list of 10 meaningful things you could do with more time.
10 Meaningful Things You Could Do with Extra Time in Your Day
1. Get outside.
Have lunch outside or go for a walk. There’s nothing like getting away from the noise and into the sunshine to brighten your day. Pun intended.
2. Call or visit a family member.
How long has it been since you’ve had some quality downtime to spend with a grandparent, aunt or cousin? And if you don’t live close enough, a phone call is a close second.
3. Do something for yourself.
Work on a favorite hobby, paint your nails, or read a book or magazine. Taking time to refill your cup means you’ll have more to give to others.
4. Workout.
It’s good for your health and mind. You can’t beat those post-workout endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. And happy people just don’t kill their husbands. Thank you, Reese Witherspoon.
5. Have lunch with a friend.
If you are anything like me and my friends, we really want to get together but struggle with finding a time when we can all go. But we never regret it when we do; nothing beats spending quality time with good buds.
6. Play your child’s favorite game.
In my house, that game is currently Play-Doh. I’m really weird with Play-Doh. My brain isn’t great at figuring out what to do with it. But it’s all worth it to hear Francesca’s excitement when she sees me getting it out. I bet the same is true with your kids.
7. Do a random act of kindness.
When your to-do list isn’t as long, you have more time to think about others.
We recently moved to a new neighborhood, and one neighbor brought us a loaf of pumpkin bread. How sweet was that? She used her spare time to do something nice for us, and we will always remember her for it.
8. Reflect.
When is the last time you were able to just lay back and think– about life, about God, about your parenting or your marriage?
If you’re always on the go, it’s nearly impossible to have much time for reflection or stillness at all.
9. Go on a date.
Next to our relationship with God, our relationship with our husbands is most important. It takes time and intention to develop and maintain a good marriage.
Our spouses need to know how important they are to us, and our kids need to see that too.
So, get a babysitter or trade time with a friend, and hit the town.
10. Time with Jesus.
I definitely find that Jesus often gets jipped when I am pressed for time. My Bible reading is shorter and my prayer time is only a minute or two.
Everything on this list is more important than running errands or checking email. But it’s usually those urgent things that we make time for.
Sometimes, we have to put aside good things for better things. And focusing more on God, our relationships and our health are definitely better things, right?
We know this, but do we believe it enough to make changes to our daily lives?
To help you find extra time in your day, I’ve put together a FREE guide with 25 Ways to Save More Time. Sign up and you’ll be testing out these 25 strategies in moments.
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