Time Management #4 STRIKETHROUGH TO BREAKTHROUGH

When Changes in Life Requires Re-prioritizing

I wrote full time from February 2012-May 2014 and the majority of those manuscripts became published works. Then from June 2014 up to early April 2015, I returned to an employer to cover a short-term contract. During this time with the employer, a new publisher re-released “Little Copper Pennies” and “Little Copper Pennies for Kids”, as well as a new book, “Alphabet on The Farm”, all in 2014. “Chicken Soup for the Soul” bought one of my stories that same year as did the PAOC, “Testimony” magazine. My own imprint, White Lily Press, released print version of “Remarkably Ordinary: 20 Reflections On Living Intentionally Right Where You Are”, and “10½ Sketches: Insights on Being Successful Right Where You Are” as an e-book in January 2015.

But all of these manuscripts were written prior to picking up my current job. I no longer have as much time to write now as I did when I was writing full-time. My priority after work was my teenager’s home-based education. Then I headed straight to prayer, my go-to for new directions and new energy. Often, my husband arrived from work while I’m still praying, and it was time to fix a meal and eat. Only when my daily responsibilities are finished, could I write. And yet, I could not write up to midnight on weekdays (as I was prone to do when writing full-time) as it impeded the functioning on my day job, so I relegated most of my writing to the weekend.
I had to do some major re-prioritizing when my life circumstances changed. I was angst at times because I could not write or promote my books or do signings, readings and school presentations as I did in my pre-job days. Yet I considered myself as effective in my time management while on contract as I did when writing full time because I moved with my changing priorities.

Ecclesiastes 3 lists fourteen polar opposites of “a time for”. One pair of opposites is: Time to write and time to not write. Knowing when to write, or when to refrain, can help you be more satisfied with the way you steward your time. Knowing what you are to do I the season of life you are in is critical to effective time management.

YOUR TURN:
Think on these questions: What “time” is in in your life? What are the key responsibilities and emphases in your life right now? Are you unfairly comparing yourself with someone and therefore not feeling satisfied with “where you are”? Assess your time management with your current life priorities and ask the Lord to bring you to a place of acceptance and rest with where you are.

COMING UP ON MAY 18 – A New Trajectory?

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Susan Harris is a speaker, former teacher and the author of six books, including 10½ Sketches: Insights on Being Successful Right Where You Are, Remarkably Ordinary: 20 Reflections on Living Right Where You Are, and the acclaimed, Little Copper Pennies series. She has written articles for anthologies, magazines and blogs, and is a monthly contributor to The Word Guild blog. Susan is a member of InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship, The Word Guild, Saskatchewan Writers Guild, and Saskatchewan Association of Human Resource Professionals. Susan has held key management positions in churches and in corporations. She currently resides on the Canadian Prairies with her family and the beloved cats which have been the inspiration for her publication in Chicken Soup for the Soul, and her latest picture book, Alphabet on The Farm.