{"id":1433,"date":"2021-05-12T20:22:58","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T03:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/?p=1433"},"modified":"2022-05-31T11:03:06","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T18:03:06","slug":"productivity-and-planning-series-intro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/2021\/05\/12\/productivity-and-planning-series-intro\/","title":{"rendered":"Productivity for Moms Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2016, I was spending my time in a reactive state. Constantly overwhelmed by everything that needed to be done. I felt like I never actually made progress on the things that mattered to me. I was wondering if this was really what my life was supposed to look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I lived in an exhausted state. Holding too much information in my head. I was angry all the time. Constantly short-tempered with my kids and had no patience for my friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where it all began:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we moved into this house 6 years ago there was so much to do that I didn’t have time for planning. I spent my days doing the most urgent tasks right in front of me. My youngest kid was learning how to walk, I was drowning in moving boxes, I was homeschooling in a mess, and constantly reorganizing every room.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also had a long list of commitments outside our house. I was teaching classes, volunteering at church, hosting social events, and we often had visitors in our new guest room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had stopped doing all the things that gave me time for reflection and planning. I did not take time for journaling, planning out my calendar each month, having business meetings with Jim, or even writing down my to-do lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One night in the spring of 2016, I sat in the kitchen crying and feeling completely broken. Jim came in, sat next to me, and we had a much needed conversation. He reminded me of what matters to us and what I could do to restart. He met me with kindness and practical help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This began my deep dive into restructuring my life.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a homeschool mom, a stay-at-home mom, I get to be my own boss, and I get to choose so much that happens and my life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did not have to live in a reactive state behaving like a victim of circumstances.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I began researching productivity, time blocking, Bullet Journaling, and essentialism.  I listened to podcasts, YouTube videos and read piles of books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I slowly rebuilt my life and tried new things. I applied what I was learning and discovered what works for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have always been a very organized person. I have planning journals and to-do lists from my teenage years. The deeper I went into my learning on productivity the more I felt like I was returning to my true self.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The version of me that experiences joy and feels freedom needs planning and structure. I know that that’s not true for everyone but it’s definitely true for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While that was only six years ago it feels like a lifetime ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel like I’m on a completely different journey than where I was in 2016, sitting in my kitchen breaking in frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My goal with this series is to share some ways that I have restructured my life. Tools that I use to spend time on what is most important to me. To embrace the day today with calm, planning, and what I want my life to look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of these categories form the structure of what we want in our family life. These are the pieces to the puzzle that we have chosen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I challenge you to find the pieces that matter to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In our house, harmony happens when everyone knows what is expected and what is planned.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Structure your life around what is important to you, your kids, and the lifestyle that you want to go after.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n