Dec 26, 2016 | Christian Life & Theology
Do you ever dread when the doorbell rings? You never know who could be outside. It could be a sales person, a delivery person or someone sharing a different gospel. In these days and times you have to be careful to whom you open the door. Even with a peephole, it is hard to tell who is on the outside.
When we deal with those who are outside of Christ, we have to be wise in our relationships. Whether it is family, co-workers, or someone you meet in passing, we have to walk in wisdom in these relationships.
Dec 20, 2016 | Productivity
If you want to be consistently productive in 2017, you need good sleep habits.
When someone asks me to help them be productive, I start by asking when they go to bed. Nine times out of ten the answer is midnight or later. The same people who put sleep on the backburner struggle to get up in the morning, be on time, get their tasks done, and cultivate healthy habits in fitness and diet. That’s why a productive lifestyle all turns on this single point: sleep.
Dec 17, 2016 | Podcast Episodes
All of us have unexpected events in life, but what are we going to do when they come? We can either throw a fit because we aren’t getting our way, or we can walk a path of grace – because God always goes before us. This week on the podcast Lisa and I are discussing some ideas for managing life when the unexpected arrives.
Dec 15, 2016 | Christian Life & Theology, Reading
Who doesn’t love new and unusual books? I love discovering books off the beaten path. I’m privileged to work with a few companies who send me recommendations for books of this kind, and this month’s list is top notch.
I’ll be honest: I was skeptical about a few of these. When they first arrived I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy them, but I am glad to say they proved me wrong! You probably haven’t heard of these titles, and you won’t find them at your local library, but I guarantee they are worth your time.
Dec 14, 2016 | Productivity
There is a place and time for TV, but let’s be more intentional about when and where we use it. There is so much more beyond that screen! Real people, places, and events are far more fulfilling and life-giving than anything we watch in the living room – and the life lived beyond the sofa is far more satisfying.
Dec 13, 2016 | Productivity
When we set goals because we think we should or because we “wish” we had change in our lives, it’s no wonder we peter out in February. Unless you have a deeply rooted reason for setting a goal, you won’t have the lasting motivation to achieve it! As Christians, that reason goes soul deep: we should only set goals that reflect God’s intentions for our lives.
Dec 12, 2016 | Productivity
I already said this but I’ll say it again: overcoming procrastination often comes down to just doing it. You have to say no to laziness and do the hard thing! But as you make this a practice, it becomes easier. You start to see the reward in getting things done immediately – less anxiety, more time to relax and do things you love with complete focus, and more time with loved ones. Procrastination is your enemy, not your friend. It feels good at the time, but it will hurt your life.
Dec 8, 2016 | Productivity
In today’s third and final post in the productive lifestyle series, let’s chat about staying productive as a first-time (or several times over) mom! I consider myself fortunate regarding motherhood; I grew up surrounded by women who did it well. Most of them had large families, and I credit their advice with helping me create a parenting style that has been far less stress, anxiety, or frustration than our culture presents as the reality.
I was told, when pregnant with Adeline, that I’d lose my schedule, that I’d never sleep again, or that my life would be dictated by the demands of my small child. While there have been those moments, this negative, defeatist view of parenting has by no means been my experience. I believe that ANY mother can create a life of peace, joy, and stress-free parenting – but it requires effort.
Dec 7, 2016 | Productivity
Productivity in your career is probably the most important of the three life stages I’m discussing this week (student, career, wife/mom). It’s not that career is the most important of the three. Lack of productivity in your career has the greatest consequence. When we fail to manage our time wisely at work, we’re held accountable by the manager. This isn’t as much the case when you’re a student or stay-at-home mom.
That said, laziness or lack of time management is first a spiritual issue, so disciplining yourself at work will affect other areas of your life as well!
Below are five principles I learned in my ten years working full time. Now that I work from home, these same principles help me manage motherhood, marriage, and work with far less stress than necessary (which we’ll talk about tomorrow!).
Dec 6, 2016 | Productivity
Since a lot of my readers are students (whether high school or college) I wasn’t surprised to receive a LOT of requests for this post! As a college guidance/admissions counselor – my career for the last six years – I am very familiar with the productivity struggles of students. For most of my career, I was also a student – I earned my B.S. degree while working full time. So if you’re a student with scheduling struggles, I got your back.
