“Our minds can become distracted by the urgent at the expense of the important and we can become so preoccupied with yesterday and tomorrow that we are no longer able to excel at leading in the present.”
– Janice Marturano, founder of The Institute for Mindful Leadership
Happy New Month and Happy 67th Independence Day to all my Ghanaian soldiers out there! God bless our homeland Ghana!
Before we get started, let’s take a moment to express our gratitude to the Almighty. We are soldiers in God’s army, and it’s essential to acknowledge His presence and blessings in our lives. Take just five minutes to say thank you to God for His unwavering love and guidance.
As we step into the third month of the year, let’s reflect on the journey so far. Regardless of the challenges we’ve faced—the good, the bad, the turmoil, and the fire—one thing remains constant: God’s relentless pursuit of us. Even in our imperfections, He never wavers in His commitment to us. Remember, the one who initiated the work in your life is faithful to bring it to completion.
So, take a moment to offer your gratitude to our Heavenly Father, knowing that He is always with us, guiding us through every step of our journey. You can even listen to some uplifting music, like the one linked below, to set the tone for today’s reflections and insights:
[Link to music: I have Come Back (Live) · CT PRAISE]
Let’s embark on today’s post with hearts full of gratitude and minds open to receive the wisdom and inspiration that awaits us.
Now! How was your time of reflection following last weeks conclusion? Did you realise if you are really doing Life or life is doing you?
Well, for me, reflecting on my life and journey, I now appreciate my past self for braving through that season of ‘LIFE DOING ME’—I needed it! I wasn’t on the wrong path; I was actively engaged in life. However, the challenge was that I wasn’t going about it the best way. Trying to juggle every aspect of life within a limited 24 hours each day was tough. Looking back, it sends shivers down my spine. I was frequently tired, prompting me to question my parents and any adult I BEHELD “Why didn’t you warn me about the challenges of adulthood?” like, why!? Can anyone relate?
Absolutely, I’m not claiming perfection, but I’m gradually grasping the essence of it. The key, dear Soldier, isn’t to cram everything into 24 hours every single day for 365 days. That doesn’t necessarily make you productive. The goal is to leverage time to your advantage, not to force yourself into the constraints of time. Many of us end up busy because we’re attempting to do everything within a fixed time span, when in reality, we should be making time work for us. As a result, we are not able to focus on the things we even want to do in the now because we need to move on to the next big project quickly. Does that make sense?
Alright, let me break it down in a more relatable way. Picture this: you’re at the gym, right? You wouldn’t go all out on leg day, chest day, glutes, running, arm strength, and core workouts every single day, would you? No way! That’s a recipe for burnout. You strategically plan and space out your routines, making each session count.
Similarly, life is your grand workout routine. Instead of overwhelming yourself by trying to do everything every single day, create a schedule that works for you. Space out your tasks, just like you do at the gym. It’s about making time your ally, not your adversary. Got it, Soldier?
Just as you don’t build the gift of speaking in tongues, delve into sermons on healing, faith and tackle forgiveness all in a single day – space it out. Whether it’s weekly, monthly, or even quarterly, focus on one aspect at a time.
Let’s consider something many of us can relate to: being a student. Imagine you have to read biology, study mathematics, delve into computer science, and explore religious studies all in one day. Now, think about how that compares to focusing on just one subject each day. Which approach do you think is more productive?
It’s a bit like our school timetables. We have specific classes on specific days for a reason – to help us learn effectively. But sometimes, when it comes to managing our lives, we try to cram everything in at once, rushing through tasks and trying to make things happen quickly.
So, let’s break it down. Studying multiple subjects in a day might seem like a good idea for variety, but it can also be overwhelming. It’s like trying to switch gears constantly, which can make it hard to focus and understand the material deeply. On the other hand, focusing on one subject per day allows for a deeper dive into the topic. It’s like giving each subject its own dedicated time slot, so you can really get into the details and make meaningful connections. Just like with our school schedules, finding a balance between variety and depth is key. So, why rush through life?
To be perfectly honest, the version of me from yesterday would be frustrated if I left the post at that conclusion! What’s the use of just spacing things out? I’ve tried that before, and guess what? I ended up feeling busy but totally unproductive. So, let me delve a bit deeper, as if I’m writing directly to my past self and anyone else grappling with adulthood and productivity..
What I’m trying to convey is this: don’t just spread your tasks throughout the day, but rather, focus on each task with intention. Let’s break it down: there are 24 hours in a day. Forget about the entire year or even the month for a moment; let’s zero in on today!
We need to build a daily routine – those things you can’t escape doing every day. For example, let’s talk about cooking. While some fortunate individuals enjoy the luxury of preparing meals on weekends, others may find themselves in situations where daily cooking becomes the norm (not my favorite scenario, to be honest – cue the tears). It can be overwhelming, and we need to definitely sort it out.
So, here’s how I’ll wrap it up: let’s take a lesson from this blog and resist the urge to cram everything into a single post – “Our minds can become distracted by the urgent at the expense of the important and we can become so preoccupied with yesterday and tomorrow that we are no longer able to excel at leading in the present.”– Janice Marturano, founder of The Institute for Mindful Leadership
Learn to lead in the present, it sure helps with being productive!
Stay tuned, Soldier!
Your Sister,
Sharon Paulina Boye
March 6, 2024
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