What are we talking about today?
Do you feel good about how you spend your time? What about how you spend your energy and emotions?
These are precious resources, and we want to give them to the things that matter most: our people!
Relationships are always more important than tasks. But when the to-do list is getting longer instead of shorter and our days get busier and busier, it can be difficult to balance our priorities.
How can we use time management strategies to boost our relationships?
In today’s episode, I’m sharing my 3-step process for setting up my weekly schedule in order to always prioritize my people first… without sacrificing the to-do list!
Listen to Episode 28:
[This post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.]
Snag your resources here!
If today’s topic is meaningful for you, there are a few resources that I know will help you.
- First, grab a copy of my FREE Conflict Resolution Checklist.
Whenever tension in a conversation (or argument!) is starting to escalate, this 10-point checklist will help you out. Just pull it out and walk through the steps.
- In the podcast episode, you also heard me talk about The Hope Planner. I use this planner and I love it!
If you want to fully implement my 3-step process that I described in this episode, you’ll want to check out The Hope Planner today. It is an undated planner, so you can start it anytime.
This planner is my absolute favorite because it makes sure that I prioritize my relationships first. There is a special section for tracking devotional habits like reading the Bible daily, and each week’s schedule starts with a focus on prayer. (Not to mention, it’s a pretty planner that I like to see on my desk!)
Check out The Hope Planner.
- Finally, you’ll find a great resource in the 5 Tools Every Busy Mom Needs to Move Her Family From Autopilot to Intimacy: The Relationship Reset FREE 5-Day Email Course.
If you’re feeling stuck in a rut with your family relationships, this free email course will help you get out of the rut and reconnect. In less than 10 minutes a day, you’ll walk away with a clear action plan for what to try and how to stay encouraged along the way!
[This post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.]
Today's Episode Highlights
Okay. First things first: if you didn’t listen to the last episode yet, pause right here and go listen to Episode 27! Because when I’m talking today about prioritizing relationships, I’m including your relationship with yourself.
Yes. You must plan for time with yourself! Set aside time for self care. Time to rest and refresh your mind, heart, body, and soul.
With that in mind… here is a quick overview of my 3-step process to always prioritize relationships AND still get my tasks done too.
My 3-step process
I’ve already mentioned that I use (and love!) The Hope Planner, so when I’m walking through my process for weekly scheduling, that is the planner that I’m personally using.
Don’t worry, you can follow this same process with whatever planner you personally use.
>> You can grab your own copy of The Hope Planner right here.
I like to organize my time in a weekly schedule. There have been seasons of life where a daily planner was better for me particularly when I was working full time. (Note: yes, the Hope Planner has a daily and weekly version. I use the weekly version.)
Either way, I start each week with a refresh of my schedule. Here is my process (and you’ll get a lot more detail if you listen to the full episode!)
- First, I review the upcoming week to identify opportunities that will allow me to invest in relationships.
For example, I’ll put Community Bible Study on my calendar first – that protects time with God, time for myself to refresh personally, and time with friends. A win-win-win!
I’ll also look for when we might have opportunity to add an “appointment” with someone I love. This is when I’ll schedule a date night, if I see a good opening in the upcoming week. Or I’ll plug in a day-date with my kids.
Put these “appointments” on the schedule first.
- Second, I brain dump every task that I can think of, which I hope to get done in the upcoming week. This is a massive to-do list! But I don’t stop there. In this second step, I put a STAR by every item on that list that would help someone I love or grow/invest in a relationship.
So I walk away from this second step with a big to-do list as well as clear understanding of which tasks will serve the dual purpose of growing a relationship.
As you can image, those to-do items get prioritized! They happen first.
Usually, I like to put them on a specific day so that I know that to-do task will get done that week. I put a star by it in my planner.
- Third, I review the to-do list again and place a second priority by the items that will have a big consequence if they do not get done this week. This might be a big work task or it might be something like “do laundry” if I know we’re running out of clean socks! Big or small. What must get done?
Usually, these tasks do not get added to a specific day (unless that makes sense for the task itself). They stay on their own list. But in my weekly schedule, I block off time for “to-do list items” wherever makes sense.
And there you have it, folks!
Following these 3 steps helps me make sure I always prioritize my people and that I’m getting the most important tasks done every week.
All the other items on the to-do list will stay on there, and usually I can fit them in. But they are the “sand” that fits in around the Big Rocks of my relationships!
People come first.
Hey, before you go!
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A reminder of the Disclaimers & Disclosures Policy: I am an affiliate with many of the resources I recommend, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through my provided links. I never recommend products I don’t love! Also, I am a licensed therapist but this podcast is not therapy. It is not professional or personal advice to your specific situation. Get info about professional counseling here.
