Hello dear readers! How are you all doing? I am going to write about something different today and it is not quite related to design. Since I want to inspire and relate through this blog, my tag line Interiors, Lifestyle Home and Heart allows me to occasionally write about what I feel. I recently wrote an article for Glam-O-Mamas about a new approach to my work and home life. If you’re like me, you must have so many things going on. Being a wife, mother, homemaker, blogger and interior stylist can be challenging and there are days when I feel discouraged because I simply can not be all.
The most difficult for me at the moment is keeping up with my interior design work and being a good wife. I realize that my God mandated priority as a woman should be my husband, next to God. (Ephesians 5:22) My husband has an unusual work schedule which leaves us with a few hours in a day together. Our challenge is to make the most of the little time we have and spend weekends as a family. Being a work at – home and homeschooling time naturally allows me to spend more time with my children, but being intentional in parenting and not just being “present” is important to me.
With regards to work as an interior stylist, I’ve recently had to hire new people to be a part of my business. While I personally meet clients, do job site supervision and conceptualize plans and design, I do not do the computer drawings myself as it simply takes too much of my time. I just edit what my staff do. I hope to find the right people and I am currently screening individuals. The absence of help has taken its toll and some work are pending. There are things that I can however take control of personally like concept boards, blogging and coordinating with suppliers.
I used to approach all my tasks in a disorganized way. I was present but not focused. Coming across the blog of Emily Ley, the woman behind a movement called “The Simplified Life” has helped me see things in a new way. She says “I will hold myself to a standard of GRACE, not perfection” I realize that I can not be all 100% of the time and that is OK! I can however focus on each task and give it my best one at a time before I move on to my next role. This is not easy and it takes organization but knowing my priorities help. This may mean the following:
- Setting aside my cel phone and “hiding” from kids when I quickly spend time with God, reading the Bible and talking to Him. I attended an event yesterday where Maricel Laxa- Pangilinan gave an inspiring talk. She said that “we need to draw energy from the ultimate source, God because our children and husband draw energy from us.”
- Locking the door to keep our kids away during pockets of time with my husband. Staying awake to briefly catch up with him when he arrives from work before heading to sleep.
- Not scheduling meetings and staying away from my emails and cel phone in the mornings while I home school my kids. Taking the time to have lunch and dinner with them because this is where I get to talk to them about values, life and behavior.
- Setting aside time to fully be present with my children, making sure I am not working while “playing” with them. This usually happens in the evenings when we play, read books, read the Bible then pray before bedtime.
- When it comes to work I pick the 3 most important things I need to accomplish for the day and write them into my planner. Identifying and scheduling helps accomplish more.
To know more about how I try to do it, you may read my Glamomamas post here. How do you manage your time and various roles as a woman? I would love to hear about it! You may comment below, connect with me on Twitter or Facebook and Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.
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