A friend recently asked me, “How do you have time to do all that you have to do?” My answer is discipline and intentionality. You want to run a 5K but have never run a block. Will watching YouTube videos make it happen? Obviously not. You must start with goals, and then formulate plans.
What do you want to accomplish each day? What is important to YOU? My daily goals are morning quiet time, daily exercise, healthy eating, sleeping 8 hours, reading, being joyful, strengthening relationships, and having a balanced work-life load. In order to accomplish these things, I must plan out my days, weeks, and even months. For some, that may seem too structured. However, whatever it is that you value, you will spend time doing.
We made our home what we call a “human interaction zone” – thus, we removed TV! That act alone will give you a lot more time! In 2017, the average American spent 4 hours daily watching TV. According to a Neilson report, US adults are now watching 5 hours and 4 minutes of TV per day. The average child watches about 30 hours of TV weekly, or more than 4 hours daily.
Excessive television viewing and phone/tablet use is correlated with obesity, increased risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. It diverts attention from making real relationships with family and friends, as well as exposes us to a lot of negativity and violence, which can lead to increased anxiety and depression, all of which are on the rise!
Write out your daily plans on whatever calendar you use. Then, commit to doing them! Find an accountability partner. It takes anywhere from 21 to 66 days to form a habit. You can do it! Be intentional. It will do your body good!