Seasons change and so do our schedules. I have observed that the most “Got It All Together” type people seem to find a way to adapt and adjust to the changes in their lives. Yet at the same time, they are able to maintain their personality and identity through it all. Here are some other positive habits they have and we should embrace:

Personal pace. Identify what works best for you as far as your daily schedule that is structured around your priorities. Refrain from comparing your pace with others. Your pace is unique. You also don’t want your pace to be slowed down unnecessarily by spending a lot of valuable time doing things that aren’t really that important or productive. This will help you to maintain your most effective pace.

Adjust as you go. Anticipate some interruptions, which will inevitably happen. Leave some space in your schedule for time to adjust accordingly. Don’t overbook, that sets you up for additional stress and frustration. Everything is not a sprint or an emergency. Patience is required to adjust to a different routine. Sometimes, it just takes some time for it to get more comfortable. Remember… Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape about trivial things.

Concentrate on the most important things. A lot of time can be consumed on being distracted by issues or tasks that aren’t your primary priority. Keep your focus. I like this statement by J.R. R. Tolkien… “ All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” As a Christian, we should allow the Lord to guide us in discerning how best to live by our priorities. Taking some time to be still and quiet to think and pray about these decisions is most helpful. David Zerfoss sums up this process very well: “Life can become full very fast. If we can first block off some time for what is most important, it can actually free us up to focus on the rest.”

Examine at the end of the day. Celebrate and be thankful for what went well. Think about what could be improved. Rearrange your list of things to do that you were not able to accomplish today into your schedule for tomorrow. This keeps you on track for whatever is most important next.

I hope and pray that you will be living in the grace of a steady pace, just right for you.