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by Hope

One of the most life altering changes for me this year has been viewing my time as currency. I guess I have always known this, but our current book club book really opened my eyes. Now whenever I want to sit down and just veg, I think “what will this cost me?”

It’s motivated me to be more productive. It’s motivated me to prioritize better. And it’s motivated me to really focus on how I’m spending my time.

If you are stuck in a rut whether it be financial, emotional or physical, I thought I would share with you some steps that have helped me take back control of my time.

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Steps to Controlling Your Time

1. Recognize the negative patterns and fears in your life. This has been HUGE for me. Most of mine are emotional and of course, financial.
2. Bring those patterns and fears to the light, share them. It truly does help take away their power.
3. Journal. There is something about hand writing things that makes it stick better with me. It also calms my racing mine and gives me an outlet when I’m overwhelmed (as a single mom this is often.) I have multiple journals that I do each day:
   1. Gratitude – life has been really hard and most days I wake up super stressed. But starting the day by writing 3 things I am grateful for has really changed my attitude and helped me start the day with a smile rather than a headache.
   2. Best Self – this journal has changed my life. It is essentially a 13 week challenge to tackle 3 goals at a time. It is succinct and clear and I love it! I highly recommend. (Full disclosure: This is an affiliate link.)
      
   3. Prayer – this is my latest addition. Last year, I focused on Bible memory. This year I am focusing on my prayer list. I have a master list that I pray through and then add to it as things come to mind. It also includes verses I hear that speak to my soul.
4. Create your to do list AND keep it updated. I have two tools I use daily to keep me on track:
   1. Google Calendar – I’ve probably mentioned this before. Each of the kids has a calendar, and I have several (personal, business and some specific clients.) They are all linked so we can stay in sync and the kids can easily see where I am, and more importantly these days if I am available to get them somewhere as a specific time. We’ve used this for years and it’s worked fabulous.
   2. Asana – to do list, to do list, to do list. We’ve used this for school. I used it with customers to be able to assign me work. And I use it personally to manage my time and personal tasks. The awesome thing is that it will link to Google Calendar so all my daily to dos show up on my daily calendar. And I can assign tasks to different people. And I can set due dates, attach files and upload comments and notes on the tasks.
5. Find a mentor. This is very new to me. But I’ve connected with some women here who have really taken an interest in me. That human connection has been huge for me. It’s not a huge time investment but it is nice to know I can pick up the phone and call.

It’s Hard Work

Now being open and honest about my fears and challenges (step #1) was the hardest step for me. So many of the times I quit because of them or procrastinate and sabotage myself.

But the combination of these steps has really pushed me to use my time more wisely. To really think through how I spend my time. And even more so, to focus on “what doing this with my time will cost me or better yet reward me?”

I’m now off to tackle my to do list for the weekend, and I’m excited to say that much of my time this weekend will be money earning! One last thought for you this weekend:

Success is directly proportional to your ability to do uncomfortable things.

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Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.