As of a few weeks ago, I have moved from theory to reality.
Now I need to decide what to do every Wednesday and Friday.
There is no shortage of ways to fill this time. I could certainly make a concerted effort to clean out 15 years of junk from my house (no, I'm not a hoarder, but there are definitely items in the house that are never used). I could paint some rooms that haven't seen a paint brush in more than 10 years. I could give all the surfaces a good cleaning. All good things.
I could pray more, exercise more, and connect in friendships that I have neglected in recent years due to time pressure. All good things.
I could volunteer for any number of good organizations. Or I could take up Spanish classes again. I could read more books or write more articles. All good things.
I have been observing some of my friends who do freelance work, wondering how best to structure my days. But then I recognize the importance of listening to my own calling and desires—which may be different from how others spend their time.
In the end, I've decided I want to implement enough structure—exercise first thing in the morning, take time for prayer every day, work at freelance writing and teaching opportunities at a measured pace—to feel like I'm investing my time well, and enough flexibility to not feel scattered and overcommitted.
Beyond these time investments, I want to leave room for developing my own rhythm and having soul space. I know the temptation to fill more will be strong, but I am determined to pause and evaluate opportunities, so I can invest myself in the best way. I don't want to move from a too-full work life to a frenzied activity life. Undoubtedly I'll need to revisit my priorities regularly, as I'm unlikely to find the perfect balance; so I'll need grace in this season, just like in all my past seasons of life.
Written by Carla Foote
