“I just need quick eyeballs on this one.” As she pushed a stack of papers towards him, I smiled. Quick eyeballs. I imagined eyeballs with legs sprinting forward.
He’s a busy man. Each day filled with more tasks than time. The biggest decision he makes each day is what he will and will not spend time on. There will always be tasks left undone. I can relate.
One of the hardest decisions I make at work and at home is what I will spend time on and how much time I will spend on it.
If only there was a magical filter to enter my tasks into that would sort them in order of importance and give me a daily plan of attack. But that would take my responsibility and creativity out of the process.
Instead my process of deciding what to spend time on and what to only give quick eyeballs to includes prayer, silence, thinking, brainstorming, scheduling and creating to do lists. I’ve broken my tasks outside of work into two categories.
The important things are the things I cannot live without. They keep me centered and functioning well. Quality time with my hubby. Time with God. Writing. Exercise. Time with my closest friends (my inner circle). Family.
Everything else falls into my quick eyes category. This category contains valuable tasks as well, like cooking, cleaning, church, and time with other friends. While I try to include these tasks in my to do list, if it comes down to choosing between an important and a quick eyeballs item, the important one will always win.
What process do you use to decide what you will spend time on?
Let’s live intentionally.
Love it Deedle! I have so been praying about discernment in my yes and nos…this is a good way to prioritize, love you and your voice
Yay! love you too!
Your writing always inspires me Deanne! “Quick Eye Balls” reminds me of the Marine Corps’ “EYEBALLS! OPEN!” It meant something totally different, but it made me laugh.
My Quick Eye Balls tasks sometimes feel undone, unless I check them off of a list.
The last year I have been learning to both a mom and a homemaker. It has been challenging to figure out how to do this and have time for the things I was passionate about before becoming a hi making mom.
I am learning though that taking the time (and asking for help) to do some major overhauling in my organization, has left me more time for the things that matter most to me. It took me months of sitting with my home and really looking at it to start aeeing ways to better organize it – like aotting with a work of art. I am becoming an artist in homemaking.
When I am better organized, cleaning, cooking, etc. take so much less time (this includes staying organized by taking 5-10 minutes to clean up even if I am tired). I’m a list maker too – so I have found that having a menu and a cleaning checklist help me know what I have planned for and what I have left to do. This also helps this mama have less to track in my brain and I can use my quick eyeballs to glance over my list. What is quick? What needs more time? What do I need a helper to accomplish?
I am still working on this (no doubt a lifetime endeavor) and I’m learning to be proud of what I have learned and even starting to enjoy the process and the rhythms of my home and family. (Long reply I know. What can I say? Your blog inspires me to express myself!) I love you Dee and I am so honored to be your friend and so proud of what you are doing!
Ali – I admire you! I think transitioning to being a mom is one of the biggest transitions a woman can make in life. It affects every area of our lives (our body, our time, our energy, our focus…). Thank you for sharing the journey with me! I am inspired by you and my others friends (and sister) who are making the transition before me and will be asking lots of questions and relying on your wisdom when my time comes
Thanks so much for your encouragement and support! Love you too!