I use to freak-out when I went to conferences. Who should I meet? What appointments should I make? Which classes should I take. For the love of Mike. Talk about pressure. I’m not sure when I changed (more like when HE changed me) but somewhere along the line I let go.

I stopped worrying about doing the right thing, meeting the right people, learning the right stuff. I relaxed and began to trust God for whatever He wanted me to take away from a conference. Well, my “take-away” from a conference was an introduction to today’s contributor.

Adrian and I were both waiting for a meeting with a publisher. She has no idea how hard it was for me to truly listen to her passionate description of her ministry. I was too dang distracted by her biceps. I kept thinking,

Gee dang it. I wish I had biceps like that.

Now that I’ve shared my embarrassing admission I need to tell you something.

You need Adrian.

I need Adrian!! (Mercy, how I need Adrian!)

The really good news is this. WE’VE GOT HER! I’m excited to announce that Adrian will be sharing once a month on DoAhead!

Below is her bio and pic (of her biceps). Seriously, I’m thrilled to have Adrian share in this space. Her post today was exactly the accountability and honest assessment I needed. Please welcome Adrian and be blessed by her knowledge and enthusiastic conviction!

Adrian Jessen has worked as a Physical Therapist, Certified Athletic Trainer, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for over 14 years. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Life Coaching from Liberty University. Her passion is helping women reach their goals! That’s right – Adrian’s passion is YOU! Her desire is that you would realize that your goals of physical, spiritual, and mental health are so much more achievable than you ever dreamed.

Adrian is a monthly contributor to DoAhead Woman but you can receive weekly inspiration from Adrian by visiting her at www.adrianjessen.com.

******************************************

“I just don’t have enough time.”

I’m sure you’ve never used those words yourself, but I know I’ve uttered them a few (Okay! Okay! a million) times myself. You really think you want to be healthier – eat better, exercise more, be active – but that voice keeps screaming – “I DON’T HAVE TIME!”

I know that seems like a pretty right-on estimate of the way things are in your world, but is it really?

I heard a quote once that has resonated so strongly with me, and I think it can totally change the way you think about, well…everything.

“If it’s important to you, you’ll make it happen. If it’s not, you’ll make excuses.”

Ouch! Sorry if that one hurt a little. I have to rub my toes every time I read it, but I think it’s pretty spot-on.

In this crazy, busy world, we can become overwhelmed, stressed, and virtually insane, but if we take an honest look at our typical daily itinerary, I think we’ll learn what’s most important to us.

Obviously, many of you are probably like me and spend a great portion of your day working and sleeping. Americans sleep an average of 6.8 hours per night (let’s say 7) and work an average of 34.4 hours per week (so ~7 hours per day for 5 days/week).

If we subtract those hours, we have ~10-10.5 hours per day for all the other activities in our lives.

So, what do we do with those hours?

This 20 Question Time Inventory should help you see something you may not have seen before. Answer the questions as honestly as possible if you really want your eyes opened.

Personal Time Inventory

On an average day, how much time do you spend…

1. Hitting the snooze button?
2. Getting ready for work?
3. Driving to and from work?
4. Getting the kids ready for school?
5. Driving kids to and from extracurricular activities?
6. Watching your kids’ extracurricular activities?
7. Playing with your children?
8. Eating breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?
9. Preparing meals?
10. Emailing?
11. Texting?
12. On Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? Snapchat? Pinterest?
13. Reading?
14. Watching TV?
15. Praying?
16. Studying God’s word?
17. Talking with your husband (real conversation)? Your children (same thing)?
18. Relaxing with no agenda?
19. Exercising?
20. Other hobbies (scrap-booking, bowling, fishing, hunting, couponing, etc.)?

I’m sure there are other things you are involved in that may not be on this list. If so, add them in there, too. Now take a look at your inventory. You can even re-list things in order from most time to least and omit the things you don’t do at all.

Look at it one more time. Really look. What do you see?

Where do you spend most of your time?

Some things you can’t really control, like how long your daily work commute is, but look at everything else. Some really smart person once said that if you want to know what’s most important to a person, look at her daily calendar.

Based on that idea, look at your inventory again, and let me rephrase my previous question… What is most important to you?

Would you say exercising and being healthy is important——–

BUT you can’t find the time; however, you spend 30 minutes a day on social media?

Do you say your relationship with God is most important to you——–

BUT your 10 minutes of prayer time per day pales in comparison to the time you spend texting your friends?

Do you believe your kids are a top priority in your life——–

BUT you’ve learned you spend less than 15 minutes a day actually talking to them?

If what you would have said is most important to you doesn’t line up with what your daily schedule says, are you okay with that?

Do you want to make changes?

Do you want to re-invest your time differently?

Do you want to make the most important things the most important things?

Giving thought to those questions is the first step to becoming a DoAhead Woman in the area of self-care.  Spend some time over the next few weeks deciding what you really believe about what’s important. I’ll be back next month and we’ll go from there!

Your DoAhead Friend,

Adrian