Reaching for Your Dreams When Life Keeps You Busy

Have you ever wanted to try some new things, or pursue a lifelong goal, but felt overburdened with other priorities?

I know I’ve felt like this time and again.

I read a post the other day about how people spend their time and how fast time goes by. And it seems the older we get the faster it goes.

Time is money, as the saying goes, but time is also precious. It seems that we sometimes proclaim that we wish there were more hours in a day. Time management and straightening out my priorities isn’t easy unless you begin to condition yourself to put forth the effort toward that goal.

Have You Struggled With Time Management?

If you have a family, it can be hard to find time for yourself. You have to grab some free time whenever you can, and then when you do, it doesn’t last long. And so the cycle goes, from morning until night.

While my children were growing up, everyday brought challenges; running errands, taking them back and forth to sports practices and events, school functions, etc., but I never regretted my busy days.

I tried to write during those years, and while I did write some short stories, I never really had a chance to delve into a career at that time. And though there were times things were hectic, I was blessed to have the opportunity to watch my children grow—exactly what God wanted me to do.

Time is precious. Check out these 3 tips to make the most of it without losing sight of your priorities. Click To Tweet

3 Ways to Reach for Your Dreams

Maybe the time isn’t right for you to pursue a new career, and if so, know that you are right where God wants you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan on what it is that you think you’d like to do when the time presents itself. We still need to keep our priorities in order.

Collect Memories

Maybe you’re busy devoting your time and energy to your family. This really is awesome! There’s nothing wrong with this. So, along your journey, and in the meantime, maybe you can think about some things during this time how you can use your talent(s) after your children are grown, and you have more time.

Keep a journal and prepare for the time you can use your abilities to God’s glory. For example, I have on my agenda to take all of my pictures that I’ve taken and will continue to take, of my grandchildren from birth to eighteen, put them to a music video, and give it to them as a graduation present (shhh, please don’t tell them, it’s a surprise). Why not do the same thing your children or grandchildren? After you become a pro, maybe you’d like to do it for other parents. This is in my not-so-distant-future.

Take Notes

There are so many elderly people who’d love someone to take an interest in them and help them with little things. Offering to pick something up at the store for them? Mowing their yard? And if they’re able to get out, they’d love to go to breakfast a few times a month or to the mall to have the opportunity to get out among others. Keep a journal and ask them about their life. Let them tell you their stories. The elderly love to reminisce and tell people about their past. Some may have some very interesting stories to tell, and you just might hit on some that could help others. Take notes and ask their permission if you could tell their story in a self-published anthology or on your blog as a post. This is also on my agenda.

You can also do this with children as long as you have permission from their parents. There’s a treasure trove of funny and heartwarming things that kids say about life, love, families. Ask them. They’ll be honest with you. Write down or record their answers. When your children are grown, and you have more time, maybe you can pursue writing a book or blog about the treasure trove of thoughts that you’ve gathered. This, too, is on my agenda.

Gather Supplies

If you’re interested in sewing or art projects, start collecting supplies while you wait. It can save you a ton of money in the long run to gather supplies as you go. If you’re at a store and see something on sale, or you stop at a garage sale and see fabric, go ahead and pick it up. Maybe you want to create art with trash or nature’s resources, start collecting things you see that spark your creativity.

When dreams and real-life collide… 3 ways to help them mesh Click To Tweet

In The Meantime…

Check out this Pinterest board of hobbies for women. Or, if you’re over 60, check out this list of hobbies.

Years ago, I learned through a difficult situation how perfect God’s timing is. He knows what’s best for us, He understands our hectic schedules, and He loves and cares about what happens in our lives. He knows life happens.

“All things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NASB

“At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.”

1 Timothy 5:13 NASB

God offers grace and it’s sufficient for us. He’ll lead us down the path He chooses for us if we ask Him. His timing is perfect.

In the end, He just wants us to glorify Him. He wants us to enjoy life. And He wants us to exercise the talents He’s given us. If we can just discover what it is we really enjoy doing.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NASB

And…

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philipians 4:8 NASB

Share Your Experiences

Is your life hectic? Have you struggled with time management, or reaching for your dreams? If so, what steps have you taken to help you toward that goal? What obstacles have you overcame?

We’d love to have you share your experiences in the comments below.

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