Time is Precious!

Winter has arrived in Iowa.  We had snow on Friday and it is snowing again this evening.  This meant I was able to spend a lot of time here at home.  I loved it! I want to spend more time enjoying my home with my two little dogs.

This is also my birthday week.  As the years go by, I appreciate more and more how precious my time is.  When I set my 20 goals for 2020, I thought about that a lot.  In fact, at least six of my goals for the year have to do with being more selective about how I spend my time.

I want to get back to spending time doing creative things.  When I first retired in 2015, I was taking art classes.  I was knitting.  I was spending time with friends.  Now I struggle to find the time to do those things.  It is time to get my priorities straight.

The first step in getting those priorities straight is doing some soul searching about what makes me happy?  What do I enjoy doing?  What is most important to me?

I already know that I want to:

• Read more.
• Have fun with arts and crafts.
• Start knitting again.
• Spend more time doing things I love, like working at the Botanical Garden.
• Spend more time with friends and family.

In order to accomplish all that, another goal is:

• Minimize my use of Facebook and Instagram.

I don’t want to leave social media completely.  I have some online friends, as well as other friends and family that live a long way away.  Social media is the only way we have to connect.  However, for me, the atmosphere on Facebook in particular has changed drastically in the last few years.  It just isn’t as much fun as it used to be.  It is filled with advertisements, political discussions and sometimes arguments, and lots and lots of negativity.  It has also become a real time suck.  

In order to do the creative things I want to do, increase my work at the Botanical Garden, and spending time with friends and family, I need to spend less time on my computer and phone.

What are your tricks for managing your time on social media?  What works for you when it comes to prioritizing how you spend your time?  What makes you the happiest?

My Gratitude for Today:

1. I am grateful that I have reached a point in my life where I have more choices about how I spend my time.
2. I am grateful for my warm and cozy home.
3. While I don't really love winter, it is a wonderful time to stay home and be with my cute little dogs.