Finding “Crack” Time

Have you heard of Zig Ziglar?

That’s a great name. I don’t think I could pull that off quite as well with “Sulley Sullivan”, but it does have a ring to it. Back in the 80’s, my dad went to work for Zig Ziglar, who was a well-known author and motivational speaker. As an impressionable nine year old, I loved going up to my dad’s office to visit. I wanted to be just like him from an early age: work in an office, wear a suit, travel and encourage people. I also loved playing office at my desk, in my room and with my turquoise rotary phone. In order to aid in documenting my business transactions, I might have been known to take several blank bank deposit slips on weekly errands with my mom. You know the ones sitting out on that island at the local bank, with inviting slots of papers offered in assorted colors? It was my version of a candy store.

This habit of scouring for free items continued on one visit to my dad’s office. On the edge of a cubical, where the desk corner met the hallway, I came upon a clear fishbowl of round coins. When the occupant of said cubicle motioned for me to take one, I obliged happily and then inspected the letters inscribed.

TUIT

My dad explained that many times we say a polite phrase to ourselves, in our minds, that we will do something “when we get a round to it”. So with this coin, the round TUIT, we have the permission to start taking action today! Ah-ha! Appreciating the clever token, I may or may not have grabbed a few more for my desk and went on my way.

As with most things, the longer we live on earth the more we understand and can empathize with a struggle in a greater way. So many times I would have appreciated that little coin for the reminder that I have the permission I need to do the things on my list.

But where is the time? With all of the needs around me, where is the time to fill back up?

I am finding myself in a season where my margin for time is opening up little by little and I want to steward it well. Many days I get lost doing something that brings no value whatsoever to my life. We need a good mindless distraction from time to time, but now that my goal list is growing, I need to be increasingly intentional about the margin time of my days. It is the “crack time”, so I’ve heard it called with a chuckle. We must find it. Look for it. Seek it out.

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Helpful Tips: I have set these areas of focus for my year in relation to renewing my heart, soul, body and mind but now where can I find the time to actually do them?

This week I took some notes of what worked when, and hope to replicate it in the weeks to come.

  • Heart - I want to add in things that fill my heart back up.

    • I woke up between 5:30-6:00am every morning (except Friday morning) and was able to spend at least 30 minutes of reading, writing and studying in quiet before my door opened with little people needing breakfast.

    • Spent time connecting with each child, reading aloud or engaging in conversation, at least once during the seven day week. That is a feat!

    • Enjoyed a much needed date night with my husband before he leaves town for the next four days. Thanks Mom and Dad!

    • Connected with my college roommates over Marco Polo.

  • Body - I focused on being active for at least 20 minutes a day. That’s it. 20 minutes. These resources are incredibly helpful for me as a homeschool mom of four, and I use a combination of each every week. I am sure my fitness friends would encourage more time, but right now this is what I got.

    • Pilates - Online classes with The Balanced Life done right in the narrow margin of carpet beside my bed. (And I mean narrow)

    • Peloton - Indoor cycle classes with my favorite instructor, @allymisslove, and the cardio classes from the Peloton app done on the same slice of carpet beside my bed.

    • Tennis - Once a week, weather permitting, I play tennis with a group of women on Friday mornings and then I take a lesson with just my oldest immediately following.

  • Soul - I find these are essential to my days feeling anchored.

    • Prayer time with a group of women, once every two weeks, over Google Duo, which leads into the sweetest daily accountability.

    • Journal time to reflect and process each morning for 5 minutes. (Refer to early wake-up time)

    • Time each morning in my current favorite devotion, Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon.

  • Mind - I am always learning as a homeschool mom, and opportunities naturally appear in my primary vocation. I know it does for you as well.

    • In order to hone my craft of writing, I belong to a writer’s group called Hope Writers. I was able to listen to some coaching videos while folding laundry and it was lovely. The time flew by, and I felt filled up even while I was serving my family and folding clean underwear.

    • I learned about the great artists: Gainsborough and Degas while preparing to teach the fine art class at our Classical Conversations co-op on Tuesdays.

    • I entered into discussions with a friend about exciting and upcoming projects.

Notice all of this took place in the periphery of my days, and not once did I mention running kids to basketball practice, grocery shopping, teaching Math, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Science and History, etc. If I’m honest, those are the things that don’t fill me up, but still need to get done. This list also encourages me that these things can all get done in a week (though some weeks they won’t and that’s ok!), even if they don’t look like I think they should.

Take Action: At some point today, take inventory, and mark out your week. Look at your to-do list and find the margins of time where you can add in these things that fill you up and renew you. Please hear my heart, this is not to boast about what my week looks like, but to encourage you that you can do much with equal intentionality. I’m here to help if you need it! I honestly think you will be encouraged that you were able to fit in more of these areas than you thought you could, if you write it down. The writing down also leads your heart to a place of gratitude for what you were able to accomplish.

Warning: Be patient with the season you are in today. In some seasons I was fortunate enough to just get a shower in and keep my children alive. Any quiet time was reserved for the 2 minutes that I needed to go to the bathroom and read a two word text. I get it. I didn’t have the mental or physical capacity to get it “all” done, but the point is to recognize what small steps you can take with your small windows of time and mark how that can lead to lasting renewal.

Consider this your proverbial “round TUIT”.

What is on your list for this week? You have all of the permission you need, now go find the “crack” time. Don’t forget to laugh, and let me know how it goes!