Hi sweet friends, and welcome back to another week here on this little corner of the internet :)
While Summer has always been my favorite season of all, there is something so refreshing and comforting about a cool breeze, cozy sweaters, and a hot cup of tea. I'm grateful to live in Chicago where the weather fluctuates with the seasons, because the change helps me appreciate progress made in my own life.
I know that for many of us, the fall season means a return to normalcy (or at least some sense of normalcy). We might be going back to school, returning to work in the office, or jumping back into our small group routines after taking a break over the summer. I know that is one I am looking forward to most :)
For these reasons, I thought this would be the perfect time to write about something I know many Christian women want: a daily routine that puts God at the center and allows us to be productive.
Now before we jump into a laundry list of dos and don'ts, I want to pause here and acknowledge that the Biblical definition of being "productive" is very different from the world's definition, and that is a good thing.
I recently listened to a great podcase episode of Truth Talks With Tara specifically on that topic. I loved that it went straight to the point about today's standards and expectations of productivity: we are expected to do all, be all, never take a break, and smile while doing it. Needless to say this will lead everyone to burnout, even the most determined among us.
However, as Christians, we have a better way.
As women of God, we get to follow God's standard of productivity. This standard acknowledges that we do not have to do things by our own strength, but rather that God will provide strength to accomplish the things he cares about. This standard also sees prayer as the most productive thing you can do any single day. And yes, this standard also sees resting as productive. Just as God rested on the 7th day after creating the world, so do we need to rest to regain strength to accomplish the Kingdom work.
Now that we got this definition out of the way, I'm excited to share a few tips I've implemented in my own life that have helped me create and keep a healthy daily routine that is honoring to the Lord. However, I also want to be fully transparent and say that it has not been easy and I have certainly not been perfect.
Along with redefining what productivity meant to me, I also had to let go of unrealistic expectations, and give myself grace when I fall short. I know that God does. :)
With that said, let's jump in!
6 Tips to creating (& keeping) a daily routine as a Christian woman
1) Wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day
This first one might come as a surprise because it's not particularly Christian in its nature, but it is so important to setting up a healthy routine. There is a book called "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker PhD that explains in ~340 pages everything you need to know about the science of sleep. Luckily, I read it so that you don't have to. ;)
It talks about the natural circadian rhythm that is embedded within each of us, and that happens to be about 24 hours. This rhythm pretty much dictates when we naturally wake up, our peak energy time, and when to wind down for the day. By going to bed and waking up at regular times, we allow this rhythm to work as planned: we are able to wake up naturally without feeling groggy, we have plenty of energy to sustain throughout the day, and falling asleep takes minutes not hours. Sounds amazing, right!?
One sure way to disrupt this natural cycle is to wake up and go to sleep at irregular times, and this also includes the weekend. I know it doesn't sound fun to wake up at 8am on the weekend, but if you truly stick to this habit, there will come a point where your body will just wake you up on your own. And believe me, it is an amazing way to wake up each day!
One last thing: while I understand it is not possible for everyone due to work or school schedules, there is biblical support to waking up early. It says in Proverbs 31 that the woman "gets up while it is still night" [Provers 31:15]. I'm not saying you are required to wake up this early, but that there is something to waking up early before the rest of the world that provides an inner peace that is hard to describe :)
2) Pick up your Bible before your phone
I'm sure you've heard this one before from your pastor or a well-meaning friend, but it is worth repeating. There is something about starting your day immersed in the very Word of God that transforms you within. And the reason may be more based in science than you may realize.
Upon waking up, our brains are exiting sleep more and entering reality. During this transition period, our minds are extremely malleable and sensitive to the information it is being provided.
Have you ever started your day with catching up on the news, or scrolling through social media? I know we all tell ourselves "just 5 minutes", but with a brain that is fresh out of sleep, it's like providing it fuel that is harmful. Not to mention, your mood can take a toll.
On the other hand, starting your day with reading even just a few verses of your Bible is an incredible habit to build. It is like feeding your mind with the most healthy yet delicious food available to it. You will notice your mood shift for the better as you prepare to tackle the day knowing who is by your side each step of the way.
One last note on tip #2, and that is that the concept of tithing (donating 10% of your finances to the needy) doesn't have to apply to money: it can also apply to your time. We serve a God that can do more with 10% of our day than we could hope to achieve with the entire 100%. Read that again.
3) Don't overextend yourself
I know this one seems like a no brainer and that many times people are not able to do this by no fault of their own. We all have many responsibilities that pull us into what feels like many directions at the same time, and those responsibilities often cannot be put on the back burner.
What I am suggesting is that you cut off anything that is not absolutely necessary or that doesn't bring you joy. You might be thinking that everything is important, but the truth is that there is always a hierarchy. If you are not certain what it is, spending time in prayer may help God reveal what are the things to prioritize and the things to let go, at least for this season.
What has worked best for me is to plan for 2 weekly recurring activities, and 1 that will change on a weekly basis, on top of my 9 to 5 job. While this might not seem like much, anything on top of that can often take away from spending time alone - precious time that can be used for self-reflection, prayer, and healing. Even Jesus spent much of his time alone away from his disciples in order to pray and talk with his Father in heaven.
At the end of the day, by cutting down on activities, you will end up cherishing the few you have more than you would have otherwise :)
4) Keep a written list of to-dos
Keeping a written list of all the things that need to get done at some point or another is one of the best things you can do to create structure in your day to day life. I know not everyone likes lists (in fact I know some people who really dislike them), but hear me out.
The truth is: if something really needs to get done and it is not written down on paper, then it is living rent free in your head - and it will likely pop up at the worst times. Have you ever been laying awake at night thinking of all the things you need to do, only to forget half of them upon waking up? I know I have.
My best tips for an effective to do list is to organize it into different categories: you can have a page for urgent things that need to get done within a few days, a page for things that can be done at home, at page of things that have to be done outside of home, and a list of things that are not urgent but need to be done eventually.
While lists don't necessarily make life that exciting, they do make it more predicable and provide much-needed peace. And who doesn't love the satisfaction of crossing of an item from your to-do list? ;)
5) Leave time for prayer
One of the most perplexing verses in the Bible is "pray without ceasing" [1 Thessalonians 5:17]. How could the Apostle Paul possibly mean that we should be praying constantly?
It is possible, only if you shift your view of what prayer is. Prayer doesn't always require you to be on your knees behind closed doors (although you are more than welcome to do so). Prayer is just a conversation between you and God. It can be full length sentences and thoughts while pacing your bedroom, or it can be a simple "help me" as you enter an unknown situation.
However, I do think there is value in setting aside daily time to be in prayer. It doesn't have to be the same time each day, but it does help. Accompanying it with your Bible reading time is also a great idea, so that you can ensure that your prayers are Biblically sound as you pray verses over yourself and the lives of your loved ones.
Finally, having a prayer journal helps too. It doesn't have to be fancy, but even just a notebook where you write down your prayers can help you keep track not only of what you have asked God for, but also what he has answered. Going back to those pages will fill you with so much gratitude and remind you of God's faithfulness in times of doubt.
6) Remember who you are doing things for
The last tip I want to share today is that it's important to remember who you are doing things for. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you feel like everything you are doing to is to obtain the approval of others. However, the Bible says that "whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" [1 Corinthians 10:31]
As Christians, we are called to lay aside our own plans and obey God. That means that regardless of the season of life we are in - whether we are students, mothers, entrepreneurs or employees - we must accomplish our tasks with the Glory of God in mind. As Christians, we have faith that God is taking us through a season for a reason. Let us have a heart of hope and obedience
Dear friends, I really enjoyed writing this blog post for you and truly hope that you found value in it. I've heard before that a routine can take about 3 weeks to settle in, so be patient and keep going. Even if you skip a day, or mess up, it doesn't mean you have to quit completely. In fact, God gives us grace and gives us the strength to start again.
P.S.: the best way to stay in touch and be in the know about new blog posts is to subscribe to my email list! (I promise I won’t spam you)
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