My husband and I are experiencing something new this month. We have relocated to Florida and will be living between my in-laws home in Tampa, and our favorite cottage on Sanibel Island. Scott is working remotely and I—well, I get to design what my days look like.

Have you ever mentally reviewed a vacation or a long weekend and wondered “What in the world did I do?” Maybe you were disappointed that you wasted too much time watching TV, ate way too much of the wrong foods, and didn’t spend as much time with people as you had hoped.

I don’t want to return home without having my heart, soul, and spirit satisfied with the wholesome activities that are available to me. So this morning—my first morning—I attached a sticky note to my desktop titled Designing My Days in FL 2018. Here’s what it includes:

  1. Coffee and morning devotions out in the porch every day.
  2. Quality time with Scott. Just being together, taking our time talking, being     kind and thoughtful.
  3. Walks and bike rides—in the neighborhood when I am in Tampa, on the beach and bike trails on Sanibel.
  4. Working on a writing project for Evergreen.
  5. Spending time praying and preparing for the Philippians Bible study I will be teaching at my church when I return.
  6. 5 Sisters Organics research. (The farm/garlic endeavor I have with my     sisters)
  7. Healthy choices when cooking and eating out—Whole30 and simple.

Sounds doable (and wonderful) for a vacation, doesn’t it? But what about when I return home? What about my everyday life?

What about you?

In the normality and craziness of Mondays through Sundays, it can seem like we don’t have the choice to design our days. Demands from family, career, and our calendar appear to steal our time. But guess what? Every person on the planet has been given the same amount of time—24 hours each day, 7 days each week, 52 weeks every year. And no one sets your daily schedule except you.

“Either you run your day or the day runs you.” J Rohn

Think about consistently living a healthy life every day for the next 6 months.

What is one thing you can prioritize in your schedule that will add value to your day? Are there regular activities in your life that you realize you should eliminate from your schedule?

Now list the top 5 priorities you will choose to incorporate into each 24 hours.

“Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction.” Psalm 90:12, TPT

When I return home to my typical schedule, my list will almost be the same. I will still prioritize coffee and morning devotions first thing in the morning, only in Minnesota winter it will be in the cozy chair next to the fireplace. I will connect with Scott over healthy meals and slow-down times in the evening. I will pursue wholeheartedly all the work God has called me to do.

How will you design your day?