How Do You Measure Your Day?

You have a way of measuring your day although you might not know what it is.

Perhaps you measure your day by how…

• Much you were able to accomplish or how productive you were?
• Enjoyable or fun your day was?
• Many priorities you were able to check off?
• Lovely your attitude was?
• You felt about the day?
• Well you followed God’s lead?
• Successful you were – did you close a sale, achieve a goal, or have a huge win?
• Focused, helpful, grateful, or present you were?
• You walked in who God created you to be?
• Well you walked out your plan for the day?

It boils down to what you are allowing to count, and what counts hinges on what you believe.

What beliefs are coloring the way you measure your day?

How Was Your Day?

When my husband and I connect over dinner, we often ask each other “How was your day?” For years, my typical answer was been “It was good, BUT I didn’t get everything done I wanted to!” Translation: My day was a fail!

You see, getting it ALL done was necessary because I believed that mattering in my life and work depended on what I got done.

Thinking that way is actually a big setup for NEVER having an awesome day because there is always more to do! And it leaves you feeling dissatisfied, frustrated, and pressured!

A Shift In Beliefs

A few years back, I was greeted cheerfully by a teller after pulling up to the drive through window at the bank. In obligatory fashion, she asked, “Have you had a good day?”

Prior to my drive through moment, my day had been decent. I had been steadily checking things off my “to-do” list. There was nothing undesirable about my day – just an ordinary, nothing special sort of day. So, yes, my day was “good,” at least, that’s what I told the teller.

The truth was that I thought my day was barely OK. As I mulled over her question, I wondered to myself, “How do I measure my day? What makes a day a good or even an amazing one?”

That’s when I realized that I might be using the wrong criteria to measure my day! My beliefs needed some adjusting!

Beliefs That Drag You Down!

My beliefs were not helping me! Measuring my day by whether or not the day went according to plan, my plan, and if I got it all done felt defeating.

In reality, those means of measuring my day were also nearly impossible.

If my day went according to plan and I conquered my to-do list, it was a really good day. Or if something spectacular took place like getting a new client, orders pouring in, or one of my blogs suddenly taking off like wildfire, it was a great day. Perhaps one of my kids called, or a friend and I had a meaningful conversation, then it was a wonderful day.

Guess what? Most days didn’t go that way, and my beliefs had a way of making a good day a difficult day.

Circumstances – A Poor Yardstick!

I was allowing my circumstances to make or break my day.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with new clients, great conversations, etc. These are all very positive! However, they are not the best yardstick for my day.

After contemplating the teller’s question, I came to the conclusion that there was a better way to measure my day and, oh, what a difference that has made!

Since my encounter with the cheerful teller, I’ve made five shifts in my thinking or beliefs that I want to share with you. Here is what is helpful for me to ask myself about my day:

1. What’s Realistic Today?

One surefire way to discourage myself is to pretend that I’m able to accomplish far more than is humanly possible!

These days, my approach to my day is much more realistic. As I make my plan for the day, I take into consideration the time I have available. Is this a day packed with appointments or do I have blocks of uninterrupted time?

Then I identify my top three priorities – the tasks that will have the greatest impact on my overall goals. Those will get my attention first. Then, in priority order, I list all of the other tasks that would be nice to get done.

Most of the time, I’m able to complete my top three items and move on to other tasks on my to-do list, but some days, I bump into circumstances that I can’t exactly plan for, which are my invitation to reconsider my priorities for the day. Determining my top three priorities isn’t in stone! It‘s a tool to help me accomplish what really matters even if that changes in the course of my day.

Sometimes, dealing with the unexpected right away prevents small issues from becoming bigger issues. There are also times where what seems urgent is a distraction that can wait. Knowing the difference is essential!

2. How Well Did I Cooperate With Him?

Did I adjust and participate in the unexpected moments that came my way – divine moments? Was I able to join in with what God was doing? Did my actions reflect that I trust Him? Did my responses to the events of the day, including the unexpected, reflect who He created me to BE? Was His way my priority?

The last few weeks have been full – catching up after a vacation while simultaneously navigating the extra work that comes with doing a webinar. And of course there are still appointments and life to work around too!

Every day I have choice to make around the attitude I have and what I will devote my time to. My desire would be that both would be pleasing to God.

3. What Did I Let Count?

These days I’m taking a different approach to what I let count and it has made a world of difference!

In the past, there was no denying that I evaluated my day based on how much I was able to get done! As a result, when interruptions hindered my progress, I would fret and feel discouraged.

Now what counts most for me: whether or not I was faithful with my time and tasks? Was I able to say that I was walking in who God created me to be (loving), and was I GENTLE with myself (My One Word for this year)?

When I’m striving, I’m not loving or gentle!

This week I’m still behind – I have yet to catch up The good news is that I’m taking that in stride and trusting that as I continue to be faithful with my time, God will help me accomplish what needs to be accomplished and I will catch up soon.

4. How Did I Reflect Him?

When fear creeps in it distorts how I see things.

It makes me feel like I’m a failure, that I don’t have enough time, and that I don’t matter – all feelings that feel so true in the moment but are lies!

I now recognize how defining myself by what I’m able to accomplish is really an attempt to matter more – that’s my Fear Monster. Your Fear Monster might be a way of proving you are enough or that you are competent.

5. Did I Love the People In My Path?

You and I are commanded to love according to John 13:34 (…love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.) That’s doubly true for me because God created me to “be loving” making it imperative that I love the people I encounter well.

The people interruptions, the annoying people, the strangers, and the treasured people in my life!

As a task driven gal, that’s easier said than done, but when I comply, it makes a positive and significant difference! And it rarely sets me back in getting things done the way I expect it to.

The Crazy Thing…

So, how have these shifts in perspective impacted my life and work? They have allowed me to…

• Be more available
• Genuinely invest in others
• Compare myself less
• Be more present
• Stay in step with Him
• Reflect Him better
• Surrender my agenda (most of the time!)
• Adjust my definition of a successful day
• And get more done!

Yes, it is the craziest thing! I actually accomplish more when I focus on being loving and when I adjust what I allow to count. It is comforting to know that when I release control and give it to God He has a way of multiplying my efforts!

Change starts with awareness. It’s the first step. That’s what the incredibly brief conversation with the teller did for me that day. It made me aware of my beliefs that were not serving me in a positive way.

Periodically I check-in to see how I’m measuring my days. I don’t want to drift back to good days being rare!

What’s amazing is that no matter what I’ve accomplished, it’s possible to have a very good day!

How about you? How are you measuring your day?

Originally posted on 6/5/14, this post has been updated and revised just for you!

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / swalwellj