Hi My Favorites,

I know that pressure is at an all time high right now – given our current social, political, and economic climate! In addition to these things, life continues to go on and we have our normal day to day concerns and responsibilities to attend to. Some of us have had to make major adjustments concerning our children, jobs, and so much more because of this current climate! The questions to be asked are overwhelmingly apparent. What do we do? How do we balance it all without cracking up!! I had to add this part because there’s just no use in sugarcoating it. The pressures of lifehood, momhood, wifehood can just be a lot sometimes – especially, when we don’t have a plan in place to keep each area in balance.

Let’s talk about it!

In this post, I want to share with you what I am doing to balance it all. I want to encourage you that in the midst of these times, it is possible to continually grow your business in these unprecedented times.

For those of you who don’t quite know me, I will shout this from the roof top! I am a wife of one (LOL!) and a mother of 3! I have one daughter who has graduated from college and now working toward obtaining a post-graduate degree in the medical field. I also have 2 teenagers in high school. So………I can understand and relate to the MAJORITY of the stages of parenthood and it is forever evolving!

I formed and established Procare Solutions Consulting in 2012, while working a full time job, obtaining my second master’s degree, and raising 3 school aged children who were also in school. Meanwhile, my husband was also working full-time AND here’s the best part, his job required him to travel 5 days out of the week. I can hear somebody out there saying, how in the world did you do it? And why did you do it? LOL! Oh and I left out chunks of the busyness that my life entailed at the time, but that’s for another blog post.

I just had to give you a brief synopsis of how earthly human I am, so that you will understand the tips that I am about to give you today were forged by the process of Life and experience and learning how to navigate the changing seasons of Life. My main objective today is to introduce you to the concept of planning for balance and not busy!

Here’s a principle I’ve learned to live and govern my life by: 1 Thessalonians 4:11 “ … make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly, peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands…..” I call this the “Thessalonian Principle of Life”. It takes the guess work out of how and what I should be focused on in my life. In this I understand that we have each been given our own measure of purpose and assignments we are to govern. We must steward our responsibilities accordingly. I had to learn this.

Next I plan my life and business accordingly.

My struggle and life experience is what qualifies me to share these tips with you today!

# 1 – I have learned that I matter! YOU matter! In order to make sure that YOU matter without being selfish about it, requires active and intentional planning. This means that you have to plan in order to gain time for you, so that you are available and present for the people and things you need to present for. In order to do this, your planning has to serve as an active method of discipline for your time so that your life and goals can align with your anticipated outcome without neglecting yourself in the process. ( More info on how to carve out Me-TIME, Check out this post!)

# 2 – My Family Matters. I understand the concepts of Grind, Hustle, Be Great, Boss Babe, Boss Chick and all of the Above; but don’t leave your family behind to achieve these status titles. You are successful in your own lane and own right and don’t need society’s affirmation of success and relevance. Also, Entrepreneurs do need sleep! I understand the concept of “burning the midnight oil”, but doing that too often will BURN YOU OUT! It can cause your health to decline significantly! Your family play a very important part in the outcome of your success! To be successful is not defined by how many 0’s are in your bank account, but it is defined by well you managed your life, business, and family in the midst of dominating your chosen career field. Taking the necessary measures to plan your time so that you can be present, available and contribute to each member of your family is major. No person left behind!

Well, what does this look like? Glad you asked! 😉 Your schedule should allow you time to spend quality one on one time with your spouse, have conversations with your kids, provide nutritious meals for your family, and participate and engage in family building activities. Enjoy the moments of being able to bask in the quality time with those you love and provide for. This should not be a task, but enjoyable. Take it from me, Children grow up so fast it will make your head spin! My fervent prayer as a mother has always been to be present for my family. I had to learn how to see about myself too.

I can remember praying for a job that would enable me to drop my kids off to school and be off in enough time to pick them up from school! I learned that quality time during those car rides would not only provide us bonding time through conversation, but allow me to be present and provide perspective on the challenges they faced during the day. Parents, it makes a difference to hear about your kid’s experiences when it’s fresh on their minds! If they meet a friend at the bus stop, the information may not ever make it to you! (JUST FYI!) Prior to virtual schooling, I was afforded this opportunity all throughout years of them attending public school. I believe it’s because I was intentional about it. I learned to eliminate excessive, unnecessary busyness and burdensome time restraints by discerning  the seasons well! I learned to Say No in the ones I needed to say no in. My kids are very athletic, but sports are not for every season( at least not in my household). We learned their gifts and talents, and this is what we began to make a priority. This allows us to count up the cost of our time collectively as a family. My husband and I made that decision and allow our children’s input with regard to what sports they will participate in and which season they will participate in that sport. Your schedule should not be exhaustive in every season.

# 3 – Your Business, Dreams, & Goals Matter. Here again, in order to fulfill these things, it requires intentional planning. Determine what Goals you should allocate to each season. Determine a schedule for working toward these goals, and begin disciplining your time and life to accomplish these goals. Just because some seasons may be busier than others, doesn’t mean you should neglect your goals. Determine the right goals for the right season. Learning how to maximize your time is key! Often times when my kids were at soccer or football practice, I would already have my work planned out for the hour or two I had to wait for them at the practice field. I bought my laptop and workbag with me to their practice. I would sit in view so I could work and watch them practice all in on setting! Often times I found myself developing great content just by being there. You would be surprised at the ideas you gather doing things like this.
#4 – You cannot be consumed with what you can’t control, but plan and adjust for those things you can! Life happens and it doesn’t always have your permission on when and how. I’ve learned to adjust, recalibrate, and develop a plan to make the most out of the time I do have. I’ve learned to find peace in some of the most undesirable seasons, simply by discovering time to do something I enjoy until the season passes. This is one of the things that I will forever, PREACH! It’s not about Adapting to the Times, but to the Process! The world is now in unfavorable times, but we have the power to make our process throughout this time both favorable and productive!

Well, I have throughly enjoyed our chat today! Thank you for hanging with me! Remember the following four takeaways!

#1 – Intentional and actionable planning is a must!
#2 – Plan for you first, then your family and business – All in this order!
#3 – Remember, we should always plan for BALANCE & NOT BUSY
#4 – Don’t be consumed with what you can’t control, but plan and adjust for those things you can!

Talk to you soon!

Blessings To You & Yours,

Sherron