Sunday Seven

Sunday, July 19, 2015

I hate to break this down to you but Fall is 65 days away. Most kids will be back to school way before then. The summer is a sweet season but we have to live through 3 other seasons who will be here before we know it. Today I want to tell you about 7 ways to plan to succeed as we approach new seasons. 
1 • Schedule - I sat down last night and I worked on my schedule for the Fall. My family and I enjoy structure because it allows us to make the most of the time we have. It also facilitates organization and execution of everything we need to do. We're not as busy as most people I talk to but we do like to be faithful in the areas we're responsible for. 
2 • Menu - Most people plan their menu weekly or monthly. I'm challenging myself to plan long term. Other than the seasonal dishes, we eat the same foods over a over. Simplifying and sticking with one menu takes away the guess work and it simplifies the process. 
3 • Workouts - I have the tendency to workout around the same days every week. Planning workouts is another guarantee that they will happen. I put them down on my schedule and I have found success when I take them that seriously. I have also learned the value of having my clothes ready to go, especially in mornings I am really tired. Planning, preparing and expecting to succeed works. 
4 • Holidays - It's never too early to start planning the holidays. If we start now, we can avoid overspending. We can also be sure that what matters most happens and we are not pressured into overdoing anything. 
5 • Giving - I believe we can plan to be generous. You and I get requests for different donations throughout the year, correct? We also have certain charities and causes that are close to our heart and we can always plan ahead and make a gift or contribution. 
6 • Family Time - I'm not sure if I'm the only person who has all these amazing plans on how to spend time as a family just to forget it all when it's time to make a decision. Even if I write down a master list, I can be prepared to spend some significant family time this year. I can make it as simple or as fancy as I want. The important thing is to write it down.
7 • Goals - Remember the goals you and I set in January? Now it's a great time to reevaluate them and to find measurable ways to make them happen. It's wise to remember that those goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Recorded and Time based.

• Are you thinking about the Fall? What are some of the things you can plan in order to succeed?