Work In Keeping with Your Purpose

Time Management Tip: Stop doing other people’s stuff

On the front of our fridge, under school lunch menus and sticker charts, parent/teacher conference reminders and lists of special school activities you’ll find a paper that has five days of chores for our daughter. Simple things, like helping to take the trash out on Monday nights, or cleaning up her bedroom. We started that chore chart over a month ago and have used it approximately 2 times.

I’m not good at letting other people in my family do their own stuff. I’m constantly putting away shoes, picking up craft supplies, cleaning rooms, doing dishes, and folding laundry. And, for the most part, I don’t mind. I enjoy serving my family and it matters more to me than to them that our living spaces are clutter-free and clean. But doing other people’s work takes away from the time we could be spending on the work God has assigned US to do. Maybe you’ve found yourself picking up the slack at your office, or realized that what started out as a temporary assignment while someone was on vacation has turned into your full-time responsibility. I’m not great at group projects because I tend to do all the work because I know that it will get done if I’m taking care of it. But that not only keeps me from living fully in the talents God gave me, but takes away the opportunity for others to use their gifts and learn along the way.

Inspiration: “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose” ― Leonardo da Vinci

Resource (affiliate link): Chore Chart

Not that we’re very good at sticking to these, but I love this chore chart because it gives you the chance to add more than just household chores, but any items your family members are responsible for – like reading, homework, putting away shoes, etc. And being able to check off the days of the week that the task is completed is a great visual encouragement. The fact that you get to use neon dry erase markers is an added bonus 😉