Time Management – Life Lessons

The Time Is Now

Turn yesterday’s problems into today’s progress. There’s never been a better reason to stop putting off what you should be doing now.

Tragedy will always be in the news. Turn the tv off.

Celebrity gossip will always be juicy. Log off of social media.

The government will not solve your problems, neither will social media. Stop listening to them.

Podcasters do not have all the answers – no one does. The goal is to increase viewership, not solve your problems.

People will prioritize what’s important to them, and you should do the same. When you all do link up, just pick up where you left off.

People are going to die, but your dream doesn’t have to.

An excuse is a distraction.

A distraction is a deterrent.

Deterrents cause decline.

Decline weakens productivity.

And now you’re back to making excuses.

You control your own destiny with your tongue and your actions. But you must have self-control, discipline, and faith. Whatever you’re dealing with, so is someone else in the world, maybe 10 times worse. You’re not alone.

Your problem does deserve attention and care, but it’s still your problem, not the world’s. Even if it makes the news, eventually it becomes old news. I know it sounds cold, but it’s the truth. While problems in the world continue to grow, people are busy juggling their own.

Focus on a solution, not the problem. Then turn your pain into purpose.

“The time is now. Problems are forever. Some get worse, but most become better.

Problems will control you.

People will console you.

But God will deliver because that’s what he told you.”

-Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson ✍🏽

Check out my books in the links below:

I’m G.O.O.D. – Volume One

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/im-good

https://a.wco/d/dDLzPDo

I’m Still G.O.O.D. – Volume Two

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/im-still-good1

https://a.sco/d/8t5nx9m

It’s Never Too Late

As you get older, you may start feeling like it’s too late to do some things. Too late to get married. Too late to have kids. Too late to start a family. Too late to start your business. Too late to go back to school. Too late to change your diet. Too late to just start living!

Whatever you’re currently facing may be new to you but familiar to someone else. Hard for you but manageable for someone else. Desirable to you but undesirable to someone else, so learn to keep some stuff to yourself. Otherwise, that feeling will never leave.

You must be careful with who you confide in because one’s opinion might shape your belief or curve your decision. However, sometimes people don’t intend to be malicious or shady in their comments. It’s not always meant for you.

As an opinionated person myself, I used to make mindless comments because I would talk so much. I can honestly say I have never meant to hurt anyone with my words in informal or formal conversations. Consequently, I’ve learned to talk less and listen more, especially when talking to people I’m not well acquainted with. Though I’m still pretty talkative at times, I’m more careful with words.

Don’t listen to naysayers

Never let someone’s opinion dim your light and stop the execution of your plan. You were made for something bigger than someone’s opinion. But if you’re also afraid of what others might say or think, then you’ll stop the execution of your own plan with fear.

Learn to accept constructive criticism

We all love good conversation and positive energy, but we must also learn to accept constructive criticism. A good friend or family member may not always tell you what you want to hear. They’ll tell you what you need to hear instead. No one can decide on your future but you. However, you should want your loved ones to at least try to keep you from making a fool of yourself.

Let’s say one feels like it’s time for you to bear a child because you’re in your late 30’s. You want a baby so bad, you start sleeping with this married man. In conversation with a friend, you admit that the two of you don’t always use protection. Your friend immediately comments on how you’re going about things the wrong way; then you get upset. Not only did she check you on one bad decision but two.

Don’t take everything personal

If you’re a sensitive person, you should stay off social media and avoid watching stand up comedy. You can’t always expect kindness, comfort, and positivity, especially from people who don’t even know you. However, if you follow the right people, you just might get that. Some people post just to get a reaction, and comedians are paid to tell jokes, even if it means playing on your pain.

Wise up

Whatever it is you want, tell it God, not people. Sometimes He will use people as a conduit and speak through them, but you must always use discernment.

“Time isn’t to be wasted but neither is your life. Let God lay the blueprint so it comes out right.”

-Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson ✍🏽

Check out my books by clicking the links below:

I’m G.O.O.D. – Volume One

https://a.co/d/dDLzPDo

I’m Still G.O.O.D. – Volume Two

https://a.co/d/8t5nx9m

Make Time for Your Family & Friends

We all have an expiration date, and no one can tell you when it is. Doesn’t milk sometimes spoil before its expiration date? So why do we think we have so much time? I don’t say this to evoke fear. You may be one of the lucky ones who live to see 100, but your friends and family members may not be so lucky.

I’ve been to more funerals in my 44 years of living than I could’ve ever imagined. The daunting part is how many were for young people under 50. The youngest I’ve seen laid to rest was only 11 years old when I was only 10 years old. His death was so horrific that it gave me nightmares.

You shouldn’t try to put a time stamp on anyone’s life, but it does make sense to pay frequent visits to someone on hospice or bedridden, as opposed to someone who is healthy. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t wait until the person becomes bedridden to pay a visit.

If you’re a busy person with a big family and lots of friends like myself, you must make appointments and plan trips or social gatherings. Lately, I’ve been setting appointments with my friends and haven’t broken any so far. Use your smartphone and add it to your calendar, as you would any other event deemed important.

Make appointments 📆

If you’re a social person, invite a friend as your plus one to some party or event. Why go alone? As you can see, sometimes opportunities will present themselves. That could be the last memory you create with that person.

If you have a group of friends, plan a day for biking, bowling, golfing, wine tasting, painting, or a small gathering at your home or there’s. These are just a few examples, but there’s so much more you can do as a group.

Family matters most 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Family members should see each other often, if living locally. Turn some of that talking and texting into a meet up. Before there was FaceTime or Duo, you had to pull up. FaceTime and Duo are great, but there’s nothing more beautiful than having physical contact with the ones you love.

When my daughter accepted her first travel nurse assignment, I knew I would miss her. Though she moved out a few years ago, she was only 60 miles away as opposed to being 600 miles away. Every time she would visit, it felt like Christmas. I was opening a new gift of joy and happiness.

That’s the same feeling I get when I see any of my kids who have left the nest, if I hadn’t seen them in a while. But with my daughter, it was different because she was so far away in an unfamiliar town with no family members nearby.

Whenever you see any of your loved ones, you should greet them and treat them like it’s the last time you’ll see them. Don’t take any of the time you spend together for granted because tomorrow is never promised to any of us.

Marriage doesn’t make you exempt 🚫

Married people, I know it can be difficult to divide your time, especially if you have kids or any other full-time commitment. But it’s not impossible.

If both of you have kids, invite them over for a play date and let them jump on that trampoline or partake in some game time together while you get caught up on your busy lives over some wine and refreshments.

If you don’t have any kids, have an adult play date right at your house. You don’t always have to go to some venue. Tidy up your home, and invite your friends and family members over. If you love them like you say you do, then you would invite them to your home, be it a house, condo, apartment, or mobile home.

I miss living close to family for that reason. There was always something going on at my house, especially with so many birthdays in the family and holidays, of course. But most visits were unexpected or unplanned house visits. Those were the best! We didn’t have an agenda. Oftentimes, we just sat around laughing and talking.

What happened to people? Has all this technology made you lazy? Are your jobs more important than your loved ones? This does not apply to everyone. Technology is a great way to keep in touch with your loved ones from a distance. I’m talking to the ones who are not distant and can make time to see each other as often as possible. You determine the frequency of your visits, but it should not be years, even if you are 600 miles away.

Stop making excuses 🙅🏽‍♀️

Money or time should not be an excuse to create more memories with the ones you love. Therefore, when God calls them home, you’ll have peace knowing that you shared a significant part of their lives and brought them nothing but joy. Grief is more painful when there’s guilt or regret.

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

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