things I spend my time on

I have always been busy, or at least felt that way. When kids complain to me that they're "bored," I am never, ever been able to relate to them. (And I'm always tempted to respond in Nacho Libre fashion: Go away! Read some books!)

But why do I... feel... so... busy? There's my job, for starters. Then I have a family and friends. Then there's the church I love. Then there are the responsible things that I do, such as laundry, grocery shopping, paying bills, etc., etc. Oh, and sleep - I almost for got that one - and my other favorite hobby, eating tasty food.

Left over time. That's what I have after all the other things. What do I do with that?

In the past few months, I've used my left over time to look at a lot of very, very pretty photo blogs (Jasmine Star and Jonas Peterson are two of my faves). I've read a lot of very, very thought provoking and insightful blogs (I have a collection of about a dozen now). I've learned quite a bit about fashion (Atlantic Pacific, anyone?). I have a Pinterest account. I got a Spotify account, and now listen to a variety of perfectly wonderful music. I have 2 new favorite artists: Mat Kearney and Mumford & Sons. I've tried to be on Facebook a little more. I've subscribed to several new devotionals that I really like. I've got a whole lot of "more" in my life, I feel like. And possibly fewer boundaries on my time.

I remember reading Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist. One of the things that she shared - and this is a paraphrase of a paraphrase, so excuse me - is that you have to decide what things you will choose not to do before you can carve out the time to do things that you do choose to do. So here's a little bit of both of my lists.

I do not need to spend time worrying about what other people do, or why they do it.

I do need to take the time to plan out my week before it starts.

I do not need to cook every meal that I take to work. Frozen dinners are a gift.

I do look at pretty blogs. I shouldn't look at pretty blogs to the extent that I don't have the time to make my life, and the lives around me, more beautiful.

I do pray. And I should pray more than I read about praying. (Case in point? This week.)

I do exercise, because I would be a cranky, flabby, unhealthy, more-stressed person if I didn't.

I do sleep like a normal person now, for reasons that took me several years to figure out.

I do read, because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

I don't try to do everything.

I don't have more than 1 or 2 hobbies at a time. I'm only now trying to learn the guitar, and I've wanted to learn since I was about 13.

I don't go to every event/fun night that I'm invited to. If I did, it would not be fun... for anyone.

I don't spend more than 20-25 minutes getting ready in the morning.

I don't go to the movies every week, or every month.

I do make skype dates with my friends.