Guest Blogger

Last week I talked about how instead of seeking balance, I’m seeking manageability. Balance feels unattainable to me, but manageability feels, well … manageable. I think it’s important to say, however, that ditching balance doesn’t mean I’ve given up on improving my life.

I’m creating a 12 week online course about living with intention called Crafting my Life. The purpose of the course is to help moms figure out how to create the life they want. As I write the course material, I’ve been examining my own life.

If you asked what’s important to me, I would list thing like family, marriage, writing, crafting, getting exercise, helping others and living sustainably. It would all sound very good. But if you looked at how I spend my time, you would see a different picture. For example, nowhere on my list of "Important Things" would you find watching TV, vacuuming, playing Angry Birds or wasting time on Twitter. And yet, I spend a lot of time doing those things. On most days I spend more time watching TV than talking to my husband, for example. And let’s not talk about how little exercise I actually get.

When I compare my "Important Things" list to my "Things I Actually Do" list, I can see why my life often feels so unmanageable, and I realize I need to switch things up. I ask myself what I really want to change, and what I’m comfortable with keeping. I re-examine my priorities and my life, and then I take small steps. I stop checking my email before breakfast. I turn off the TV for half an hour and actually talk to my husband. I pull out my knitting needles for the first time in months and knit a few rows.

Taking time to re-examine your life isn’t about making you feel guilty. It’s also not about taking on a bunch of work. It’s about finding the space for what really matters, and letting go of what doesn’t. You can take small, manageable steps on your own timetable. This is your life, after all, so you can change it in a way that works for you. Bit by bit, you can shift things so that your "Important Things" list and your "Things I Actually Do" list are more in line with each other.

Living a life in line with my values is a worthy goal. It’s what I aspire to, even if I won’t stop playing Angry Birds. Maybe I should just add it to my "Important Things" list, and then I’ll be all set.

Amber is a crunchy granola mom of two and wife of one. She lives in suburban Vancouver, where she eats a lot of chocolate. Follow her adventures on her blog at Strocel.com, or learn about her course on living with intention at Crafting my Life. Follow @AmberStrocel on Twitter.