Iโm literally praying for my 2024. As an AfroUK parent living in the UK and a medical doctor, I often find myself in need of reminders to be better organized. Added to the pleasures of entrepreneurship and volunteering in different organizations, my ability to plan ahead, stay organized and manage my time effectively helps me stay focused on my personal, family and career goals, as well as show up daily for my dreams, support network of doctors and even for myself.
I remember in my first year in the UK as a doctor, someone snitched to my superiors saying I needed better time management and organization skills. I was asked to take a time-management course for doctors in Newcastle. Of course, I felt offended, but I showed up as directed. The bible says obey without complaint but I obeyed and I complained. ๐ I remind myself now to never disregard the simplest advice and to see feedback as a source of learning. Attending that course in 2018, I learnt about the four Ds of time management, which I now apply to my daily practice and life. I also learnt about personal and organizational strategies to be more effective. To date, reminders from my Google calendar are a life-saver. How else would I balance the joys and challenges of motherhood with my personal aspirations and family goals? My schedule can be as simple as 'book dentist' or as complex as 'arrange exams'. It can be as formal as a meeting or as informal as calling a friend (I have this scheduled for every Thursday to call someone I haven't spoken to in a while. Well-being matters!) Sometimes, these reminders come in with alerts, depending on their importance. There will be days when I miss my targets for the day or week. That's fine, planning is about progress, not perfection.
This gives an idea of how parents can plan week-by-week, one day at a time. Sometimes, planning weekly is as much as I can give when life gets busy, sometimes I go further; but how do I plan for an entire year like 2024? I think I may have lost the zeal for new year goals. I haven't written down a list in years. This doesn't mean I haven't chased my goals, I just wasn't as intentional as I want to be โฆ but I have high hopes for 2024. The lack of intention in planning my year has shown itself in different ways, for example, holidays with kids or self-time are unplanned or are slotted in when chanced. I know this could be better, and I can be more intentional in planning time with family. This December, I want to be different and move towards more 'purposefulness' in 2024. Being passive has its setbacks, so I choose to be active in mapping out an intentional year for myself and family for 2024. I've prayed and told my kids and asked for their thoughts. Of course, holiday and family time with movie nights and KFC was their number one agenda. ๐Mine was homework classes, ๐คฃbut weโre working it out.
Not surprising, but I get it, we had missed lots of family nights this year. And so we are working it out together.....more academic time with online tutors, more family nights, less devices, ....and of course, for me, less time working on my computer even on family nights...lol...See, intentional parenting starts with some discipline in myself๐๐ฝ. As 2024 comes around, I pray you find your passion for a more intentional year, as I am finding mine. We are all parents, not perfect.
Thank you for being part of our community as we grow and shape a network for ourselves as AfroUK Parents. I wish you a happy new year and see you in 2024.
Shalom ๐๐ฝ
Your humble AUP host,
๐Omosefe Christina
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