Productivity for Women
As a wife and mom, it’s important to me to get out of the house and the office to meet with other women. It always leaves me feeling refreshed, understood and inspired. Today, I met with a group of women and the topic of productivity came up.
As women, many of us feel a strong need to be productive on a daily basis. To reach some sort of “quota” or “goal” to feel like our day has been worthwhile. Many of the women in my group mentioned that they too have a strong desire to be productive. However, this desire often brings guilt when they’re having a bad day, are feeling sick, or just can’t get as much done as they’d like. Everyone seemed to have a certain “super mom” or “super wife” ideal that they’d set for themselves.
Priorities should be unique to you and your family
While productivity can be a good thing, as it leads to accomplishing things for our families, there must be a proper balance and perspective in place. Not only do we put immense pressure on ourselves, but we as women also compare ourselves to others. Comparing makes things worse and drives us crazy. God’s Word shows us that His plan for our lives is special and unique.
What if we changed our perspective? What if we decided to stop comparing ourselves with our friends in certain areas and instead we searched our souls for how to organize our lives? We need to decide what’s most important for our families and ourselves. What things do you feel like God has put in your life to be a priority? Is it being a stay at home mom? Is it homeschooling your kids? Is it working part time to impact the lives of others in the workplace? Is it to do work that touches people’s lives? Is it to work full time to allow your husband the freedom to do a job that he loves? God’s plan for our lives is unique and special. This includes how He directs us to use our time. That’s why we need to stop comparing and assuming that one person is more productive or a better “supermom”.
Time with your family is productive too
If you’re a wife or a mother, it’s also important to see your time with your husband or your kids as productive time. Building these important relationships is no minor task. God calls us to minister to our spouses and children. I know I struck a better balance in life and was able to let myself off the hook a little when I realized that playing a game or baking a cake with my child counts as being productive.
Really, any activity that builds a relationship with my child is productive and has eternal impact. It counts towards building the kingdom and making the world a better place. Being able to teach your kids and build their self-esteem through a loving and patient relationship with you is the most important job in the world. God’s Word tells us aside from loving God, loving others is the most important thing we can do in this life.
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31, English Standard Version).
Slow down and take a breath
The demands of life overwhelm us all sometimes. Lets take charge and stop letting it distract us from the things that matter most. It’s ok let your house be a little messy sometimes. Go ahead and feed your kids the easier meal sometimes. Consider passing on that work opportunity or event that you were invited to. Slow down, take a breath and stop comparing yourself to others. Take yourself off the hook and just enjoy spending time with your family. The time you invest in your family will bring much more return than trying to keep up with all the other “supermoms” or “super wives” who are also struggling with their own productivity.
Personal reflection
- Do you feel the need to be productive in order to feel like your day was worthwhile?
- Do you ever compare yourself to others? If so, how does that make you feel?
- What things has God put in your life to be a priority?
- What things in your life can wait so that you can spend more time on these priorities?
Prayer
Father God, thank you that you have a special and unique plan for my life. Please help me to stop comparing myself to others and help me to know what productivity should look like for my family.
“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
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