Because we don’t live our lives going from retreat after retreat and mission trip after mission trip.
7-11 min read
This post was written by guest contributor Jessica Atmadja. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube. She shares her testimony in this video.
Sometimes, life feels like it’s going in slow motion. Other times, I feel that I’ve pressed the fast-forward button. I wonder, is there ever a moment in-between? But no matter what we feel, there is no rewind or stop button. Life never stops.
People might say that only death and taxes are certain, but I know that my certainty is placed in God. I trust that God is walking with us in every step of the way. However, from time to time, I struggle to feel His presence. I wonder, am I a bad believer for feeling this way?
Over the years, my journey with God has been and is a total roller coaster. When the highs are high, I’m good. But, I must admit that I have, at one point, reached my lowest lows. I’m sure that almost every Christian has felt the spiritual high after coming back from a retreat or a mission trip, but also the lows when you truly question the existence of God. In both those situations, your mind is swimming in God-related thoughts, but we don’t live our lives going from retreat after retreat and mission trip after mission trip.
In both those situations, your mind is swimming in God-related thoughts, but we don’t live our lives going from retreat after retreat and mission trip after mission trip.
What about the moments in-between? During the school year, I find myself constantly occupied by academics, sports, and other extracurriculars. Life has pressed the fast-forward button, where I’m constantly going from one field hockey practice to planning events for a club to cramming for a math test. It’s already overwhelming to be juggling eight different things at once, so it feels difficult to make space for God, let alone grow spiritually. If only I had more time in the day, then I can definitely make space for God.
I had an exam at 8 AM yesterday and took the rest of the day off. Last week, I was concerned that my exam was going to be cancelled and that all my studying had to be re-done at a later point. Thankfully, I was able to take it and found out I passed (yay!).
While I was studying for the exam, I created a list of things that I wanted to do once my exam was over. Have you ever felt that when you have so many things to do, you wish there were more hours in the day?
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Below are some things you might have thought of:
“If I have more time, then I’ll do _______ [fill in the blank].”
Or, “Once this is over, I want to ________.”
Or, probably the most likely one, “Ugh, I wish I didn’t have to do ______, so I can do ______!”
I often had these thoughts in college, when opportunity costs were at an all-time high (ha, my econ major in me is coming out!). I was swamped with classes, student orgs, a part-time internship, and figure skating practices where I woke up at 4 AM every Saturday to get to the skating rink 45 minutes away.
I was definitely craving for more time.
But what if we change our way of thinking? Instead of complaining of not having enough time to do certain things, we need to acknowledge that we can’t do them now, since we are focused on doing a different task. We can, however, set aside some things that we can work on later, after we’re done doing whatever that is we’re doing.
Below was my list of things that I wanted (or needed!) to do after I finished taking my exam:
my list of things to do after my exam
As you can see, I wasn’t able to check off all the items on my list. And that’s totally OK. By having the list, I was able to remember what things I wanted (or needed) to get done and focused on doing them.
After you’re done accomplishing one big task, continue that momentum by jumping into a new routine.
Also, not all things on my list are necessary adult-ish things (cooking, cleaning, budgeting, etc.). I had plenty of fun things such as doing my nails, having a spa hour, and eating tiramisu (that I was saving until after my exam). Really, anything goes!
Here are a couple of steps to help get you started:
When you are busy, you may think of certain things that you want to do once you’re out of your busy period. Write these things down in your planner while you have these thoughts.
Refer back to your list once your busy period is over, so you can get motivated and focus on the next thing you want to do!
During this quarantine season, I’ve realized that I’ve been doing several things just plainwrong this entire time. Chances are that you’ve been doing them too. We might’ve been doing them unintentionally, since some habits form naturally over time. Not all habits are good, sadly.
We need to acknowledge, understand, and proceed to change our bad habits. Or, do we just need a vacation? Let’s unlock our full potential, us smarty femmes!
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Below are things I’ve been doing wrong during quarantine:
1. Not Taking Enough Breaks
It’s so easy to plop down at your desk (mine is a makeshift desk, aka the dining table) and be glued to it for the entire day. With the exception of going to the bathroom and making some food, I find myself staying in one location for most of the day. We really need to make a conscious effort to get away from our desk, although it can be difficult at times.
Here are some things to try out:
Set your water bottle away from your current location so you can get some steps in.
Commit to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner away from your desk. If you eat away from the desk, it can help you be more mindful of what you’re actually eating. Your brain deserves a break too!
2. Not Making Time for Yourself
I admit that I can be a bit of a workaholic. My friends and family jokingly say that I’m a “robot”, given my strict regimen and schedule. I, on the other hand, prefer to use the word disciplined. I like to make a schedule and I try my best to stick to it. Mind over matter, amirite?
Jokes aside, I do find myself working more during quarantine season. I’ve had more time and I’ve been doing things I love, but I haven’t found any time to relax. I’ve been juggling work, my YouTube vlogs, The Smarty Femme (Click the Follow button on the top right-hand side (desktop) or bottom right-hand side (mobile) to follow my blog), and studying for my exam scheduled on Monday, which I just found out it’s still happening!
If you haven’t found time to relax, you may need to schedule at least an hour every week to relax and take care of yourself. You can invest in some new skincare products, play a fun board game, or do some relaxing yoga. TSF Tip: Try using essential oils in your yoga practice to awaken your senses! Manage the stress you have to become a better you, you smarty femme.
3. Not Getting Enough Fresh Air
It can be hard to motivate yourself to put on some real clothes, other than your cozy pajamas, and get some fresh air outside. We need to consciously remind ourselves to go outside and get some fresh air, even if that means just stepping out to our backyard or balcony (if we have one).
Getting some sunlight is important, too. It feels so good to have the warmth of the sunlight on your skin! I also find that I’m a lot happier when I get some sun. Is my true Californian self coming out?
4. Not Having a Clean Space
I usually clean our place once a week, but I find that things have been taking a turn for the worse. Dishes pile up, dust starts to collect, and hair seems to always collect on the bathroom floor (ugh). Given that we’re home a lot more than usual, this seems to make sense.
Instead of cleaning once a week, you may find myself needing to clean 2-3 times a week. This means vacuuming, wiping down counters, and mopping the floor more often. They’re probably not your favorite chores in the world, but they’re so essential.
5. Not Eating Enough Healthy Food
Being at home all the time makes me reach for comfort foods. These include homemade mac and cheese, toast with Nutella, grilled cheese, pita bread, Lucky Charms cereal, Tate’s chocolate chip cookies (which I just bought four of – they’re so good!), and the list goes on. Clearly, I love my carbs and sweets.
Since we’re now staying at home for likely another month, we may not be getting enough exercise. It makes it even more important to eat healthier foods. While “treats” every once in a while are good for the soul, make sure you fill your plate up with a healthy dose of veggies and protein. Also, check to see if you’re drinking enough water. Try to aim for 8 cups of water a day to stay hydrated!
Hope these tips can help you release your inner smarty femme. Cheers!
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