How do you do it?!?!

I’ve always written, but until recently it’s just not something that I’ve really shared much with people, so as Book 1 of The Compounders is being released and friends and family are hearing about it, many for the first time, the first question I’m almost always asked is “How do you do it?  How do you even find the time?”

Now, for those that do not know me, let me tell you a little about my life.  First I’m a wife and mother of 4 very active children…. band, football, cheerleading, ice skating, gymnastics, swimming, weight training, Awanas, C4M, youth group, and those are just our cut back current activities for the 2015-16 school year.  My husband and I also homeschool all 4 of them.  The 6 of us are extremely active in our church.  For me personally I help teach the middle schoolers, a program for youth called C4M (Created 4 Ministry), and I play most Sundays with the worship team – bass guitar if you are wondering! – alongside my husband and son.  As if this isn’t enough, I also work full time as a Systems Administrator.  I work from home every other week and otherwise in the office and it is not uncommon for me to put in well over the standard 40 hours a week.

So, I guess, it’s not really that difficult to see why I get asked this question ALL.THE.TIME!

But finding the time most days really isn’t that difficult!  Most of Book 1 was written either at the football field, at the gym, or at the pool.  I’m not even exaggerating!  I carry a notebook and pen with me most everywhere and take it one chapter at a time.  I spend my 30 minutes of lunchtime on my in office days sitting at my desk eating and writing.  Yes, we are a very busy family, but all fall I spend 2-3 hours every night just sitting at a football field.  Sure I spend much of that talking with other moms on the sidelines, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the boys or helping out as needed, but that is 4 nights a week, even if I spend only 1 hour an evening (I regularly spend more than that) writing during practice, that’s 60 hours worth of writing in one season!  There are times where I’ll be so sucked into a section that I’ll hole up for the weekend or sit up all night long writing and I’m blessed with a family that puts up with those moments remarkably well.  But on the average day I’m far too exhausted for that, so I just carve out what time I can and try to use my semi-down time as efficiently as possible.  It took me a year to complete Book 1.  It was the biggest writing project I’d ever attempted, but I did it.  Now, 6 months in, I’m nearing completion of Book 2.  It gets easier as I make it a small part of every day!

So for those who wish to write and think there’s no way you have time for that, or maybe not writing, but whatever it is that you wish you could find time for, think about how you spend your time each day.  I guarantee you have at least some semi-down time in there somewhere, it’s just in how you choose to use it! And if you are passionate about it then you’ll find the time and that’s exactly what I did and continue to do!