Finding Balance…

How do you balance work, fun, and family?

It’s not always as easy as it seems. Deadlines loom. Schedules conflict. Hours fly by. The urgent crowds out the important. And before you know it, too much time has passed.

For me, this is an always evolving battle. I love my job and I know God has called me to it, but I still have to make the right choice everyday. God’s been beating me with this a bit lately and wanted to share the action steps He’s put on my mind.

1. At least one day a week, turn off your cell phone. I take Saturday and Monday off each week. Because my week revolves around Sunday, I stay somewhat available on Saturdays. Mondays are a different story however. I try to turn off my cell phone. I try not to answer (or even check) work emails. Turn it off, don’t answer phone calls, don’t respond to emails, don’t twitter. Just be with your family. This is something with which I still struggle. But it’s so much better when I succeed.

2. On vacation, set someone else as your go to person and don’t answer any calls unless they are from that person. I work with a couple of guys in our worship department who do a great job of covering for me when I’m out of town with the family. I’ll change my voicemail settings and set an auto-reply for my email directing everyone to one of my coworkers. Then, if that coworker calls, I know it must be important. Everything else can wait.

3. Tell them consistently. People won’t remember what you say, they’ll remember what you’re passionate about. Consistently tell your family you love them. Show them attention. Be present and attentive. This is another one I struggle with. I love technology and the ability to be always connected. The downside is that we’re always connected. It’s too easy to become a slave to these devices. I don’t want my sons’ memories of me to all be with my computer on my lap or my phone in my hand. (By the way, I suck at this.)

No matter what I do, I hope and pray that my family always knows that they come first. When I’m old, I don’t want to look back and wish I’d been around more. I don’t want my wife and I to grow apart. I don’t want to miss my boys growing up. I want to experience every minute of it.

What do you do to keep your family where it should be?