Clementine’s Top 8 Strengths Beyond Conventional Time Management

words to know

axle—a spindle or pin on which wheels rotate on a vehicle

muse—a being or force that brings forth ideas

related commonplace topics

• ethics in Everyday Living

• metaphors

Sometimes, when pain and fatigue are flaring, I am entirely homebound. This is a reality I must accept, and attending outside events cannot serve as my only indicator of a positive month. At the same time, my days at home need more than the easy tasks from my ever-growing to-do list. I need a way to plan that doesn’t conserve my best energy for activities outside the home.

I created a “rain or shine” rule, wherein some habits or activities happen whether I leave the house or not. This helps my days at home go much better. I don’t have to leave the house to follow my internal rules about a good day. If I do have to stay home, my day is no longer reigned solely by the disappointment from cancelling outside activities.

The way I plan now, I can stay flexible and respond to my needs instead of staying trapped in a reactionary mode. I like to paint broad landscape goals in open vision boards and monthly calendars. When I de-emphasize the planning aspect, I find myself actualizing my dreams even more. I love to bring in influences from my work and travels, such as—

• names of sources

• quotes and excerpts

• photos, diagrams, and other illustrations

I still like to keep a monthly commitments calendar for my important deadlines, appointments, and events. When I mark a full calendar, I can see patterns of the things I missed next to those I attended. I see how often dates are pushed or shuffled. This helps me reflect on what makes a happy and successful month.

One day, I realized tears of frustration were mortal springs of wisdom, helping me understand my God-given gifts. Just as an axle is essential for the smooth rotation of a wheel, each gift provides stability, direction, and momentum in my life. Although I’m not good at conventional time and linear schedules, I can—

1. influence the opinions of my peers

2. see scope or magnitude of problems

3. advocate for alternate cues for action

4. challenge norms with my imagination

5. recognize situational appropriateness

6. validate perspectives amongst my friends

7. make connections between disparate concepts

8. keep a spirit toward forgiveness for group action

Final Thoughts

My planning style keeps me envisioning and brings out themes that are important to me—such as ethics in Everyday Living. I hope you consider planning in a way that is personal to you, perhaps even new to you. Let your gifts work as the muse for the axle in the wheel of time.