This past Friday night, I was in one of those “if-I-don’t-do-something-other-than-work-tonight-I’m-gonna-freak-out” modes! I think that’s one of the great drawbacks of working from home: the need to occasionally compartmentalize my work space and my living space; otherwise, my work is always around me! However, the perks far outweigh those moments, so please don’t view that as whining!
At one point in my life, that feeling would have ignited the need to head to the mall or a great store somewhere to buy a new outfit, a new pair of shoes (of which, at that time, I had a gazillion plus seven—in every possible color and shade!), or maybe a great new gadget for my home! At another point in life, it might have entailed an evening out to an awesome restaurant for an evening of fine dining with a friend or two—or six.
For several reasons, my current stage on Friday night meant that I needed to stay home and rearrange something. So, I decided to tackle my bedroom. It’s a great room (not huge: just right), but there’s a very large window on one wall, and the door and a nice-sized closet are on the opposite wall. It limits where things can go, so I haven’t changed my room since I moved here almost four years ago. Eeesh! I get hives just thinking about something being the same for that long!
I basically moved the room from a horizontally based perspective (the room view was based on the “short sides”) to a vertically based perspective, where the room is now all about the “long sides.” It’s funny how a simple change like that could change my perspective in more than just visual areas! With my newly transformed room completed, I was inspired to work extra diligently on my writing course. I signed up for a 30-day “Early to Rise” e-mail reminder to help me increase my seemingly stale level of productivity. I updated my ideal weekly schedule—and color-coded it, of course! In other words, watch out world, Brenda done got inspired!
It’s funny to me that one little creative change set off a chain of productivity like that. There’s no great spiritual truth in that—believe me, I tried to think of one to share with this post—but there is a great reminder of the principle that I must keep moving forward and not grow stagnant in my creativity, my knowledge, or my character development. Sometimes, all it requires is taking the first step, and the next step just seems to follow. Accomplishment breeds productivity!
What first step do you need to take today? After you take that first step, feel free to come back and leave a comment to share what you did—and help ignite the fire of productivity or creativity in others!
Recommended reading: Philippians 3