"The beginning of a good life starts at home" perfect quote

@djlivvy46

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tammy, I really needed to hear this! ❤️

4 things you can’t recover in life: • Words after they’re said. • Moments after they’re missed. • Actions after they’re done. • Time after it’s gone. So, choose to be careful of what you say, what you do, and what you let pass by... You may not be able to get it back.

@tonipope3164

4 жыл бұрын

Chrisoula Lakkas ... another wise woman!

This was beautiful. I read in a book several years ago that people in past generations expected life to be hard. They weren’t shocked when it was and do they kept moving forward. And I don’t think the mentality was of constantly needing a reward for working hard. The results of the hard work was their reward.

@ginatrujillo3102

4 жыл бұрын

Michele N that was excellent!

@luba-healthywithluba6866

4 жыл бұрын

Well said! They expected life to be hard, and it was much harder back then.

@raia9

3 жыл бұрын

Life is difficult and once you accept that - it ceases to be so.

@rachaelchavez8766

2 жыл бұрын

Excellent. Our comfort does seem to be crippling us. I think we need to toughen our spirits.

I thought the number #1 enemy to homemaking was dust. Lol. Seriously though, I do 'no media Monday's' every week. Some days it's not easy, but I prove to myself that I can do it. I also think about women say in pioneer days, or even biblical times, especially when I feel overwhelmed. I also thank God for dishes to wash, clothes to wash, floors to mop...the simple mundane chores...that mean I have a home. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

But seriously, dust is #2. Then kids. haha!

@MostlyCaffeinated

5 жыл бұрын

This is a wonderful, achievable idea. In going to try that!

@haircandykina

5 жыл бұрын

I thought the number 1 enemy was procrastination or perfection.

@julijakeit

5 жыл бұрын

I want to make no social media or internet on weekends. I would allow one movie a day to stream with my family, otherwise i spend more thn 8 hours online every day, sometimes i out movies i don;t watch, sometimes i actively comment like now. it's insane! This is what my kids are learning. This is what i saw my parents do with TV. Ughrrr.

@Shiryone

5 жыл бұрын

julijakeit, recognizing that there is a problem, and wanting to do something about it is a good start. Next comes the will power to make a change. Start with blocking out a certain part of the day, and have plans to fill that with something else. From there you can build up to longer periods. "All things are possible...."

I am so thankful that I brought up my children before mobile phones, and we never had a television. Homemaking is such a beautiful art.

It happens to me all the time. The downside is that time doesn’t come back... it can be invested or wasted. On the other side... His mercies are new every morning... so, today we have a new opportunity to make the best of our day. Thank you, Jennifer. Lovely meditation... your videos are always a “treat” for me. Blessings!

Oh, how peaceful and lovely you made this life look. How I wish it were like this at my house...lol😆 As a momma of 9, twenty-eight years spent home educating....which is really just civilizing young humans in how to think, behave, and clean up after themselves.....and 30 years as a homemaker, I guess I've been through every stage but empty nest. This can be a very isolating, lonely experience. But it is coupled with abundant joy and delight, as well, that keeps us going through the harder times, the sickness, the piles of clothes you just washed that show up the next day right back in the pile. We often feel unseen, especially if your husband isn't affirming the way you'd like, and we tend to neglect ourselves more than we realize. I've learned to prioritize my needs now....to value my quiet time as an absolute necessity for the benefit of all of us. I'm glad you mentioned listening to books or your favorite KZreadrs for personal growth. Never stop investing in yourselves, Ladies. I tell my daughters all the time....i I've never heard a woman regret choosing her children over working outside the home. I've held plenty as they've cried over not having put their children first when they could have. There is a cost to everything. Choose wisely.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Beautiful reminder!

@ginatrujillo3102

4 жыл бұрын

Beautifully said, I raised 3 beautiful daughters and a son and they tell me now they dont remember that they went without only that I was there for every moment good or bad

@isabelmartin40

4 жыл бұрын

what about A MAN choosing their children over work outside the home? Is it ok too? Children belong to fathers too.

@christinamckinney2370

4 жыл бұрын

Isabel Martín Do whatever works for your family.

@rhedeyanury4709

3 жыл бұрын

Wqq1

It’s so funny...I’ve been thinking the same thing. So many distractions and really it just makes our chores seemed dragged out. Caring for our home is worthy of great honor. Let’s put the distractions down for a bit and do our chores with a glad heart. #keepersofthehome

Jennifer! The video is simply a piece of art. You said about everything I have thought recently. Since I became a mother I noticed everything you mentioned. All the time I ask myself how on earth my grandmother dealt with life having eight children, living in the countryside with no washing machine, no disposable nappies, no dishwasher, even no electricity. We have it all and we often complain how hard life is while my grandmother didn' t complain at all. She had time to look pretty, the house was clean, the children were fed and happy. Whoever came to visit her felt welcome, she didn't have to prepare for guests she was just ready all the time. My grandmother didn' t go to work, she was a housewife - her husband and children were her life and her job. You are so right about the distractors. We prise ourelves with something which is not worth our time. Using the distractors, we don't focus on the things which are important, we simply waste our precious time. Our grandparens didn't do that. Of course we need to find time for ourselves, for pleasure, for relax. Thank you so much for the video! It's a great reminder.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Yes to all of this! Thank you xx

Oh that was right on. My grandson is spending the night and I said no tablets. We are going to read and play games. But I fall to distractions as well. I call them robbers of time!

What a beautiful and thoughtful video! I couldn’t agree more. The struggle for me is real. Sometimes I feel as though I always have others peoples thoughts coming into my head (podcasts, Instagram stories, KZread) that I never have a chance to hear my own thoughts.

@ShirleeAlicia

5 жыл бұрын

Julie Hazelwood I agree Julie!! I can be hard to get the voices of others out our heads. I struggle a lot with this and it can lead guilt and self hate because I start to compare my life with theirs.

@djlivvy46

4 жыл бұрын

@@ShirleeAlicia - a few things to remember. The first is that no one has a perfect life, no matter how perfect that life may look from the outside. Everyone has the struggle of being human. And the cost of appearing perfect is very high. Also, it is ironic that someone may be looking at you and experiencing the exact same feelings of guilt and self hate that you do. Lastly, life is too short to worry about what other people are thinking and doing. Don't allow the voices of others to control your life. If and when you can, treat every day as if it were your birthday. Give yourself a treat every day, no matter how small. Wishing you the best life has to offer! ❤

Omg I needed this right now! Today I am feeling extra tired and unmotivated, my house is a huge mess, my kids are totally out of control 😅 and here I am distracting myself with youtube 🤷‍♀️

@totallydomestic433

4 жыл бұрын

BUT, you are learning how to not be distracted, while being distracted. That should count for something. Gotta love YT.

So true! I’ve been a homemaker for almost 40 years and believe distractions and comparisons to be enemies of peaceful homemaking. I find using my timer (and I hear you mention it often!) helps me so much. If I take a break, my phone timer is often set to 15 minutes; just enough time to feel refreshed. Looking to the end of day as a reward has been motivation too (delayed gratification) - there will be time to check Pinterest, emails, etc. I confess I usually answer texts immediately. Any suggestions in this area are welcome! You would think by now I could say that I’ve got it all together in this homemaking thing. No, I do not. I am always learning new ways to clean, cook, organize, etc. I am most grateful for new technology (totally love getting tips from KZread). Years ago, I was blessed by Donna Otto book, “Getting More Done in Less Time” and “The Complete Book of Home Management” by Anson & Liden. These are suggestions if anyone interested in “old school” ideas in paperback form. THANK YOU, Jennifer!! You are precious!! Blessings!

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you! yes, timers are invaluable xx

@leigh6804

5 жыл бұрын

I have that Donna Otto book! Heard about it from Elisabeth Elliot, on her radio program, Gateway to Joy, back in the 90's (which was also a great encouragement in my early homemaking & motherhood days).

I agree! I once went a month without watching television, listening to the radio, and using my home computer or checking online on my cell phone. I only used the computer at work because that was part of my job. My home life was so peaceful and I accomplished so many home tasks.

This is great! I think the root goes even deeper to our discontentment with things as they are. It reminds me of an article that I read called "The Ministry on the Mundane". Here is a quote that stood out to me: "Anyone can show up and pull everything together for one day. It is true character to over and over again live out your daily tasks with love."

You are very right about the distractions in a woman’s daily life and keeping up with home making. I realized a long time ago my home making was lacking because of distractions like social media and texting. I had no one to blame but myself that’s why I’m only limiting myself to worthy and uplifting channels. Your channel is definitely one of them. A worthy distraction when chores and family are taken care of first. 😊

OMG - hit the nail on the head for me! Thank you!!! KZread has become my fave escape from housework during a family quarantine. That world can feel so urgent... Even as though hosts or characters from my fave YT shows have anything at all to do with my actual life. As though any lame comments I might spout off would help anybody anything. It's because of feeling powerless at home over our situation, powerless and inadequate. I'm ADHD. We have 3 young and little ones at home. They are potty training, weaning, and bored by too much TV while Mom desperately tries to keep up with chores, let alone Christmas ... And our nanny fell ill and tested positive with Covid. I had a small business, but it has died with this. My husband works full time and is praying to still have a job to return to when our quarantine is over. I'm just praying we all stay healthy through this, and that our dear nanny returns - not just because we need her for my sanity, but because she's one of the family, after almost 3 years with us. We miss her and we feel sad she is sick and might be scared. We miss our pre-Covid life. It was hard. We took on a lot, but it was ours and felt less like a stark, precarious prison of a living room. I feel lucky for this time with my family and desperate to make it special, but the needs of keeping it up are too much for me, for us. Distraction feels like a lift from that, for a little bit... But it's deceptive because the consequences mean growing problems, not lessening ones. That payment isn't worth it.

You will some day make it to the top of KZread business. I am loving the soothing style that is not available anywhere on KZread in this category .

It happens yo us who work outside the home too. But social media can steal a lot of time from me when I'm home too. I've not opened FB for 6 months and I'm not missing it at all. Now I'll have to do something about KZread too 😉

Gosh, this was so ministering to me. Like I’m shedding tears over here. The distraction theme did not miss me at all, but there was something even deeper shown here and it was the beauty of homemaking. I left a career of practicing law to be a homemaker and needless to say not everyone has agreed with my choice. You affirmed me in this moment. Thank you Jennifer.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Wonderful. Thank you!

@djlivvy46

4 жыл бұрын

To be honest Abbey, in today's society I actually welcome it when people disagree with me. That's how I know I'm going the right thing.

I knew the answer to this before I watched the video......the reason, the other day we lost all TV and Internet access for 24 hours.....it was eye opening.....I realized how much time I waste on line.....I got so much done without the distractions.....lol

@jaytee2642

5 жыл бұрын

Oh, how true. I can remember a couple times when my internet was on the fritz. I got a lot more done around the house! LOL The struggle is REAL. 😖

@mrsamir530

5 жыл бұрын

Its really true..

I just stumbled across your channel today. The title of this video immediately caught me attention because I do often feel discouraged with being a homemaker and with daily chores, although I love being at home. All I can say is THANK YOU 🙏🏻. I struggle with this and I didn’t always. Hearing your words and their encouragement and truth have helped me today and have given me some courage to grow past this season. I appreciate you!

Nicely said! Whilst I often daydream I could again spend time with my children when they were younger, the pleasure of being fully retired, to spend my entire 24 hours as I please, having my household and daily routines moulded to my needs alone are the gifts I purchased with my life in my 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Hang in there. Plan wisely. Be in this moment.

Distraction, aka Creative Avoidance - great video

Deeply worthy work. Deeply worthy work. Deeply worthy work. I have been repeating this to myself. It resonates so loudly with me as to the kind of focus I want to have for homemaking.

I LOVE everything you've said here. It's SO SO SO true about distractions. I LOVE your boldness telling us that we need to be maturing as adults. .... This year I have treated myself and our family to "Tech Free Sundays". We start late Saturday night and go thru Sunday evening. (We post most Sunday nights so I need to get on the computer at some point in the evening.) . But I have to tell you, at first it was ALARMING how I wanted to reach for my phone a hundred times in an hour and the irony is, I considered myself a disciplined person. "Not like everyone else". Self-righteous for sure! Now, I crave Sundays. I rest in knowing that I'll get that break from distraction and it sets the tone for my week. I could go on and on... I love everything you've said. What a blessing and encouragement you are for women!

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, Angela! I'm interviewing Shaye for my channel soon. Would love to have you on too if you would be up for it! I'll DM you on insta xx

I actually teared up on this video. You’re channel is a beautiful and encouraging place on social media. 💗 Thank you!

This is so true. We all need a little reminder sometimes 🌹 Live in the moment, without distractions and enjoy day to day life. ❤

I have similar thoughts. I think often about the generations that came before me and wonder how my grandmothers coped with their many children and far less resources than I have. I think of what strong women they were and how I never witnessed them feeling sorry for themselves. It reminds me that the simple life is all we really need to find our peace and contentment. They devoted themselves to their home, family, God, and yes, work. I think often I’d do better - we’d all do better - with less screen time and more face to face personal time with people.

Thank you, Jennifer, for your encouragement in the work of living! Seeing you work just as I do, at all the necessary tasks of daily homemaking is comforting enough to me. Your channel (and your books!) is a blessing to me.

Thanks for being bold, honest and offering a simple solution as well as encouragement.

WOW, absolutely spot on. The photography is beautiful and the text is so compelling and true. Thank you.

I love your perspective on homemaking, how it is real, valuable, beautiful work. It is hard to find people who have that kind of positive attitude toward the day to day chores. It is good to take pride in your work and enjoy the simple things.

That chicken pot pie looked heavenly. Beautiful video. I've been thinking about this too. I hit the age of 50 and at best I have just a few decades on this earth. My children have grown so fast. It's a blur. The scary thing is, as I look back, screen time makes it go even faster. I heard on a podcast a few years ago that the happiness of women dropped after the 50's. Before all these modern conveniences of dishwashers and washing machines, women worked 14 hour days in their home. Being a homemaker brought fulfillment and happiness it turns out. Since the 70's, women became bored and unfulfilled. I thought that was really interesting.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

That's an interesting study. I believe it!

This was very interesting and I have to agree...distraction can be a problem. Women in the old days didn’t have as much to distract them. They had the work...just not the leisure time or devices. Nice reminder. Thank you.m

Beautifully done. I recently read "the task will take as long as you allow it to, and in some cases that is all day" and in my case sometimes that is multiple days (eg. Laundry piles or going through one of the kids' closets and getting rid of what they've grown out of). The idea that I can give a task an approximate time cap is freeing. I've been trying to say to myself - I'm going to get the kitchen/dishes done in 15 minutes, knowing full well that in the past I've let something like that take well over 30. Distractions from the kids are part of life and I welcome them. Technology isn't adding value when it's making homemaking harder; getting in the way of my routine, and making it more difficult to complete basic tasks efficiently. I'm ALWAYS busy doing stuff at home, always. Part of the reason for this is that distractions actually increase the amount of time it takes to get things done - probably by a lot. Something to work on for sure.

I love this entire playlist... I listen to it over and over everytime i feel in a slump and dont want to clean... Thanks so much!!!!! I hope you can do more of these every single week and bless us with your videos once again 💕💕💕

This is a welcome distraction, worth contemplating...I know they are called mobile phones, but I tend to keep mine in one room. Then I will check it occasionally. I lived back in the day when there were no home computers or mobile phones. I got far more done in a day....

Beautifully said!!! I am always inspired by you. Thank you for helping homemakers everywhere. ❤️

I love your videos. I am 60 and raised 4 children, worked all my life, cared for all, house chores, etc. It has really been difficult but all are gone and my husband and I finally have a break to rest and do the things we like to do, it is our time now. Thank you.

So very true! You are not alone in this. Hang in there, Jennifer!

Lovely video full of Truth. I take frequent breaks after more rigorous chores due to a broken ankle from 7 years ago that never fully healed. Those small breaks can become long breaks when I'm not mindful. For me, I also have never looked at chores as worthy work, just necessary work. But the older I get, I am understanding that it is the most important work we ladies can do. If we didn't have clean and orderly homes, our husband and children would leak sick and chaotic lives who couldn't function. I don't know if I'm making sense or not but yes I totally agree with your assessment of distraction.

It took me 9 years to finally appreciate being a homemaker. I was always worried about not bringing in an income... my mindset changed after I found your channel. Thank you ❤

I couldn't agree with you more. The amount of time we spend on our gadgets is astonishing. I very much needed this, thank you for sharing xx

What a lovely video! There is such beauty in homemaking, but it can be lost in the struggle between distractions and feel like more work than it really is. I always encouraged our daughters to do undistracted school work when we homeschooled...good reminder for me as well! ❤

U r not alone the spirit of distraction is affecting us all, very well said thanks for sharing ur faithful thoughts 🌸❤️

Amen! I totally agree and have been detoxing from all social media apps since June. I kept my KZread because of motivating one's like yours. My daughter followed suit and a huge weight that I didn't even fully realize was there is gone! Phone calls and having friends over are moments that are so much more meaningful. Thank you for the reminder.

This was so good a Jennifer! Yes- I struggle with distractions and agree that it is the enemy of housekeeping and productivity in general. Thank you for this reminder to be more mindful of the distractions! 💜

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, Robin! Happy Independence Day! xx

I agree that I feel exhausted at times (sometimes for days) and then have periods of time (days or even weeks) feeling energized. I still don’t understand why. I feel content now that my home is decluttered and more minimal. My laundry is done faster which is a relief. I do also find myself longing for adult thoughts so watching KZread channels like yours give me a sense of expanding my thoughts and mother culture. I am beginning to implement a block style schedule for myself and children that involves blocks of time with no screens. I have noticed a huge pull within myself to be on my phone during that time and have to purposely say no to myself. I’m 45 and never thought I would have this issue. I’m thankful you are addressing it. God bless.

Thank you for being so real! What a blessing.

The most important thing you said is that "it is deeply worthy work!" Oh yes it is!! Thanks for reminding us, and keep up the good work.

The timing of this couldn’t be better! Thanks Jennifer. This is what I’m struggling with everyday.

My favourite video series of yours, I have rewatched so so many times, really need to not forget these lessons.

This is so true! I have found that the days I put my phone away are the days I’m most productive and don’t feel like going on my phone even when I am done and relaxing.

I am so grateful for every day that I get to be home doing what I love. Sending texts, or watching KZread, etc. is not something I view as negative. I usually get everything done that I set out to do.

This is so true and much needed for me right now. I often feel so overwhelmed from how many aspects there are of homemaking. I’m easily distracted for time to disconnect from them all, but it’s much too easy to be distracted for far too long. I like the idea of thinking of it as a “treat” - I don’t eat ice cream all day just because it’s there. But it’s fine to enjoy at the end of the week, or the end of a day. It’ll stick with me to think of my phone and other distractions as treats. I actually wrote a research paper on the effects of screen time and as a challenge went without a smart phone for a month and found myself far more accomplished. It is more distracting and addicting than we care to admit sometimes. Thanks for the reminder and encouragement Jennifer!!

Bravo! Recreation is taken in exhausting doses now-a-days, to the point where necessities (and maturity) suffer.

Being a homemaker is worthy work indeed! Thanks for validating this undervalued job! I’m “somewhere in between” chaos and order and grateful to God for energy to keep moving forward in making our home what I desire it to be. God bless you and your family!

Thanks for this lovely reminder that homemaking is hard work but should fill the soul with gratitude and grace. We just need to keep training ourselves to make our distractions rewards after the work is accomplished, best served with a cup of tea.

Thank you for this video, Jennifer. These "real life tired mama thoughts" are so inspiring to me - so much more than the sugarcoated IG stories from everyone else. True, honest opinions like yours are rare gems these days.

Thank you Jennifer for this thoughtful and gentle reminder. I am so easily distracted these days, do to constant discussion that need to be made & then due to me slipping onto social media to take some "me" time. I'm reminded of the scripture from my devotional this morning: "each one of us should strive to live a quiet life, working with our hands, so we will not need to rely on another for what we need". Not that we can't ask for help, but how often do we feel overwhelmed & think we "need help" all because we have wasted our time on distractions. ~Rachel

Oh Jennifer, I absolutely LOVED this video. Everything about it. I of course am super guilty of distractions. I am a classical pianist but primarily a home maker at the moment as I have a two year old with my seven year old. We are about to move out to renovate our crumbling but charming 1885 Victorian row house for nine months here in Toronto (see how much we have in common! I know you love Victorians:). However, my home life is CHAOS at the moment. It has been very difficult and one realizes how much peace and strength comes from order and how a well maintained and orderly home is indeed the basis for a beautiful life. I struggle at times to maintain my good attitude as I have so much to be grateful for. But I do struggle with the absolute monotony and relentlessness of home making. I am working daily to improve my attitude. Okay, now I have been distracted when I am supposed to be moving and packing! Thank you for this beautiful, reflective and insightful message. Wishing you a lovely day!

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Oh I love Victorians! How delightful! xx

To That was very well said. We definitely need to remember what is the purpose of what we are doing. Our jobs as home makers are important, but so are we.

You just changed my baking life with that piece of aluminum foil at the bottom of the oven! I never thought of it before but that's such a smart way to collect spills! Thank you!:)❤

I love the points you make here. The addiction to our technology is something I’ve been working on myself. When I’m able to pull myself from that distraction, it’s amazing what I’m able to accomplish!

Thank you for the reminder about distractions!! I have never been very good with time management and this has helped me to see that I am probably having way more distractions than I realized. Some of those distractions aren’t really worth the peace that I lose due to a disorganized home. Blessings!

Thank you so much for this beautifully made video. This has been on my mind lately. I often feel I need to be distracted while I do my daily tasks. Instead of doing them with thoughtfulness and love. Blessings and protection to you and your lovely family.

This video was lovely because it’s real and shows the day-to-day efforts that go in to keeping an organized home. It may be thankless work to some but it’s also rewarding and we can be personally thankful for making our homes clean and organized. Your final sentiments in the video were so beautiful and I enjoyed your contemplative mood.

I agree! I took a challenge a while ago to cut out social media for 3 months and I found it so liberating. At the same time I made a goal to read an entire book of scripture. I found myself replacing scripture reading with social media and it was so much more rewarding. Since then I have gone back to social media but sparingly and with caution, still trying to keep my better habits. I think distractions are a plague to all of us at this time. Like you’ve said before, we need to make them work for us.

Thank you Jennifer, this is a lovely message. I also found the distractions to be detrimental to my most important relationships... even a small amount can transport you somewhere else. Not present, not attentive. We all must find our way in an age of easy indulgence and distraction. Thank you.

I absolutely loved this video! I’m so happy you spoke about this topic and in such a beautiful and powerful way.

Thank you for reminding me that these small tasks are indeed worthy.

Jennifer, this is so beautiful and well said. I was just taking a break from my morning organizing to sit to have my breakfast and watch a video, and this popped up. When my kids were young, I was distracted by emailing or phone calls to friends, but I could do that at nap time. I’m so glad I didn’t have all of these distractions then. My kids are grown, and I struggle even more now because I have more time on my hands, but the time wasted on distractions, keeps me from pursuing my hobbies and starting new projects. I can relate!

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Melissa! xx

What a beautiful message and delivery! I was calmed by the violin and format of this video and it really helped me stop for a moment and assess. Thank you, Jennifer!

what a breath of fresh air! we are so bombarded in our society with images of women in business suits, drawing their sense of worth from the fast pace corporate world -- finally, we have here a video showing a sense of worth and accomplishment coming from creativity realized at home. this is so counter-cultural. it brings peace. thank you!

Love this video and it’s nice to know others struggle with this as well. I’ve often talked to one of my girls friends about how our lives are so much easier than previous generations and yet we are far more dissatisfied and more unhappy than they were. We have too much access to the lives of others or at least lives we think they have and compare and grumble about our own lives.

Thanks for sharing this. I so needed this to regain perspective. A cup of tea for the soul.

Thank you 🙏 I really needed to hear this encouragement and the affirmation that my tasks are worthy! Thank you for the gentle reminder to be intentional with my time and to put away my own personal distractions!

Giving you a standing ovation right now..literally...my husband is looking at me strangely lol.... Distraction is the number one enemy of all of us these days. This is so timely. I work over 40 hours a week so my early morning time and my weekends are when I need to get things done , whether it is exercise, laundry, house cleaning or things like meal planning and meal prep, paying bills, etc. It is also my time to do what I enjoy - reading and playing my ukulele (currently learning some baroque pieces..you'd be proud..but I digress). What I was finding happening was that I would sit down to look at Instagram, then next thing I knew, an hour had passed and I hadn't exercised or read my books and it was time to get ready for work. Same thing happens on the weekends. I might say, I'll just watch a few KZread videos while the laundry is going, then suddenly an hour has passed and I didn't use the time to practice my ukulele as I had planned. A few weeks ago I made a decision to schedule my "distraction" time . Some days I am successful and some days not so much, but it is a work in progress. I am still allowing myself Instagram and KZread time but only after I have done whatever it is I would like to do that morning , or during the weekend. On the days when I feel like I don't want to do a workout DVD, I might hop on my exercise bike and allow myself to watch some KZread or scroll through Instagram while on the bike as a reward for doing some exercise instead of none at all because I am feeling lazy. On the weekends, laundry time is now music practice time and I have a ban on any social media during that time so I don't get distracted. ( It has made me feel so much more accomplished than laying on the couch scrolling through social media while the laundry is running) . I've made a few other tweaks as well, and I am much happier for them. I am also participating both in your Chic Assignment for the month as well as following Fiona's 30 days chic. With my activity changes and these schedules, July is shaping up to be a fabulous month. I hope to carry on these changes going forward. I apologize for this LONG comment, but this struck a nerve ( in a good way ) xo

I was just thinking the same thing yesterday! We have so many smart devices to help us make life easier and yet we have no time for anything important!

I have always struggled to find a balance between distractions and "to-do" lists. I guess it is human nature to prefer to play, rather than work. Luckily, I've kind of always been someone with a strong work ethic. The older I get, I definitely see a correlation between self-esteem and work. When we have a strong work ethic and respect the work we do, and do it well, we just feel productive and happy at the end of each day. So, its no surprise that research is starting to show a correlation between time spent on-line and depression. We may get a quick hit of dopamine when we go on social media, netflix, etc., but it cannot fulfill us like investing in our real-life relationships, our work, caring for our possessions and ourselves. I've learned, first and formost, to treat these distractions as "rewards" to engage in after a period of working. As well, Jennifer, YOU have been a wonderful example, showing us all that social media, texting, etc cannot be the ONLY down-time activity we have. We need the Arts and literature. We need gardening or exercising. We need quiet time. We need nature. So many things. Distractions are not bad, in and of themselves. They are very important. Some are just less important than others. "Adulting" requires setting firm boundaries around how much time and when we engage in them.

@djlivvy46

4 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful comment. Thank you!

Loved this, thank you for the reminder that our home is worthy work.

Oh I loved this! Thank you so much for your beautiful take and positive support for homemakers :)

This is such an important reminder! Thank you for calling this out! Also, I love your new kitchen remodel! Lovely and so functional.

Great video Jennifer! And I 100% agree. It's important to be intentional in all that we do and this was a beautiful reminder.

So true i havent seen any youtuber talking on this ...thanks for the reminder 🌹❤

I really like the way you shot this video. :) When I take the time to live more in the moment and actually focus on whatever it is that I am doing I feel more calm and I think I enjoy the life more.

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Alice!

Beautifully said!

Perfect timing for this video to come up on my feed. Thankyou so much for this

Beautiful Truth. Eschew our distractions for homemaking...a worthy work indeed. ❤️❤️❤️

Oh Jennifer! I love that! You are so right! Maybe a point to add for the "chic assignment for July" cut out distractions...

@greenlimabean

5 жыл бұрын

She meant for you to be aware of them and to come to that conclusion on your own. Like the mindless snaking

This was so beautiful! I love the thoughtfulness behind this, the cause for each of us to reflect on our own lives. Your home is so beautiful and your movement graceful🌹

@TheDailyConnoisseur

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Nikki! xx

This was heart touching, thoughtful, true and helpful, beautifully done, Jennifer. The days were quieter and more peaceful before the phone distractions came along. Hopefully, we can be disciplined and show our children and grandchildren the way to be temperate in all areas of life.

This is incredibly applicable to me even though I don't stay home. I have these same bad habits at work. Thank you !

Yes I definitely struggle with distraction. I am working on it. Great video

Much needed video 👍😌indeed the beginning of a good life starts at home.

Beautiful inspiration for hump day! ❤️

Jennifer, I recently found your channel and I love everything about it. It is like a breath of fresh air to me. I am 64 years old and have read books written by Elisabeth Elliot and attended a couple of her conferences at church. You remind me of her, and that is a wonderful compliment. If you are not familiar with her message, I highly recommend it. Blessings to you and your family.

Thank you so much for all you do. You are so real. God bless you. You have helped me in ways you will never know. Thank you again.