Mattye’s PowerSheets – June Progress

Our goal for this community is to create a safe place for PowerSheets users to share their intentional goal-setting journeys. We’re honored to have our Blog Contributor, Mattye Woodcock, share about her June PowerSheets progress. Thank you, Mattye, for taking the time to share your story with us! If you haven’t yet, be sure to read Mattye’s introduction here. - Jess

Happy Summer, PowerSheets friends!

June was the fullest month of the year for our family so far. Woody and I had two five-day, out-of-town trips together in addition to some individual travel sprinkled in between. On top of that, we hosted Supper Club, celebrated Father’s Day, and I participated in a Pop Up Shop all while continuing to take care of life in general at work and home.

We couldn’t manage every month being as full as June was, nor would we recommend it, but every once in a while, a collection of important things comes together in one month, and it’s worth accepting the full calendar to make it happen!

What I love about my PowerSheets is they help me make good choices, not just “yes or “busy choices.

Even though June was full to the brim, it was full of things that matter to me and to Woody. It was made up of some of the things we have chosen to build our life around.

Friendship.

Family.

PowerSheets

Celebrating.

Togetherness.

Travel and adventure.

Our calendar didn’t end up full by accident, rather we made intentional choices to invest in what matters, even if it meant spending a month at a pace a few notches higher than normal.

A couple years ago, I had busy months just like this June, but so often I was chasing my schedule more than I was choosing it.

As you continue to dig into your PowerSheets and stick to the month-to-month process, you will start to see your life take shape into the purposeful, meaningful life you dream of living. The dream of a purposeful life is probably what made you pick up a pack of PowerSheets in the first place, right?

PowerSheets aren’t about making life easy (trust me, June was not easy), they are about making life matter (and my June made a big splash in the pool of what matters most in my heart).

Here are a couple tips to help you as you manage your schedule and use your PowerSheets to spend your days with purpose and joy!

1. Know your limits.

We are equipped, called, and gifted women who are capable of doing so much. But, we have our limits. On a basic level, we need to eat and sleep every day. On a deeper level, we need relationships, spiritual health, and a connection to our purpose. When you are making choices for your day, your week, your month, and your year, remember to consider the limits of what is healthy for you (and this can look different for everyone) so that you can have longevity in living with purpose!

When possible, I love finding an inspiring place to work on my PowerSheets. In the outdoors I find it easier to get perspective and focus my mind.

2. Measure your schedule against your goals/purpose.

When Woody and I had our June calendar meeting, and I saw how full our schedule was getting, I paused and evaluated all of our major commitments for the month. Were we trying to do too much? When I found that most things were special opportunities that don’t come around often and we're all in line with our family values and my personal goals, I knew it was worth it. I also knew I would have to limit “extra” things that month because our schedule was already so full with important things that I didn’t want to sacrifice those by carelessly adding too much else into the mix.

I love investing in our local community, and we had a very successful Pop-Up Shop with lots of local creative women in Birmingham!

3. Have grace for what doesn’t get done.

I did not check off three of my monthly goals in June, which is the most I haven’t checked off all year. Initially I was disappointed I didn’t make those final three things happen, but when I thought about all we did accomplish and all the purposeful living I did, I let those items be covered in grace. In order to have a full month of important things, it means some things might not get done, and that’s just part of the process.

So much of my purpose is all about people. In my second Nashville trip in June, I got to see one of my dearest friends who moved there this year. I miss her in Birmingham, but love getting to see her smiling face when I’m in her new city!

4. Remind yourself what matters most!

When life gets full, if you’ve made your choices based on what matters, find energy knowing you are living with purpose! There were moments in June where all the travel and activity felt like too much. In those moments, I reminded myself of what I did in tip 2—I measured my schedule against my purpose/goals and intentionally made the choice to sacrifice a more open calendar for a full one because it was full of things that are important to my heart. Connecting back to your purpose can fuel you and encourage you when you feel overwhelmed.

In June, I got to attend the Nashville baby shower for one of my best friends from college. It was a quick trip, but SO worth getting to see and celebrate with so many people I love!

5. Use wisdom, be accountable, and have self-control.

Once you’ve identified your limits as we talked about in tip 1, it’s important to use wisdom, keep accountability with a spouse, family member, or friend, and have self-control when making choices for your calendar and your life. Purpose cannot happen without fuel and rest. Make sure to choose what matters, while having the wisdom and self-control to leave time to refresh, refuel, and rest. Invite others to be part of the journey to help you when you need it. If you want to live a life of purpose for the long haul, you’ve got to be thoughtful about your path along the way!