Grab a pen and paper to take notes because this episode is packed with helpful insights! I am joined today by Karen Ehman, author of 21 books (yes, you read that right!), including her new book co-authored with Ruth Schwenk, The Love Your Life Project: 40 Days to Prioritize Your Passions, Cultivate Productive Habits, and Refuel with Times of Rest!

We discuss some practical ways to prioritize what truly matters most – building healthy habits and prioritizing rest. We talk about how to recognize your priorities, set boundaries (especially with your screens!), and make space for what really nourishes your soul!

Karen shares lessons learned from balancing work, writing, and faith an talks about how to discern when to say “yes” and when to say “no” to opportunities, reflecting on how our decisions ultimately affect our relationships and responsibilities.

We also touch on why it’s important to take an intentional day of rest each week and we dive into how Karen has created habits that allow her to unplug, recharge, and battle phone addiction. I love how she challenges us to be sure our phone is not the boss of us and some red flags we can pay attention to to discern if the phone is consuming too much of our time and energy.

If you’ve ever struggled to set boundaries with your phone, or if you’ve found it hard to prioritize rest in a busy life, Karen’s tips and insights are sure to help you find balance. If you are (also) feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands and are feeling unsure where to start, then this episode is definitely for you, and you will not want to miss this!

And be sure to grab your FREE Simplified Home Management Printable Pack

In This Episode

[0:37] – I introduce Karen Ehman to the show to discuss prioritizing passions, habits, and rest.

[1:54] – Karen shares her family life, writing career, and the increasing workload of social media.

[3:45] – I highlight prioritizing and creating meaningful habits, especially through Karen’s new book The Love Your Life Project.

[5:46] – Karen reflects on the ripple effect of decisions, balancing personal priorities with family and work.

[7:59] – We discuss saying “no for now” to opportunities while trusting in God’s timing.

[10:01] – Karen warns about screens controlling lives, urging us to set boundaries to prevent distraction and harm to our relationships.

[13:23] – The book The Unplugged Hours has inspired me to spend 1,000 hours unplugged and focus on relationships, projects, and growth.

[16:18] – I limit my phone notifications to calls and texts and have almost all other notifications disabled.

[17:25] – Karen tracks her phone usage, setting boundaries after realizing the excessive time that she was spending on social media.

[20:07] – I am working on replacing late-night scrolling with reading and sleep.

[23:39] – Although there are occasional exceptions, Karen also uses time limits on apps to control her phone usage.

[24:45] – Karen makes Sundays her Sabbath, prioritizing rest and hobbies to recharge for the week ahead.

[27:42] – Karen’s family cherishes Sundays with traditions like mystery trips, church, and quality family time.

[30:26] – Karen suggests removing social media apps on Saturday night to avoid being tempted to scroll on Sunday.

[32:27] – The Love Your Life Project grew from a dark time, offering hope and joy through struggles.

[34:41] – I really appreciate the book’s group study setup and gentle, practical approach to changing habits.

[36:10] – The Love Your Life Project is definitely a book that you should read if you’re feeling stuck and/or wanting better priorities.

Links & Resources

Crystal PaineKaren EhmanFREE Printable Budgeting Spreadsheets!

Books
Karen’s Books

The Love Your Life Project: 40 Days to Prioritize Your Passions, Cultivate Productive Habits, and Refuel with Times of Rest by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk

The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World by Hannah Brencher

 

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