When you picture a "successful" day, what do you picture? Is it that extra long to do list with everything checked off? Is it a clean kitchen and a hot dinner on the table by 6?

Whatever your definition of a successful day is, it can mean the difference between feeling accomplished and like you are getting things done...and feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.

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Today I want to talk about setting up our days for success. What are some things or habits that we can start building into our day for greater success and more importantly, what does a successful day even look like?

Our family has grown so fast...

In the span of two and a half years, we went from a family of two to a family of six and now within four years we will be a family of 7! I can hardly believe it myself when I put it in terms like this. There are days (and weeks and months) where I feel like I'm living in total and utter chaos.

But what it has forced me to do, is get super crystal clear on my priorities and our family's priorities in order for me to even get the basics done: the cooking, the dishes, everyone in clean clothes, making church a priority, etc.

It has forced me to think long and hard about the things that I spend my time on. If I want to work a shower into my day at some point, then I need to make sure I'm using my time well! I've had to get really specific and laser focused when it comes to my priorities and where I spend my time...

So I've had to fight to be in God's Word daily, I've had to fight to cultivate a deeper prayer life, I've had to fight off worry and anxiety...and throughout all of that it causes me to examine where I spend my time on a daily basis.

Because if I want to cultivate the daily habit of Bible reading, it might mean that I need to take the Facebook app off of my phone in order to make the time for it. Living in this season of chaos (not that I would trade it for anything in the world) has actually caused me to be a lot more "productive" and feel like my time and energy is spent where it truly matters.

What is a successful day?

Is it getting more things checked off your to-do list, making a sale in your Etsy store, or having dinner on the table by the time your husband gets home? These might all be things that are part of your successful day, but I want to challenge you that having a successful day goes deeper than that. 

It's about using our time well.

I don't want to look back in 10 years and feel like I've wasted this precious time I have scrolling through Facebook and staying glued to the tv.

I want to look back in 10 years and know that while some seasons are really tough and sometimes my time is vastly more limited...overall, I spent the time well.

I want to look back in 10 years and know that I got things done that needed - like paying our mortgage and doing the dishes - but to know that I did it with a larger purpose in mind and that my real focus was on those things that are truly important. A part of loving my husband, raising my kids, and focusing on the Lord is getting these chores and tasks done - but it's all for a larger purpose.

Reading a book while I cuddle with one of my sleeping babies <3

So in order to really define what a "successful" day is, I want you to start with the basics for YOUR family. Be realistic and think through the season and stage of life you are currently in.

Creating Your Top Priorities

The first thing to do is create your top 3-7 priorities for you life and thus your homemaking.