5 Things You Need to Stop Doing Now

Personal growth and self-improvement are important. As women, we often strive to be our best selves and better than we were the day before or years before.  Seeing growth in ourselves and those around us is something that makes our hearts smile.

There are so many books and self-care guides that can help to guide you to what your next steps should be to become your best you.  Having a guide or list of things you should do or add to your life is great. We all often need guidance and direction to what should be our next steps or what we may be missing.

Yet what I have also realized is that, just as much as we often need help with what next steps to take. We also need to know what steps or actions to stop taking.

There are things we all do that may seem good or no big deal, yet are not the best for us. There are also things we do that we know may not be good for us, but either make excuses for why we do them or do not really understand why we do them. Then there are the things we know we are supposed to do, but do the opposite for one reason or another.

What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then act another, doing things I absolutely despise.
Romans 7:15 (MSG)

I have been and still am guilty of this in different areas. So to encourage you as I also encourage myself, here are 5 things we all need to stop doing now in order to live our best lives.

#1 Stop Sleeping In

Now hear me out. I know as a mom, sleep is sacred. We do not get enough of it and it is often interrupted by those lovely little people we call our children. Yet, not giving ourselves the time we need to get ourselves together and prepared to tackle our days will hurt us more than those few extra minutes of sleep will help.

How early and what you do with that extra time in the morning is up to you. You just need to make sure you have it. I like to spend my extra time in the morning with a cup of tea, quiet time with God, and sometimes a little exercise.

Becoming a morning person is easier for some than others, but it something you can do. It helps you to get a positive and unhurried start to your day. Running from sun up to sun down will leave you exhausted and often without a moment of quiet or peace. So when you stop doing this and start getting up earlier, you will give yourself more time to do some other things you may not have time to do now.

#2 Stop Being Too Busy

Busy is something that we all are. We all have things we need to do for ourselves, our families, our jobs, and the list goes on and on. There is always something to do. However, that does not mean that you have to be the one to do it.

You have to stop being too busy to do the things that are really important to you or things you want to do. Saying No to your family and others may not be easy, but it is necessary. There is power in saying No and something that so many of us need to embrace.

Being busy is something that you may not be able to avoid, but being too busy is a choice. When you stop being too busy, you are able to say no to the things you should and yes to the things you want to.

#3 Making Prayer Optional Is Over

Prayer is so powerful and such an important part of the Christian faith, so you have to stop making prayer optional. Prayer should always an integral and important part of your everyday life.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.
Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

Prayer can be done at any time, anywhere, and for as long as you want. There is no right or wrong way to pray. God is always there, always listening, and wants you to come to Him with everything at any time. Seeking God first is the best way to ensure you make the best decisions and to grow in your faith.

When you stop making prayer optional, you are not only growing in your faith and your relationship with God. You are also trusting and relying on God more.

#4 Stop Not Practicing Self-Care

If you do not take care of yourself, then who will? Not practicing self-care not only hurts you but those you are trying to care for. Making time for yourself is not selfish, it is necessary.

Putting yourself at the bottom of the list is something that you have to stop doing. You can practice self-care in so many ways every day. Taking the quiet time you may need in the morning to just have a cup of coffee or tea now that you stopped sleeping in is self-care. Or clearing somethings off your schedule so you can go to lunch with a friend now that you have stopped being too busy.

No matter how big or small, you cannot afford to continue to not practice self-care. It is not just important for you, but also for the health and well-being of your family. In order to be the best wife and mom you can be, you have to take care of you.

#5 Stop Not Making Your Marriage A Priority

As a wife, this is so easy to not do in the midst of our busy lives and mom life. It may take a lot of effort, but it worth it to stop doing this. As a wife, you have to stop not making your marriage a priority. Yes, your kids are important, but so is your marriage. Your marriage should be your priority.

There is so much that both you and your kids gain from making your marriage a priority. Your kids see how important marriage is to you and what a Godly marriage looks like. It also helps you to build a healthy and strong marriage that stands well after your kids are grown and gone.

Change is not always easy, but is so important. So taking the necessary steps you need today to stop doing these things is a must. So you can start taking the steps you need to tomorrow to do and be all you called to.

I’d love to hear what thing you would stop doing today
so you can be all you want to be tomorrow in the comments!