Following technological guidelines was the habit I sought to cultivate in March. As I shared yesterday, I’ve still got a lot of work to do.

Blogging takes time.

When I first started to blog, I thought writing a post and hitting “publish” was about all there was to it. (Experienced bloggers, feel free to laugh with me!)  It didn’t take long to realize just how untrue that is.

Some days I’ll sit down to write and realize that there is a WordPress error that needs to be addressed immediately, a backup that wasn’t complete, a dozen encouraging comments I want to answer and two urgent emails. By the time I’m done, nap time is over and I have yet to type a title for a post.

I also started exercising more regularly in March and making a bigger breakfast, which changed my morning routine.

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In April, I’m going to keep on working on technological boundaries for myself. Much as I love blogging and the online community, my family and my home are my first callings.

“Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things,” said Peter Drucker.

These are a few ways I am going to try to make sure I’m doing “the right things” in my online time this month.

• Rework blogging “time budget” since my morning has changed. (Read more about time budgets in Tell Your Time.)
• Set aside 20 minutes in the late morning while the kids play to do all the “quick” things like answer emails, pay bills, check Facebook, etc
• Avoid emails/Facebook during the first 30 minutes of “writing” time.

What about you? Will you join in our “One Habit a Month Challenge”? If so, add a link below or share in the comments. 

Linked up at Titus 2sdays, Teach Me Tuesdays , Thankful Homemaker, Encourage One Another & Women Living Well Wednesdays 

(Full disclosure: Links to products in this post are my referral links)

Once again, this is late. I’d like to think that the fact I hardly checked my email let alone blogged this weekend meant I was strictly following technological guidelines. It really just means we had a fun and very busy weekend! 

 Rather than focus on grand resolutions in 2012, my goal has been to work on one habit each month that will help me better fulfill my calling as a woman, wife, mother and/or homemaker. March’s habit was challenging: establish technological guidelines (i.e. stop checking my phone/email constantly!) 

Many of you joined me on that challenge. How did you do?

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This was by far my most challenging habit to establish so far. I failed multiple times.

I  wish I could say I’d fully tamed the techy monster. I haven’t.

Though it wasn’t a stunning success, looking back on the month, I realized it wasn’t quite as much of a failure as I thought either.

• Following Amy’s advice, I’ve unsubscribed from dozens of email updates, which dramatically cut down on distractions.
• Even when I know there are emails waiting, I don’t “have” to check them immediately anymore.
• I’ve been more careful to make phone calls at good times of the day.
• If I have “just a minute,” I more often color with Will, do a load of laundry, show Rose how to write a new word, or look into baby Meg’s eyes, instead of using those moments to “quickly check _____ online.”

Technology is a wonderful tool, but can so easily become a major distraction. March’s habit helped highlight ways that I could use the internet more wisely, without letting it control too much of my time. Since I still have so much to work on, I’m going to keep working on this habit in April.

What about you? Did you work on a new habit in March? Did you do better at it than I did?  

Linked up at Motivation Monday, Better Mom, Raising Arrows and Handful of Heart