"Q&A With Christy Wright: Take Back Your Time

September 12, 2021

Photos Courtesy of Christy Wright

Author Bio:

"Christy Wright is a #1 national best-selling author, personal development expert, and host of The Christy Wright Show. Since 2009, Christy has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches on personal development, business, and faith. Her new book, Take Back Your Time, releases September 14.

Follow Christy on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube or online at www.christywright.com."

1.How would you describe your work-life balance? What does a day in the life of Christy Wright look like?

I wrote my new book, Take Back Your Time, not only because this was the number one question I’ve been asked over the last decade, but also because I needed to figure this out for my own life. I know how hard this can be, and I also know that just being more productive doesn’t solve the problem.

I believe balance comes from doing the right things at the right time. In a practical way, I am always asking myself, “What’s right, right now?” When two things compete or when things change, I ask myself this question again. It helps me focus on what is most important and allows me to adapt when needed. It allows me to do the right things at the right time and feel balanced, even in a busy life and out of balance world.

2. What is a common misconception people have about balance?

The most common misconceptions about balance are:

Balance is a 50/50 split between work and home.
Balance is doing everything for an equal amount of time.
The solution to our problem with time management is more time.
The path to balance is productivity.

None of these things are true, realistic, or even desirable. You can do all of that and still feel out of balance. Life balance is actually about doing the RIGHT things at the RIGHT time. It’s about spending your one life on what matters to you. When you do that, you will feel the sense of balance you’ve been looking for.

3. What is the one thing that gets you out of bed each morning?

My kids yelling for milk and Mickey Mouse.

Kidding aside, I love life and always have. I see it as a grand adventure to be lived to the fullest. That comes naturally to me, which is why I love to help others do the same. You just get one life and how you spend your time is how you spend your life. I want to help people do what matters most to them. That fires me up and never gets old.

4. “It's not about doing more. IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT MATTERS.” What does this statement mean to you?

We think the solution to our problem with balance is doing more. If we could just do more, we would feel the balance we want so badly. So we wake up earlier, stay up later, and run harder and faster in between. We try to be more efficient and more productive and multitask more effectively, and all we end up is more exhausted. The path to balance isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what is important to you, what matters. When you spend your time and your life on those things, you feel the balance you’ve been wanting all along.

5. What are three things that inspire you?

People that overcome adversity, people that are generous, and people that don’t give up. Also, great stories and good music.

6. Take Back Your Time is the third book that you have authored. How has your writing process changed and adapted since your first book?

The mistake most new authors make is the same mistake new speakers make: They try to say too much. My latest book is shorter in page count and word count, and it has a very simple memorable path. Storytelling is still my favorite way to teach concepts and ideas, but the language around my path and the way I framed it is so much simpler to read, understand and remember now. That’s important if you want your reader to actually read, understand and remember it!

7. What is your relationship with writing and/or books? Do you like to read or write the most?

I’m a creative, so I have a hundred ideas a day. I love to write, and I love to share ideas with the world. At the same time, reading new ideas is what inspires me to come up with more ideas. You need both.

8. If there is one message you want to make sure people understand from your book, what would it be?

You’re not failing. You’re doing better than you think. Balance isn’t just about managing the time on your calendar. It’s about enjoying the life that that calendar represents. I want to help you see what a good job you’re already doing (even if you don’t know it yet) and help you build from there.

9. So many people tend to experience burn-out largely because they do not value their self-care as highly as they really should. What would your advice be to people that don’t often take this part of life seriously?

Self-care isn’t a pedicure once a year on your birthday, but that’s how we think of it. Self-care should be a part of your daily rhythms and routines, like brushing your teeth. Can you imagine if you brushed your teeth once a year?! They would fall out! We are burning out because we think we can have a massage once a year and that takes care of something that actually needs to be taken care of daily. Every day, you should be doing something to fill your tank so you have something to give to the people and things that matter most to you.

That might be a workout, quiet time, a good book; or simply a cup of hot coffee by yourself for 10 minutes before you start rushing through your day. We have to stop thinking of self-care as a grand gesture we get as a luxury once a year. It should instead be small, incremental daily habits that we incorporate into our regular routines. If people would do that, they wouldn’t burn out like they are. I have a journal where every day I have to list “How I am taking care of myself today.” It’s a reminder to me to take care of myself. If I can’t write anything down, that’s a clue I need to make some time for that.

10. What are you most excited for readers to learn about themselves while reading this book?

One early review said, “This book lets me breathe.” That is it! I want to set people free in a space that has historically been filled with guilt, shame and overwhelm.

11. What’s something you wished you added, if anything, to the book that didn’t make it in there?

Ironically, the question “What’s right, right now?” didn’t come to me in that way until I started talking about the book in interviews. I say that in a different way in the book, but not in that clear, memorable way. That kills me! If I could do it all again, I’d add that. You can boil the whole book down to that one question.

12. What do you hope readers take away from this book?

This is YOUR life. No one gets to tell you what should be important to you. I want to help you figure out what matters to you, so that you can spend your one life on those things. I want to help you create your version of balance, which is the only version of balance that should matter to you anyway. You only get one life, and this is it. Spend it on what matters to YOU.

13. What’s your best advice for getting over writer’s block?

Step away. Go for a walk and give yourself a break, even if a quick one. Nothing is less inspiring than a blank Microsoft Word document with a blinking cursor glaring at you. Get away from the screen, take a deep breath, and take the pressure off your brain to come up with something brilliant. When the pressure is off, watch how things come to you.

14. What’s the best book you have read this year so far?

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. It has opened my eyes to how much rushing steals my joy and my life, and it has transformed how I make decisions. Since reading that book, if something requires me to rush to make it happen, it’s a no. I’m so much less stressed since this one decision.

15. Do you plan on writing more books in the future?

As many as the publishers will let me!