This is the fifteenth in our series of emails called “How I Monk.” In this series we will be highlighting + celebrating members of the Monk Manual community as they’ve meaningfully applied our tools and resources to find peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives. If you’d like to be featured in a future “How I Monk,” share your information with us here… #HowIMonk
Name: Rachael Killackey
Occupation: Non-profit executive
Location: Tampa, Florida
Website/Social: https://rachaelkillackeyey.substack.com/
www.magdalaministries.org
A bit about who you are and how you spend your days:
I'm a young mother who stays at home full-time with my toddler (and expecting our second baby!), but I also work from home full-time as the executive director of a non-profit called Magdala. Magdala serves women struggling with sexual addiction. I’m also a published author and freelance writer. My days are full of work and meetings, but also of play with my daughter and the care of our home. I have a few things that are part of my daily rhythm that are necessary to me–time for prayer, exercise, and dedicated time with family.
What originally drew you to the Monk Manual?
I gave it first as a gift to my husband a couple of years ago and quickly started using it myself. After a few false starts, balancing my two full-time commitments as a mother and non-profit leader solidified my commitment to the Monk Manual. It's helped me maintain peace, order, and compassion for myself as I balance my callings and keep them in tandem with each other. In the new year, I’ve switched to the Weekly planner, and it fits my needs even better than the original 90-day planner.
Practical Monk Manual Tip:
Since my husband and I both use the Monk Manual, we have found it helpful to have a “family meeting” at the beginning of each week to go over our schedules, task lists, and needs for the week. Having the structure of the Monk Manual helps us share ways we can serve each other, iron out any schedule conflicts, and prioritize family time for the week. We even divide up chores for the week and keep a list in the “notes” section! I would highly recommend spouses consider integrating the Monk Manual into their marriage–it’s been an amazing tool to enhance communication.
I also use my Monk Manual to track both “work” and “home” tasks, and keep the lists separated in my daily to-do section. My priority tasks are usually work-related, but I have my home tasks sectioned off where I can easily keep them in mind–when my daughter is awake, we tackle as many as we can while spending time together! Having the two separate lists has helped me see productivity and fullness in all parts of my day, not just when I’m working.
When you were first getting started, what part of the Monk Manual did you struggle with most?
I really struggled with being thoughtful about my habits. I would pick ones that were too aspirational or not realistic, and quickly feel disappointed in myself for not attaining them. Once I started really thinking through what habits would enhance my life as it is–rather than what habits seemed impressive on paper–this aspect of the Monk Manual became one of my favorites.
Do you have a favorite prompt or section?
I like the gratitude prompt. It’s simple, but beginning my day from a standpoint of already having encountered things to be grateful for changes how I conduct myself in the hours following: will I continue to strive to identify what I can be grateful for, or miss those things in a flurry of busyness?
How has your life changed since using the Monk Manual?
The Monk Manual company has helped me tangibly realize that God's plan for me is actually possible. I have had a lot of doubt, over the past year especially, that I could integrate my callings into one. Slowly, over time, I've seen my life as a mother and work less as ladders to climb--getting higher on one means neglecting the other--but rather as a mosaic of many pieces that are formed together to make one, cohesive work of art that I can be proud of and at peace with. Despite narratives on both sides of the discussion of the compatibility of work and motherhood, it is possible to be both a present mother and productive worker–as long as both come from a place of recollection and thoughtfulness, and honor the priorities that have been placed on one’s heart.
What suggestions would you give to new Monk Manual users?
Adjust the Monk Manual to your needs. If you’re using it in such a way that it creates a feeling of pressure, then you’re not using it for its intended purpose–to bring you awareness and peace! Use the parts that serve you, and use them thoroughly; be content with letting another part of it go if it doesn’t quite fit. I’ve loved really leaning into the parts of the MM that bring me a lot of clarity, and learning to get creative with the other sections that I am less prone to use.
If you’d like to be featured in a future “How I Monk,” share your information with us here.
