Yesterday we celebrated Leap Year, which meant we had an extra day this year. How did you spend it?
Here’s a quick self-test:
How am I managing my time?
Time management is actually a misnomer because no one can manage time. What we really manage is yourself to accomplish your goals in the time available. Time must be redeemed; it has to be bought. Time is basic, unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time for the days are evil.” —Ephesians 5:16–15
I wish I could stand on a busy street corner and beg people to give me all their wasted hours. Most people waste at least two hours every day, although few realize it. In a few of my February blogs, I’ve been discussing how to improve life management skills:
Did you know, there are SIX things that time is:
- Perishable
- Expensive
- Measurable
- Continuous
- Irreversible
- Irreplaceable
I ran across this great article from iMom about values-driven time management.
How is your attitude toward time management?
How you react to life is what counts.
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you . . . we are in charge of our attitude.” —Chuck Swindoll
Can you relate to areas of frustration regarding time management?
- Not knowing how to say no.
- Not knowing when and how to stop working.
- Finding time for business-related issues.
- Having time for friends.
- Pursuing personal interests.
- Exercising.
- Having too much to do.
- Work is never done.
- Taking work home.
- Finding time to meet with colleagues.
- Making time for children.
- Making time for spouse and friends.
Am I a pleaser? Do I have a difficult time saying no?
Practice saying no. Protect yourself and your family’s time by saying NO.
God grant me the serenity to prioritize the things I cannot delegate, the courage to say no when I need to, and the wisdom to know when I need to go home.
How do you spend your time?
Ever been asked “What did you do today, honey?”And was your reply . . . , ”I am not really sure”?
Take the next 24 hours to review how you spend your time by recording a 24-hour time log:
- To determine how you can make better use of your time, examine what are your priorities
- Write your priorities. What’s most important to you?
- Notice your rhythms. Are you a morning person or an evening person?
- Examine how you actually spend your time.
- Compare your priority list with how you are actually spending your time.
- How can you achieve your goals?
Ask yourself often: Will what I am doing right now help me achieve my goals?
“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” —Psalm 127:1
Establish a mission statement. A mission statement is a definition of a life purpose.
To begin to build your own personal mission statement, answer four questions:
- Who are you? (In Christ, what unique gifts and abilities has God given you to serve Him?)
- Because of that, what has God called you to do?
- What do you want? (What motivates you?)
- Who have you been called to minister?
For more accountability and training on Transformed Leadership Coaching, submit your application for Transformed Client Coaching with Sheryl Giesbrecht.
Here’s what one recent participant said after a session with Transformed Grief Coaching: “I thank you for your response and prayers. You have strengthened my little thread of hope that someday I may find companionship again.”
Let me pray for you:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the life you have given me. Help me use the time you have given me as you use my life for your glory. I pray the prayer of Moses, “Teach me, Lord, to number my days, that I might present to you a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 9:12). Amen.
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