Working on Time Management:

Time management is something I am both very good at, and it is also something I struggle with.  I struggle with it in the sense that I overwork myself and try to spend time with more people than I probably should at one time in one day.  It is hard because I want to say yes to everything. I think I feel the need to be busy because it is when I feel the most important. I gain a sense of purpose and belonging when I have many appointments and meetings.   

I am definitely not saying it is bad to be busy.  There are people like me who are a bit more type A and they really want to spend time doing things, seeing people, and working towards a cause.  This is a great place to be.  However, it is important that we don’t overwork ourselves to the point where we can’t really truly enjoy the moments or the time with those we love.  I also have found I can’t spend time really getting to know the people around me, and really showing my care for them when I am overworked. I also can’t do my work to the best of my ability when I am squeezed for time.  Essentially, it is perfectly fine to be busy, but in moderation.  

At church we have been talking a lot about relationships.  We talked a lot about how we interact with others.  This can even be making sure that we are really focused on the conversations that are happening.  This is making sure we are listening and asking good questions of the people around us and caring about their responses.  I love to talk to people.  However, I only love listening and talking to people when I have time.  When I am rushing around from place to place, I find I do not take the time to really inquire or care about how someone else is doing.  I may want to talk more, but then I am constantly checking my watch and trying to hurry myself along.  

Then also when I am running around, I can’t really enjoy what I am doing.  When I am doing well on time, I genuinely enjoy where I am at.  I enjoy working out when I am not in a hurry, I love work when I am not thinking about the other things that I need to be doing, and I love reading when I have the extra time to sit and enjoy a book.  I even know that when I am not super stressed, I can enjoy driving to and from places, listening to music or podcasts.  It is the stress of extreme busyness that sucks joy out of a lot of my activities.  

There is a verse that captures this thought and it is from Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 which says, “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.”  It is important for people to find joy in God and in everything they do, because these moments and the people that we have in our lives are a gift from Him.  I need to remember to have enough time to truly enjoy what God has given me and what He has done for me.  

I also have found I am not as good at any of the tasks I usually do when I am rushing them.  I like to work hard on each item I am doing.  Whether this be my exercising, tasks at work, singing at choir practice, or even spending time writing for this blog.  When I am rushing around and trying to fit in everything, I am not really spending time thinking about what I am doing or how to work on things.  I hate when I don’t do a good job on anything I have been tasked with or I assign myself.  

Because of this, I need to do a better job of planning out my week.  There are certain things that I have definitely committed to at least every week or every other week, such as work, choir, Bible study, and volunteering at church.  I also know that I care about exercising, reading, writing for this blog, and doing my devotionals, so I do need to make sure I have time to do this on a daily basis.  Then besides those things, I may need to be better about only saying yes to one or two events throughout the week.  This includes the weekends.  Obviously, the weekends are more convenient to say yes to things, but at the same time, I will need time to relax after going from working and activities throughout the week. 

My challenge for you this week is to reflect on your own schedule.  Do you personally feel tired and overworked?  If so, it may be important to spend time reevaluating your calendar and schedule like I am planning on doing this next week.  It is always important to make sure you have enough time to sit back and appreciate life and God’s gifts, so please also make sure you put enough time in to do that as well.  Then it will fill your days up, even when they are busier.