10 ways to maximize your time
We all live exceptionally busy days and lives. Anyone who is busy with a career, ministry, home-based business or parenting understands how the day can get away from them.
There are endless appointments, deadlines, people to encourage and help, phone calls to make and receive, emails to read and send, as well as distractions and unforeseen interruptions that can rule you and your day—if you don’t purposely create a solid plan of productivity.
To make the most of my day, I have found creating and following a stringent plan of productivity to be an absolute must. It’s too easy to spread yourself thin by not doing so, and this greatly affects the quality you offer those you work for and serve. It also can affect your relationship with God, as well as your marriage, parenting and family life.
In my grief ministry, like a majority of ministries, phone calls and impromptu meetings can surface any time of day. Although we can’t always control these times, there are so many other factors we can anticipate and control.
Here are 10 ways I personally ensure my days are the most productive they can be:
1. Put first things first.
• God - Spending time with my first Love first thing in the morning and at night before closing my eyes to sleep sets the tone in my daily ministry, family life, character and mood.
• Marriage - Purposely taking the time to daily pour into my marriage alleviates unnecessary contention, misunderstandings and disagreements, and other common relationship stressors. A weekly date night or lunch date, spending time and enjoying each other, and having fun are top priorities.
• Parenting/family - Spending daily quality time with your child(ren), especially if you’re in ministry, is non-negotiable. Children spell love T-I-M-E. If a child sees a parent tending to everyone else’s needs yet is too busy for them, a root of bitterness can begin to grow. We guide and direct our child’s sense of God, church, ministry, marriage and even their God-given value by keeping this precious relationship a priority.
•Work and household responsibilities - When we put first things first and do our God-given responsibilities upfront each day, and at the close of every night, we will eliminate many problems which could have the potential to rob our time during the work week. Plan responsibilities accordingly.
2. Eliminate distractions.
Distractions can cause a lot of chaos and waste a lot of time. Many of us have ministry websites, blogs and platforms on social media sites. It becomes too easy to post our updates, but then click on an article...and then another...and another.
Take advantage of pre-scheduling your blog posts or updates on your social media accounts. Create content for the week in one sitting. You will save hours every week!
There are all sorts of other distractions that can tempt us away from what’s most important, so intentionally keep any potential distractions in check.
3. Find balance.
With so many daily priorities (spiritual health, marriage, parenting, family, work, wellness, chores, appointments, deadlines, rest and relaxation, etc.), it’s important to create a wise, workable balance and schedule.
Writing down everything on a calendar is most beneficial. During your busiest weeks, even intentionally write in specific times to spend with loved ones. If we don’t create balance intentionally, we’ll waste precious time and opportunities by default.
4. Consider the impact and cost of every way you spend your time.
Understanding this, and purposely making the wisest choices today prevents, and can even totally eliminate, potential obstacles, hardships and heartaches tomorrow.It’s easy to say, “yes,” to one good thing, only to have to say, “no,” to another. It’s also too easy to try to please everyone or overwork yourself, which leads to exhaustion, ineffectiveness and eventually even resentment (yours or someone else’s).
5. Make learning a lifestyle.
Furthering education and continually learning new ideas and techniques of how to do ministry better, as well as actively learning from others who excel in your field or ministry, can save a lot of time in the long run. Continue to humbly learn from others in your field and seek out the best way of doing things!
6. Choose to have a productive day.
Set your plans, appointments and meetings yearly, monthly and bi-monthly, and then continually refine and solidify your schedule as the dates arrive. Always seek to prune and utilize your time in the wisest ways possible so you can serve others with the highest quality and effectiveness.
7. Declutter.
When life is filled with clutter (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and in your home, office, or surroundings), it is impossible to bring your absolute best to work, home life, and ministry. Take time...even 30 minutes...each day to bring organization, nurturing, and healing to your life, relationships and surroundings.
8. Guard your health.
Investing 30-60 minutes each day in physical fitness, as well as eating right, not only alleviates stress and improves your mood, it also has been proven to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Also, this could protect against major illness, improve sleep, lower blood pressure and provide a boost in brain health. According to Harvard University, physical activity spurs the release of endorphins and also proteins called neurotrophic or growth factors, which cause nerve cells to grow and make new connections, improving brain function, too.
9. Stay on topic when in meetings and on conference calls.
Prepare each person you meet with or talk to with the time allotment you have to invest in the meeting or conversation, that way you’re on the same page. Ten minutes before the ending time, set an audible reminder and wrap things up. Busy people will appreciate how you respect their time and others will also respect your time as well.
10. “Be all there.”
Being fully present shows others you truly, genuinely care. You can save a lot of time, resources, feelings, potential conflict and the integrity of your relationships —both work and home life—by being totally present. It also prevents having to backtrack and allows you to initially hear the correct information and emotions of others the first time something is being communicated.
I hope these ways of maximizing time are helpful to you. There are numerous ways of becoming more productive. Always seek out and learn what best works for you, your family and ministry!
Photo source: istock
 | Kim Niles is the author of Getting Your Breath Back After Life Knocks It Out of You and is the co-founder of Grief Bites. She is also a writer and partner for YouVersion, a Community Leader at her church, and an inspirational speaker. Learn More » |
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