One thing that we have in common with everyone else is that we have all the time in the world. Whether we are old or young, rich or poor, a college graduate or still in high school, we are all given 24 hours in a day.
What we do with this time is so important. Whether we feel like we have time to kill or not enough hours in the day, we should always make the most of the time we have.
Managing Time
I’ll be the first to admit that managing time well can be a real discipline. Especially if no one is around and nothing is pressing and urgent. But this is when it is most important to choose what you do with your time. This is not to say that you have to jam pack every minute of every day, but rather be mindful of where your time goes.
Some days will be filled with well regimented work and activities. Items will get checked off your list and you will feel incredibly efficient! And then you’ll have days where the simplest, fastest task literally takes all day to complete. Days like this will require extra bits of patience and grace. And truly, don’t let it throw you too much! Tomorrow is another day!
Have a Plan
Having a plan is such a boost to managing your time well. Stick with me here! Really think about what you want to accomplish and do. Consider what your ideal life would look like. Think about what you want to focus on and spend time doing.
Work is important, for sure. It provides an income which feeds us and it also teaches us vital life values. But people are important too! Be sure that you are allowing time to appreciate those you love the most. Don’t try to fool yourself thinking that you can multitask working while absentmindedly spending time with those around you. Set aside time, even the smallest amount, to focus well on those God has put in your life!
There are many special ways to do this. Perhaps you want to plan a special evening each week where you set work down and spend time playing board games and visiting with your people. Or maybe an afternoon picnic is more your style. True, there will always be piles of work to accomplish, but it is so important to not let it steal all of your time. Do your work and do it well, and then take a break and enjoy those around you!
A Life You Love
This is your one shot at life. An obvious statement, but some of us need the reminder. Dream, imagine and pray about a life that you truly enjoy and delight in – and then take steps to make that life your reality!
Do you want to spend more time outside – make it a priority! Want to spend more time with your parents – set a schedule with them! Need to get more sleep – plan to go to bed earlier! So much of what we want in life can be our reality if we will make the decision ahead of time.
For instance, I’ve decided to be done with work and off my computer and phone to the best of my ability once I leave work in the evening. Doing this keeps me from killing time aimlessly scrolling through social media or websites. I also want to get to bed earlier. Again, being off electronics really helps this to happen! This doesn’t mean I don’t text people and respond to messages, but rather I’m not mindlessly on the phone. This gives me more time to read – or just get to bed a few minutes earlier! But the results here aren’t magic. They are the fruits of a conscious decision that I have made.
And come the end of the day, I never think with disappointment how I miss the time I could have been scrolling on my phone. Rather, I think with delight that I didn’t get caught in that mindless scroll!
Time is of the Essence
Be mindful of how you spend your time. Work is necessary and important, but so is rest and enjoying the people around you! Pause to consider how you might create a good balance of how to spend your time in this season. There is no right or wrong answer here, simply the realization that you get to make a conscious decision!
We have all the time in the world, but it is up to us to spend it wisely!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. One of my favorite things about time is the memories that are made. What are some of your favorite memories? I share some of mine here: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2018/08/15/highlights-of-2018/