Maximizing our time is critical to accomplishing God’s vision for our lives.
Time is a nonrenewable resource. Once it is gone, we can never get it back. So it is imperative that we use it wisely so that we can acccomplish all God has assigned to us. Below are three methods I use to maximize my time.
Check In With God Daily
Time spent with God is never wasted. By praying, listening to Him, and meditating on His Word, He helps us determine what is important and what is not. He can streamline and simplify our days so we can focus on fulfilling His vision for our lives.
During my quiet time on February 11, I read the following devotional from Small Straws in a Soft Wind by Marsha Burns: Fix your gaze on Me, says the Lord. Everything in the world around you is designed to distract you and pull you down. Your spiritual vitality will come from establishing your relationship with Me first. Then, you can deal with the issues of life with wisdom and the power of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Just Say No
As stated in the above paragraph, many people, activities and responsibilities vie for our time and attention each day. There is no way we can accomplish God’s vision for our lives without focus. Saying yes to one thing means we simultaneously say no to many others.
For instance, saying yes to fleshing out this EnVision That! idea means I have said no to having a TV in my home. Watching TV would waste valuable time that I could spend reading, writing, creating, producing, planning, and implementing.
Also, I once worked on a ministry project that somehow snowballed from just taking meeting notes to prepping folders, decorations, food, and other items for an entire event one Sunday afternoon. No duties had been delegated. Ironically, that day, my father was ministering on, “Are We a Mary or Martha Church?” I did not hear the message because I was busy being Martha for the fellowship event. The event went well, but I was completely drained and burned out. I cried in my office and felt like I heard the Lord say, “You are doing things I never told you to do.”
From then on, I have been more careful about what I agree to do. My top priority is accomplishing God’s vision for my life. I do not want to stand before Him and hear Him say, “That’s all you accomplished with the years of life I gave you?”
The Pomodoro Method
When I need to break a big project down into smaller chunks or if I am struggling with motivation or procrastination, I sometimes set up a pressurized situation with the Pomodoro Method. I set a timer for 25 minutes and work only on one task until complete. Then I take a 5 minute break, reset the timer, and begin again. This method focuses me, increases my accountability and productivity, and maintains my motivation. Each project and assignment moves me closer to fulfilling God’s vision for my life.
Have you ever used any of the above methods to maximize your time? What other time management tips do you recommend? I would love to hear from you!