Ever wonder where your time goes? Do you feel like you’re never getting the important things done? Steve Douglass says that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. Focus on the right 20% and you’ll get the results you want.
In yesterday’s post, I spoke about the link between faith and time management. Over this past year, God has been teaching me so much about this topic through various sources.
Two books I have found particularly helpful are:
- How to Get Better Grades and Have More Fun by Steve Douglass; and
- Connecting With God by Christopher B. Adsit
The first taught me the concept of the 80/20 rule I mentioned above. I learnt that I needed to focus my efforts on the right 20% in order to get the results I wanted.
The second book is more of a Bible study workbook and taught me some practical tips for effective (and faithful) time management.
I combined the information I learnt from both these books to come up with the 5 step method I wish to share with you today.
Step One: Determine the objectives
Finding the right 20% comes from determining the objectives. You need to have a clear view of where you are aiming.
To discover this, consider how you want to be remembered after you die. What do you want to accomplish in your lifetime? What are your priorities? Also consider your purpose and God’s priorities (Matthew 22:37-40).
What did you come up with? Write it down. Adsit suggests crafting a single sentence personal mission statement that clearly reflects your priorities. I’ll give you mine as an example:
To obediently follow God in His good, pleasing and perfect will, becoming more like Christ everyday so that His love may pour out from me to others.
Writing down your personal mission statement will give you clarity about where to focus that 20% of your efforts. From now on, you can easily make decisions and evaluate how you spend your time.
But first you need to identify how you currently spend your time.
Step Two: Discover where your time goes
Consider your standard week. Write a list of all the things that take up your time, including sleep and rest. Then note down how long you spend on each thing. (If you have absolutely no idea, you might try tracking your time for a day or two).
Next check that the times you have written add to 168 hours. If your total is less, you are missing something. If it is more, you’ve added things that you don’t actually do (even if you’d like to).
Step Three: Evaluate your current schedule
Compare your current schedule to your personal mission statement. Are you focusing on the 20% that will lead to you achieving your objectives?
Identify areas that need change. Is there something that should be on your schedule but isn’t? Is there anything you are doing that doesn’t align with your mission statement? Note them down.
Step Four: Faithfully manage your time
When taking on this step, remember the five Ps:
- Pray. You can’t plan your own course (Jeremiah 10:23 NLT). Let God do it. He already has plans for you and they’re good! (Jeremiah 29:11). You’d be foolish not to ask for His help.
- Plan. Once you’ve sought God’s guidance, schedule time for priority tasks so that they actually get done. This way you can know that you will be spending your limited time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-16).
- Practise. Just do it! Even if it’s difficult. Be diligent and it will soon become natural. Remember that discipline brings righteousness and peace (Hebrews 12:11).
- Perfect. If we’re going to complete the work we’ve been given before our times up (John 9:4), we’re going to need to work fast. Continually seek ways to tighten up your routines and become more efficient.
- Pause. Don’t forget to include rest in your schedule! This is important. God did it (Genesis 2:2-3), Jesus and the disciples did it (Mark 6:30-31), and you should do it too (Exodus 20:8-11).
Step 5: Repeat steps two to four as often as needed
As is always the case living in this broken world, sin will try to creep its way back into this area of your life. It may come in the form of laziness, apathy or selfishness.
When you notice this happening, confess it to God and ask for Him to help you remember why you are doing this: for Him (Colossians 3:23-24).
Then go back through steps two to four and start again. Remember the failure is not in falling down but in not picking yourself back up again.
So how does your schedule measure up? Are you focusing on the right 20%? Are you seeing the results you want?
I challenge you to try this out and let me know how it goes. Don’t forget to leave any prayer requests or words of encouragement for our fellow sisters in the comment section below.
Breakthrough 