Last week I asked the question, “Are you doing too much?” We looked at some signs which may indicate that you are doing too much. This week I will explore how you can take back control of your life and begin to live at a more manageable and healthy pace that will renew your passion for ministry and leadership.
Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. Think of it this way, when a baby, or for that matter twins, join a family, does that family get any more time added to their day to care for the additional family member(s)? Obviously, the issue is not a matter of “enough time” but of managing time effectively. How can you best use the time available to you and avoid becoming too busy? Consider the following.
Set your priorities. If you do not prioritize, but instead spend your time responding to whatever seems most urgent, you will neglect some very important areas and people in your life – including yourself. What is most important to you? What are roles and responsibilities in your life that only you can and must do? And what are those things that you can do, but do not necessarily have to do?
Plan a weekly calendar. This may sound simple, and you may say, “I schedule appointments in my calendar.” But this is not just about knowing what your appointments are; it’s about taking control of your time. If you do not use your priorities to guide your time in order to live at a manageable pace, your time will be used by others, I guarantee.
Without an intentional plan for how you want to use your time on a daily basis, family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances and extra-curricular activities will swallow up your time by having you do things out of a sense of urgency and guilt.
Decide which things you must do. While you may have many roles and responsibilities, you may not need to be doing all that you are doing associated with those roles and responsibilities.
Take some time and evaluate what you must do. For example, no one can be a parent for you, or a spouse for you. Consider your roles at work and ask yourself what you absolutely must do and what you can reasonably pass on to others?
Learn the fine art of delegation. Learn to trust others to get things done that you would normally do. This requires trusting the people around you to do what they are asked to do.
Delegating requires clarity regarding three things:
- What will the end product be?
- What are the resources needed to achieve the goal?
- Who has the ability and power/authority to do the task?
One struggle we have with delegating is the tendency to not give others the freedom to accomplish the task their way.
Develop routines. This may sound simple but having routines is a sign that you are controlling your time. Routines also help you consistently do the things that are important; for example:
- Personal development time for quiet time, exercise, intellectual development
- Family meals
- Down time for rest and re-energizing
- High-energy times to do your most demanding tasks
Make yourself accountable to at least one other person. As you strive to live life at a reasonable pace it would be very helpful to keep yourself accountable to someone who will help you keep your word.
I am accountable to two groups of men who help me to live life at a manageable pace. Weekly, I have to account for my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual life. I also have to account for relationship to my spouse. I know without this level of accountability, I would be very busy but not accomplish what really matters. Been there, done that.
Are you living your life doing too much? Are you always on the go and always tired? Why not set aside some time right now or during the week to take back control of your life using the suggestions above?
If you would like help in achieving your goals as a leader or in any area of your life, call us at 208-880-0307 or email us at errol@errolcarrim.com to schedule a complimentary coaching session. To read Errol’s other posts, visit Christ-Centered Life Coaching.