If time is our most valuable asset, what are we doing to make sure it is not wasted?
Here are some tips and tools to redeem the days:
1. DO A TIME AUDIT OF YOUR TYPICAL DAY
I recently did a time audit of my day, out of sheer exasperation about not having enough time to do anything. I was shocked!! I have more than enough time to do the things that are important. Everything I've shared with friends and family about being a "busy mom of 2 age 5 and under" while also getting this baby business on its walking way can be boiled down to EXCUSES! That's the honest truth, a time audit is factual. I'm full of excuses and didn't even know it! I highly recommend doing a time audit as the starting point.
2. IDENTIFY THE NEEDLE-MOVING ACTIVITIES IN ALL YOUR DOINGS
The best discovery I've made in a long time is that when the FOCUS is impact, there's plenty of time. We don't need to do everything, it's a recipe for major burnout and illness. There has to be a purpose in what we're doing. Even in the things we take for granted, let's question how impactful they are. For example, I don't need to do everything with my kids, but I do need to have time set aside where we can connect, have a heart-to-heart, and have some fun. The relationship is important, and it needs to be nurtured to grow. For our businesses, we have to identify the stage of business we're in, and set 1 - 2 objectives. Zero in on what needs to happen to make the next level possible. Everything else is for a later stage. There's enough time for 1-2 objectives to be done with creativity, strategy, and excellence. Not to mention more JOY!
3. HAVE TIME RESET TOOLS IN YOUR ROUTINE
Granted feelings of overwhelm and being in a rush are REAL but they're more of a reflection of the state we are in rather than reality. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed because my mind never gets a break. Even in my sleep, I'm trying to solve problems and think through situations that sometimes have absolutely nothing to do with me. Can you relate?
This is my go-to tool: meditation. What's yours? Share in the comments so that we can all develop our time reset arsenals.
I know now and believe that mediation is not a suggestion. It's a lifeline to keeping our peace. The right Word comes to us in those quiet times. I'll share my experience on this.
The other day I was just in a knot, mentally and emotionally, and just not knowing what to do. I just couldn't deal! And I thought let me just quiet my mind. Immediately this verse came to mind, "God did not give you a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and a sound mind." That's 2 Timothy 1 : 7
I could not have come up with this answer using my conscious mind. If I could, I would have but that's not possible. It was exactly what has been tying me up in knots: FEAR. Just plain being timid. I needed that reminder. That nudge to stop it.
God's spirit is power, we have the power to do the things He has sent us to do. God's spirit is love, we don't need to be judging the actions of people surrounding an issue. God's spirit is a sound mind. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. If our hearts are troubled, we haven't invited Him in. I/We need to stop trying to do it on our own. Let's invite God into every situation.
Meditate on the Word. The right word for that moment will be whispered into your mind.
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." ~ Joshua 1:9
4. MAKE UNPLUGGING A TIME-BLOCKED ITEM
The world isn't going to fall apart if you 'log out' for some alone time. Stillness is an act of worship. All the things we could be ticking of our 'to-do-list' are not as important as the moments of reverence we give to our Lord. God doesn't need it, but we do. We need that act of letting God take it all. We need to know that we are not God and cannot solve every problem our family, friends, business, or personal life encounter. We need to know that God is in control, and we can shed off our baggage and walk out of His stillness free of everything. Ready to encounter the day, and be moved as He wishes to lead. Even Jesus took time to step away from the mission to be alone and commune with the Father in prayer.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” ~ Psalm 46: 10
5. FOCUS ON THE THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL
Modern life is about being in a race, a race to get things done by a certain age, a race to get a business profitable by a certain time- frame, a race to meet New Years goals before year end... It's the norm of this life to be running against the clock. All this does is create anxiety, frustration, and depression. We can't control when things will happen for us. We can't even ensure we meet goals. We CAN control the heart we bring to doing things. We CAN control showing up even if it leads to nothing at that present moment. If we focus on the process and not the outcome, time becomes our friend. We can run with it, rather than against it.
As entrepreneurs and visionaries we want success tomorrow, but true lasting success takes 10 -15 years of consistent effort and perseverance. Nothing big is going to happen by tomorrow, and that's ok. Something life altering is happening daily as we choose new habits, new challenges, and train like a disciplined athlete. With each day we are creating a different tomorrow. Today matters! Use it all up.
The Bible tells us that God doesn't operate on our time. So whenever "It" happens for you, it will be in perfect time. Let that give you peace.
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." ~ 2 Peter 3 : 8
Live life fully. Sometimes all that means is doing the mundane with the perspective that nothing is ordinary, it's your unique contribution to that day.
I hope that you are encouraged.
Stay blessed Friends.
