7 Tips for Managing Your Time Better

Those good intentions not quite happening?   Your day suddenly get past you?  As women we can wear a number of different hats, and sometimes the day can leave us discouraged, exhausted and wondering where the time went?

To live an effective life for Christ, good planning is necessary.  Our time is a precious commodity that we are called to steward well.  To know and live by this principle is to be a wise woman.  Psalm 90:12,  “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”  

How I manage my time matters to God.  It will not only affect me, but will affect how I am as a woman, wife, mom and disciple maker for Jesus.  And it’s one of the areas the Lord has been showing me I need to grow more in and stay diligent with.  So if you are struggling in this area, know that you are not alone.

Here are some things that have helped me, as well as some new ideas I’m learning and putting into practice:

1. Plan daily.  Invest in a planner (or notebook) and write out what needs to be done.  The more detailed, the better.  Simple rule of thumb:  If you don’t plan your day, someone else will.
2. Prioritize.  Set out to accomplish and protect priorities.   Example, your time with God. (Matthew 6:33)  Commit to let nothing come between your time with Him each day.  If letting go of something else needs to happen so that your time with Him does, then let that other thing go.  Know your priorities and keep them!
3. Identify time robbers.  Social media, tv shows, procrastination, poor planning, or a tendency to say yes too much.  What are those things in your life that are unproductive, time robbers?  Set boundaries to safeguard your time.
4. Read on time-management.  Keep learning and growing.  Make a goal of reading five minutes each day on time management.  You will be surprised how just a little time each day can inspire and encourage you to make changes.
5. Discipline.  Accept that it is a part of growing in your time management.  Say no to sleeping in a little longer.  Stay away from hours of tv watching.  Don’t give into procrastination.  Instead embrace discipline. (1 Cor. 9:27)
6. Know your best time.  Are you most productive first thing in the morning?  Or after lunch? Or late in the evening?  Know the time of day when you have the most energy and focus.   Then plan accordingly to those times.
7. Think Day.  Have one day set aside each week where this is your day to pray, plan and review.  It’s a day to pause and reflect.  What changes need to be made? What worked well? Thank God for His constant help and ask Him to help you discern His will as you plan.

Just one step at a time will move us in the right direction.  Let’s desire to give God our very best each day, and we can begin by carefully watching over the time given to us.