Spot Check

Life gets away from us. Time flows so quickly, a year is gone before we know it. We are dealing with so many right-now needs that we don’t realize all that we are doing over time. Emergency mode can take over and planning fades to the back.

Our focus on big responsibilities can be hard to keep. We know some things are important, but making time can be hard. Dragging our eyes off the crisis to the crucial is difficult. Keeping priorities front and center is usually hard work.

One thing that will help is regularly taking time to regroup. It may only be a few minutes — on a car ride, maybe, or while washing dishes — but it will be good for you. If you can grab a little more time, look at your calendar as a prompt.

  • How are you really spending your time? Does that match up with your priorities?
  • Have you added a lot of stuff that you didn’t plan on? Do you have room for that or do you need to look at saying “No” to something for now?
  • Are the tools you use doing what you need, or do you need to find something that works better?
  • Do you need help?

Sometimes you find something to change, and that helps you going forward. Sometimes you find that your time is being used well for that to which you are called today. Take that encouragement and walk on. Either way, spot checks give you confidence that you are not letting “life” get away from you, that you are managing your time and activities wisely.

Back to the Basics

So my plate has gotten a little full lately. You may know the feeling. The school year is starting back up. “Just one little thing” adds up. Legitimate priorities need to be handled. Projects are pending.

So what do we do? Panic? Shut down? Keep going until we collapse? No. No. No. It’s time to go back to basics.

  1. Take a deep breath. Panic never makes anything better.
  2. Speak truth to yourself. Now is not the time to forget what is true. We have been called by God to this day. He provides what we need to live as we are called to live today — bringing glory to God in all that we do. He is with His people as we live the life He has given us (Heb. 13:5-6).
  3. Get a handle on your responsibilities. Now look at what you have to do. Knowing ‘what’ is half the battle. An important part of that “knowing” is having it recorded. Trying to remember all the little things are driving you crazy. Pull out your to-do list and capture what is buzzing around in your head.
  4. Now map out a plan. Look at the priorities and put them in order. Look at your available time and block out sections to tackle what you need. Knowing ‘when’ to do  ‘what’ is another huge part of the battle.
  5. Do it. This is the final key. Work the plan. Follow the steps you have laid out. Get it done.

We can do this, in the grace God provides. Stay calm and confident and get it done.