Category: Time Management

Race Against Yourself

Published on by Kim

So many things need to get done every day. When they don’t, it’s not so much fun to catch up (like laundry). But it’s not always so much fun doing it every day either!

A friend recently shared a tip she uses in the morning to motivate herself. She races to see how much she can do before her coffee is done in the morning. This includes emptying the dishwasher, washing any pans soaking from the night before, etc. She challenges herself to keep moving and to get as much as possible done in that short amount of time.

That’s such a great idea.

  • Because it’s a short time, it’s manageable instead of overwhelming.
  • Because it’s a race, there’s a little more energy put into completing those mundane tasks.
  • She knows what needs to be done and makes it fun to do. Who doesn’t need a little more fun in the daily task list?

You may have used this or seen it used with kids, but it’s just as fun for grown-ups — and for the same reasons.

Ready! Set! Go!

Step Back

Published on by Kim

Your to-do list is long, right? Every single day, more items on the list. Some days you add items faster than you can cross them off!

What can you do?

Step back and remember why you do anything at all.

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31)

You are not a slave to your planner. You are to love God with every minute of each day. You have a purpose — a beautiful purpose!

So then, even when you take a half step forward and see a list of major responsibilities (also sometimes overwhelming), like those in Titus 2, you are still aware of your ultimate purpose. You love your husband in honor of your God. You practice self-control to bring glory to your Father.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:3-5)

Now when you look at your long list, remember you buy groceries to feed your family because you love them and you love God. You go shoe shopping for growing feet out of love for your children and your God. This applies to all the dentist appointments and chauffeuring and bill-paying and whatever else shows up on the list for the day.

Sometimes you may need to adjust your list and activities to fit your priorities, but even when they are all spot-on, you need the motivation to fuel your spirit as you walk through the day. Remember today!