Monday, September 24, 2012

3 Secrets to Getting More Hours in Your Day

 
Too Busy
 
When I told someone "I'm too busy" for the thousandth time this week, I heard that wee, gentle Voice in my heart say, "Quit saying you are too busy."

Oops. I knew the Lord was trying to help me out of my time crunch pit--a place I seem to fall into way too often.

You too? Okay, let's work together on overcoming those nasty time stealers. I'd like to share 3 Ways of Getting  More Hours in Your Day. These are Secrets I've discovered over the years that work every time... when I work them.
 
Three Easy Secrets


1. Start the day with prayer. When we put God first, He makes sure we get everything done that needs to be done. Notice I didn't say "everything we want to do." Sometimes I have lists of items He never told me to do. I have to be careful that I seek Him, or I bite off more than I can handle, then wig out when I feel pressured to do it all.

2. Identify your challenging areas that trip you up most often and waste your time. These could be watching too much TV, overly-long phone conversations, or hours on social media sites. None of these are wrong; they might be eating more time than we realize, though, leaving us with not enough to do what really matters in our lives.

3. Ask for help. It's okay to hire someone to clean your house, bathe your dog, wash your car. If you have kids at home, they can help with chores and cooking, even run errands once they start driving. We do our families a disservice when we try to be supermom or superdad and do it all. When we work as a team, things get done faster. Then we can concentrate on relationships more.

Do What Works


I know, I know. These aren't really secrets. But they work. Try them and see if you don't have more hours in your day. Then let me know if you have other ways to get out of the time crunch pit we all seem to put ourselves into from time to time.

What is your favorite way to save time at your house/workplace?

21 comments:

  1. The crockpot and freezer are two of my biggest helpers when it comes to saving time in the kitchen. I love being able to get home from work and having the meal almost done in the crockpot, and/ or being able to pull something out of the freezer I've already precooked over the weekend.

    I like your timesavers, too~

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  2. We stopped watching tv when we moved here. Tons more time!

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    1. Terri: Aha. That's a biggie. I did that about 25 years ago, and have not missed it one bit. We sometimes watch reruns on dvd, but we are in control of the times we see them. I like that.

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  3. Starting the day with prayer is very important to me. A challenge for me is the desire to sleep in on Saturday mornings instead of getting up and getting busy on things.

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    1. Barb: Good for you! I sleep in on Saturday, too. I need that one day to not have to jump out and run to work.

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  4. Learning to get better at that #3. It's always been a hard one for me.
    ~ Wendy

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    1. LOL, Wendy, this was the easy one for me! I've witnessed too many adults who were helpless becuase their parents did everything for them.

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  5. Great tips, Jeanette. I have the kids help with things and try to structure my day so that I do non-kid friendly things while they're at school (like cleaning the bathrooms or writing).

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  6. Turn off the internet is my best tip, while writing. Those 5 minute breaks to quickly check email or a blog inevitably become much longer.

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    Replies
    1. This is the one that trips me up most often, Sandra! Thanks for the reminder!
      Jen

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  7. Oh darling ... you always forget #4 - drink coffee. THat's okay - I'll keep reminding you :)

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  8. It is so good to feel comfortable asking for help when I need it. My husband is always great to lend a hand.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  9. Jeanette:
    If I find myself waiting for Hubby, I find something small to 'redeem the time.' It might be fold some laundry,straighten up the living room, or go through the papers for recycle. If our names are on them, they go into the shred bag or box. If no names appear, they go with the newspapers for the paper collector box at church.

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  10. love these tips, Jeanette! #1 is so key for me as well...just helps me focus my day and get my priorities straight.

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  11. You guys rock! Thanks for all these helps,
    Jen

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  12. One is that I don't go on the internet unless I have a reason for doing so.

    Any little tasks that I don't get done, I move them to the next day's list. I just keep moving them until they get done. Since they are the little things, I don't sweat it. This works for me.

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  13. When I come to a point when it seems there is so little time and so much to do, I schedule my tasks for the day. And do multitasking, too. I agree, start and end each day with a prayer. If possible, talk to God the entire day while doing your work. It helps me get through everything.

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  14. Number one is one that I have let go over the past few months. I had the habit of writing my prayers every morning, then I got too busy reading four devotionals that I have automatically delivered to my email! It is time to pick one devotional and get back to writing every morning again, as being with God in relationship is just as important (if not more) as learning who God is. Life is a fine balance for sure!

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