Using your Time Wisely

I don’t know about you, but I have been wondering where all my energy and motivation have gone.

Most days, I need a cup of my favorite tea or coffee for an energy boost; otherwise, I get into a sour mood, drag my feet for hours, and spend endless time agonizing about the day ahead.

Have you noticed how quickly time goes by? One minute it is 9 am Monday, you blink, and then it’s Thursday 4:00 pm. So, the days are flying by quickly, and yet my motivation and level of energy easily get depleted.

I know I’m not the only one experiencing this.

Why is it important to make the most of our time?

Each one of us has a limited time on earth. We know that factually. But it may not be something we reflect on consciously. If we did, we might do better at managing our time and sowing our seeds while it is still day.

We each have desires, goals, and ambitions that we would like to meet. Sometimes we set a deadline for when we would like to do these things. The only way we can keep growing, achieving our goals, continue in good health, and be of any use to our community is when we maximise the 24 hours in the day that we all start out with.

One day we won’t be able to do them.

We may not be alive to do them; we may be ill or not have the resources to pursue them.

As people, we are not only here for ourselves. We depend on each other’s talents to thrive as a community. We deny ourselves and the people around us the opportunity to benefit from the richness of talents in us when we spend our days unfruitfully.

Time wasters

As technology advances, we are supposed to be more efficient. In some cases, we have become more productive and efficient; however, we have become lazier and dull in other areas.

I won’t attempt to give you a list of activities that are time wasters.  You know yourself better than I do, and maybe that’s your homework.

What do you spend the most time on? Does it make you a better person? Does it help you contribute to your family and society? Have you solved a problem after all that time spent?

I’m not attacking your leisure and periods of rest. But if your leisure goes on and on for hours while activities that actually need your attention are incomplete, you may need to check yourself.

Change your habits

Examine your tendencies and habits. Some habits suck the energy out of us while others give us an energy boost. For example, a time of prayer and exercise in the morning will most likely prepare your mind and body to embrace your day more energetically than a morning of browsing through TikTok or Instagram.

I encourage you to make a list of the activities you do daily. As you go about your day, observe how you feel when you perform each activity, note your energy levels and your mood. Which activity leaves you depleted, and which inspires you or makes you feel more grounded, at peace, and gives you clarity?

Sometimes a change in habits can be a change in bedtime. Do you need to sleep 30 minutes earlier, or wake up an hour earlier?

As a mom of three kids, I find that waking up before the kids do usually helps me have a head start.

A cup of tea and some time of prayer do wonders for me. Throw a walk in there, and I feel like I can take on the world by the time the whole family is awake.

Utilize time-management techniques

I’m not the most tech-savvy person, so I may be recommending outdated techniques, but these are some of the time-saving, time-management techniques I use.

• Make a to-do list. This one is basic. Anybody can do it. Grab a paper and pen, or make the list on your phone. Experts recommend keeping the list short, minimum 3, maximum 5.
• Set alarms. One of the things that gets our home running smoothly is the alarms we set to help us remember important things. We all like to think we will remember crucial plans, but that’s simply untrue. Save yourself stress; set an alarm,
• Use the Pomodoro technique. I use this often when I’m doing activities where I need to work in chunks of time and take breaks, but I don’t want to get too distracted. Get on your favorite search engine and find the Pomodoro technique.
• Eat the Frog is a productivity method in which you identify your most important task for the day, the one you’re likely to procrastinate on — and complete it first. For those of us who like procrastination, this is extremely helpful.
• Rest: This might seem counterproductive, but good rest- not social media scrolling or binge-watching shows- healing rest, drives creativity, boosts productivity, and keeps you grounded. Unwinding gives you time to pause, reflect, and go back to your activities with renewed strength.

It’s true that there is no need to rush through life. We have time, but the time is passing so quickly that we do not actually have time.

Work while it is still day, as the Bible says, for the night will come when no one can work. Make good use of your time while you still can.

Reflection prompt:  What are some time-wasting habits I can change? What is one energy-boosting activity I can add to my routine?