7 Steps to Take Back Your Time

We all have the same amount of time in a day. Each day has the same amount of time.

As a matter of fact we all have 24 hours…..1440 minutes…….86000 seconds.

Then why?

Why do some people seem to get everything done?

Why do some always seem to have control over their time?

Why some days do things go well and more things get accomplished and others seem to be such a waste and nothing gets done?

Here is the key word….seem.

Life travels at the same speed for everyone. It only looks differently because of the choices we make with the time we have been given.

The last three months have been a little crazy around here. I feel like time as slipped through my fingers. Funny thing about time is you cannot get it back. I look back on the last several months and feel like I have missed so much in my family’s life.

Thankfully, my wonderful Aunt Linda has picked up my homeschooling ball that was dropped in my jugging act. My older girls have picked up the meal ball by stepping in on their own accord and preparing breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and even throwing in some homemade desserts! 🙂 My boys have helped me by loading and unloading boxes, numerous trips to the storage unit, and being my right hand guys. Of course there are so many gaps filled by my mom and dad and my best friend Bran. My husband has worked his tail off by working two jobs in Montana and coming home on the weekends only to work through his days off helping me. Life has been crazy!

My time has been monopolized by construction workers, tenants, and paperwork. Not really the things I value the most. My three hour work days have turned into eight and ten hour work days with weekends and holidays too. Now that things are settling in I have to get back to our norm. Not sure if I remember what that is.

Today, we had some information passed down that although all the construction work is done, new paperwork is in full swing. Our new owners are trying to put a push on the paperwork to be done by Christmas. That means more time outside of office hours. Not really what I wanted to hear.

So after everything is said and done and all the paperwork is done how do I take back my time? Here is my plan of attack to get my time back.

1.  Set very clear and concise boundaries.

I have already sent out a newsletter to all my tenants to remind them of my office hours and to not contact me by phone or coming to my door for non-emergencies. There are also boundaries that need to be set within our home as well as outside. Some example may include electronics, younger children. and those daily disasters that can overtake us.

2. Identify possible distractions and brainstorm possible solutions.

I know it will take some training of my tenants to get back to the normal protocol. They will push the boundaries and I need to have a plan to keep them intact.

3.  Set up schedules and routines.

It is time to go back to our schedules and routines. Basically for the last four months our routines have been non existent and our schedule has been discombobulated by frequent visitors at my door that pull me away for whatever reason. Make sure you do not overload your schedule and schedule margins into your days.

4. Be ruthless and self disciplined.

The first week is going to be torture for everyone, but we have to do it.  We must stick to a fairly strict schedule for the first week and then we can adjust accordingly.

5. Write it all down and share it with your family.

Jot down your thoughts. Write down your plans.  The best way to stick to the plan is to have it written down. Everything from your boundaries to your distractions. The only way to win the battle is to have a strategy! You and your family are a team. Give them the game plan and use incentives if necessary 😉 . Tell them what to expect and that it will be hard, but we can do it together.

6. Pray, Pray, and Pray some more!

Bath your plans in prayer. Pray over your plans and ask for wisdom. Pray with your kids. Start everyday with prayer. Ask God to order your steps and pour our His grace and mercy.

7. Focus!

Don’t look at the light….. or Zap! We all know that it does not take much to lose our focus. Be intentional and over exaggerate if you have to until everyone settles in to a new normal.

Being a good steward of our time is crucial. We can never get it back. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. We need to use it wisely and spend it on the things that are important to us.

Blessings as you take back your time!

Kelly

“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of.” — Benjamin Franklin