“I Just Don’t Have Time.”

Personal Note from Don

Some of you have noticed that I have taken a writing hiatus for a few weeks. I felt like it was time for a writing break to work on other needs and get refreshed. Writing is mentally demanding and requires hours of research, writing, and editing. I am still not at 100% but am working my way into the discipline. Thanks for sticking with me as I send my weekly blog articles. 

Secondly, many of you wonder about how my book, Lead Like a Bodyguard, is doing. The book is still being marketed, and to date, it has made the Amazon Best Sellers List.  

“I just don’t have time.”

“I just don’t have time . . .” How many times have you said that? This statement is a resignation that forces beyond your control are stealing your most valuable resource – time.

In fact, you have twenty-four hours each day, 168 hours each week, 720 hours in an average month, and 8,760 hours in a year. You may gain a few hours here or there, depending on the year, but these time figures are mostly fixed.

But that isn't enough, right? Some “thing” or “someone” has secretly robbed you of a few of those hours, and now you only have twenty hours on some days. Who took those hours, and where did they hide them? We need them back because we don’t have sufficient time. Time thieves are a real issue.

So, who stole your hours, making you a victim of a time deficit? I think you know the answer, but just in case, please go look in the mirror. You are a time criminal!

Given our limited hours and the many time-consuming encounters, our decision-making process regarding time allocation is crucial for outsmarting the time thief. 

Here are a few suggestions.

Prioritize Your Tasks: Start each day by identifying your most important tasks (commonly known as "MITs"). Focus on completing these first, as they have the most significant impact on your big goals. I often wake up thinking, “Okay, what do I need to accomplish today to help me feel good about the day and enable me to sleep soundly?” For example, today: 1) I want to thoroughly review my emails because some will require more time than usual. 2) I want to make a pot of chili. 3) I want to collect old pictures, documents, and memorabilia from two or three bins in my workshop. I want to organize them properly and store them well. 4) I want to publish this article. 5) I want to attend the UCP Gala and dance the night away with my friends

Now, there’s a day that will allow me to go to bed with a smile.

Develop Time Blocks: Allocate specific blocks of time for different activities. For example, dedicate 9–11 AM for focused work and 3–4 PM for responding to emails. Stick to your schedule to create a sense of routine.

For instance, I block three early morning hours for reading, research, and writing because those are my most productive mental hours. I do not respond to emails during that time.

 Multitasking is a myth: The human brain can focus on only one thing at a time. Shifting between tasks and partially finishing them decreases efficiency and increases the likelihood of mistakes. You aren’t producing your best work if you’re multitasking. Focus on one task at a time to enhance your quality and output.

Expect Interruptions: As the saying goes, “stuff” happens. If you are pulled away from a task, give yourself grace if you can’t finish it today.

 Establish Boundaries: Clearly define your work and personal time. This helps prevent burnout and ensures that you allocate time for relaxation and other essential aspects of your life. This practice may be challenging if you work for a workaholic. If this individual won’t allow reasonable boundaries, you may find yourself searching for a new job. Don’t let someone with misplaced priorities disrupt your life. As a seasoned pastor often helping folks towards the end of their life, I have never heard one say, “I wish I had worked more.”

Limit your time on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, etc. The average American spends 2 hours and 14 minutes a day on social media. That is over 15 hours a week and 780 hours per year. Whew, I could get a lot done in 780 hours, but not if I am staring at a screen.

 Smell the Roses: At the end of each day or week, evaluate how you spent your time. Identify what worked, what didn't, and how you can adjust your approach moving forward. Then thank God for the day and count your blessings. Gratitude makes your attitude.

The wisest man who ever lived concluded,

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

He continues,

11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13)

Perhaps time is the best gift God has given us because it allows us to make all of our other choices.

Live Inspired!

Don Mark