This week I’m going to start a new project that is slightly different then what I’ve done previously. As the title indicates this is part 1, meaning this will be a multi week endeavor. The topic is time, which I’ll address in a few different ways. But this week I want to give you some homework, so you’ve been warned now so you don’t have to read further if you want to avoid potentially getting better. That said the thing I want to take just a moment to point out something very obvious about time: there is only so much of it.

In any given day, week, month, or year we all have the same amount of time. It doesn’t always feel that way but given the 24 hour, 365 calendar system, it’s all the same. Now what we do with that time can very dramatically. How many days we have on earth can also vary quite dramatically as well.

I don’t want to take up too much time, given that it is one of the most scarce and precious commodities that we have. I have talked about time before and some of this will be repeat for some people, but I think it’s important so we’re going to talk about it now. I’ve also thought and reflected about things differently then in the past so hopefully it’s worth your time.

For this week though, a simple assignment. I want you to make a list of time that you commit to tasks for the average week. In addition to that I want you to make a paper copy schedule for 7 days. You can choose to break the days into 15 mins, 30 mins, or 60 mins. Next I want you to color in the different tasks on your schedule. As a heads up, you might want a second blank schedule for next week.

For those who aren’t understanding, I will show an example next week, but here is a verbal explanation of one day of a week for me.

6am Wake-up

6-6:15 Morning Devotion

6:15-6:45 Shower, Breakfast, Get Ready for work

6:45-7 Go to work

7:4:30 Work

4:30-4:45 Go home

4:45-5 Check mail, check email, check phone calls

5-5:30 Exercise

5:30-6 Prepare Supper and Eat

6-9 Free Time

9-10 Reading/Study Time

10-10:15 Nightly devotional

10:15-10:30 Get ready for bed

10:30-6am Sleep

 

Visually my schedule has 2 blocks that tend to take up a large portion: sleep and work, which tends to leave me less than 8 hours a day to actually “do something”. If nothing else please think about that thought for just a second. For the average person who has a full time job and actually sleeps, you tend to have less than 1/3rd of your day to actually choose what you do with it. 

That is what we’re going to be spending the next few weeks breaking down. How can we make your time count? How can we address some different areas that you might be lacking? How can we find more time? How can we increase and decrease some tasks?