10 Ways to "Find" More Time During the Day

Each has but 24 hours and, unless you are at a lock-in, you spend some of those sleeping. I am constantly amazed at how some people accomplish so many things each day. I’ve had people ask me how I do all that I do, but there are so many other goals I have, and it often seems as if I’m like the hamster on the wheel.

That being said, I have found a few things that work for me, so I can do as much as possible. Here are a few that I do, and a few I know I should do to make those 24 hours as filled as possible. Some might surprise you.

1. Spend some time in prayer. What? I’m already filling my time with something? Yes. Pray about the day. Pray about the calendar. Pray for God’s strength and help to get you through days that are particularly hectic, and pray that He will help you stay focused on days when it might be easy to slack up too  much.

2. Reevaluate your priorities. If you love spending time with your family, why is it always getting pushed off the day planner? It’s amazing how, some of the busiest people I know, also have time for their family. Why? It’s a priority. The same is true of Bible study, time for hobbies, and other areas that are of importance. When you reevaluate, though, be honest. Is something high on your list because it’s what you’ve been doing, or is it high because you really enjoy it and grow from it?

3. Learn to say…I know…it’s hard….”NO!!!” For preachers, this word has almost become taboo, but we have to say no to some areas, if we are going to accomplish all we can. One great way to think of it is to say “no” to the better, so you can say “yes” to the best. Again, priorities play a major role in this.

4. Be honest with how long something will take. There is no way you know how long your wait will be to get your oil changed, but, if you usually take an hour to make a visit in the afternoon, don’t schedule 15 minutes for it! If you are slower at reading, then schedule more time to read your Bible. There’s nothing wrong with that, and then you will have a clearer picture of what you can do in one day.

5. Take breaks. Yes, this actually helps you get more done. Some people just fill their day from sunup to sundown and never take a break. By mid-afternoon, they are mentally tired and might still be working, but they aren’t doing much, or aren’t doing things well. Breaks don’t have to be long, but a 10 minute break for some water or to play a quick game (as long as you limit it to the time allowed!) will help in the long run.

6. Learn to live by a calendar. I love Google Calendar, and I set nearly everything on it. It emails me about an hour before each event and, since I have an iPhone and get my email there, I always know what is coming up next. Some people say, “I just can’t keep a calendar.” Some struggle with it, but it’s because they tried once or twice and it didn’t work. Keep it up for a couple of months and you’ll find yourself using it more and more.

7. Sleep. A lot of people find it difficult to rest when they have things to do. Over time, though, that rest will pay huge dividends in your creativity and work ethic. The same is true for taking time for vacation, by the way.

8. Work in a routine. Not every job makes that possible, and not every day can have an exact routine. For preachers, one phone call can change two or three days, but, for the most part, it is best to do certain things on certain days. For example, I find that I don’t do well trying to write sermons on Monday morning, but I can do some administrative work and some study then to prepare for more of the outlining. I do better in my Wednesday night class when I’ve worked on the notes during that day and they are fresh on my mind. While these things aren’t always possible, you usually know when you do things better, so stick with that.

9. Stop and organize. I take a day every couple of months when I do almost nothing other than filing things and making sure files are where they need to be on my computer. It  may seem like a wasted day to most people, but those few hours pay huge dividends over time. And, by the way, you know where you would put items, so you need to do that! While you can get some help, it’s best for you to physically put the item where you will use it.

10. Chill out! If something isn’t done, there is always tomorrow. And if there isn’t a tomorrow, and you are prepared for heaven, then all is well!

—————

What do you do to maximize your 24 hours?