How To Stop Wasting Time And Start Living Well

How To Stop Wasting Time And Start Living Well

The phone battery dies, and she gets up 26 minutes late.  Her kids got up too early, and spilled milk all over the floor. One of them is putting mascara on the dog, smiling up to see if she approves. Frustrated, she hurries everyone through dressing and off into the car. Every single light seems to hit on red. The day she was going to start her big project.

Tears sting her eyes as she feels the moments slipping away. On the way home, she realizes that she forgot to get gas last night and pulls in, only to drive off leaving her wallet on the car roof. By the time she turns around to retrieve it, her phone rings to remind her of an appointment she has later that morning.

Another day lost. Another day she berates herself, feeling like a loser who can’t manage her time well.

Can you see yourself in this story, grasping for bits of time…yet always seeming to get sidetracked by life?

There are tons of resources out there that inspire us to organize our time better, faster, etc. But WHY bother?

Because our choices matter. Those little things we spend our days on, add up to our lives before we know it. The kids are grown, gray hair is our crown, and that life purpose we always wondered about?

It isn’t for the future, it is for now. Today. This minute.

 

You are doing more than you realize

There aren’t enough hours to do it perfect. But there ARE enough hours to do it well. 

You are doing so much more than you realize!

I promise you- no matter how discouraged you are about wasting time, there are a few easy tips to turn that around…

 

 

How To  start living well

Step back and evaluate your commitments– This is the hardest part, truly.  Make a list of your commitments, and be sure to record them all. It is amazing how many things creep in without us noticing and taking a firm stance to filter our moments. Are these the things that bring you joy?

Sit down with your dreams and a pencil- Do you have fantasies about being a writer, or an artist, or working with the homeless, or advocating for others, or creating an Etsy shop to sell your goods, or maybe taking better care of your health?

Whatever those ideas are that your mind longs to turn into actions, write them all down. No matter how impossible or grandiose they seem.

Remember that the majority of us feel that way at one point! You are created for a purpose, and if it seems like there isn’t enough time? Then cut something else. Seriously, especially if you are a mom (because that is what I know about…) it is too easy to spin 100 plates, and none of them be your own.

Get rid of a commitment (the world won’t end, even if someone makes you feel guilty. Don’t own it) and remember that you are inserting more of You into Your one and only life.

Get trusted advice- Was that last part hard? Not sure perhaps of what you are good at, let alone how to dream big? Girl, I hear you. Been there, bought the t-shirt. You know people who see the parts of you that are true and authentic.

Get up the nerve to ask a few people 2 questions and just accept the answers. Soak in them. #1 Do you see a skillset of mine that I excel in?  #2 What do I do/say that brings light to my eyes?

Consider purchasing a planner- Maybe you are a techie sort. I have personally fallen in love with paper planners again over the last few years.  Seeing your days right there in contained rows and squares gives us a hard reality check. Pencil in the absolute necessities. Mark in spots, to spend blossoming in your joy-full pursuits.

And please…make sure to leave margin. Because “life” will happen, and leaving space for it eliminates so much stress. If you are serious about not letting the moments slip away, writing out a guide for the week helps establish healthy boundaries.

Most importantly, change your perspective- Redefine the value of your time. Can I just tell you a secret? Time isn’t always the problem. It is how we view those collections of moments.

If this is a season of fullness in raising a family, or working necessary hours, then mark in smaller blocks of time for your special project. But mark them in anyway.

 

Who says we are “wasting” time?

If we can recognize that we are NOT WASTING TIME when we do the ordinary, sometimes mundane, acts of running a home? Raising children? Loving our spouse in ways that aren’t always convenient?

 Those “wasted” moments take on new value. They are gifts of service. Not wasted at all, but given. 

I used to waste endless hours, beating myself up for not doing a better job. What a true waste of time. A better job than who? I wasn’t practiced at giving myself the break that I needed.

How easy it is to fall into the rut of thinking you can do it all.

The key to stopping wasting time is purposing to start living well.  Be intentional about what will/won’t be your pursuits.

“Let your yes be a yes, and your no be a no” Jesus wisely advises.

 

This is a process, this shift in perspective

It takes time to plan well, to live well. Trust me, I don’t have this all figured out perfectly. But I have experienced dramatic changes when I implement these ideas. Life-altering changes. And I deeply want that for you.

You’ve got this. One moment, one choice at a time.

By the time she turns around to retrieve it, her phone rings to remind her of an appointment she has later that morning. She takes a deep breath and thanks them for calling.

While in the waiting room, she pulls her planner out of her purse, thoughtfully rearranging the blocks. Smiling, she reminds herself that life happens. This day isn’t going to work as planned. But it will still be good. 

 

Need inspiration about being productive with uncertainty? Check these out:

• Chronic Resilience: 10 Sanity-Saving Strategies 
• Have More Fun: How to Be Remarkable, Stop Feeling Stuck, and Start Enjoying Life
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones 
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