Time-Management

Why Should we Pursue good Time Management?

Ephesians 5:15–18 NIV

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

We are supposed to live carefully

Accurately

Strict attention to a standard

Focus on careful attention

We are to “make the most” of the times.

We are to be aligning our life with God’s will.

We are not to waste our time.

Review: 4 Areas of Responsibility

Walk with God

Family Responsibilities

Ministry Responsibilities

Vocational Responsibilities

Tools for Time Management

A notebook

Get a notebook to use for time management.

You ever feel overwhelmed? Unable to keep track of everything in your head? Unsure if you are spending your time doing the right thing?

This book will be your buddy:

Help you keep track of your assignments, projects and work.

Mitigate forgotten tasks, double-booking, missed deadlines.

Stay focused on your priorities and achieve goals.

See the big picture: How your annual goals relate to your weekly goals, and how your weekly goals relate to your daily tasks.

Carry this buddy with you.

It will only work if you use it.

A Goal List

Write Down Your Goals for this year.

Why Goals?

“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” - Zig Zigler

No more than 10 Annual goals.

Star which ones you would like to accomplish in this current season.

Spring or Fall Semester

Winter or Summer Breaks

S.M.A.R.T Goals

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Revenant

Time-Based

Examples:

Bad: Get in shape

Good: Do three max reps of pushups every morning.

Bad: Be a better student.

Good: Enroll in 5 courses and spend 40 hours a week either in class or working on school work.

Bad: Get closer to God

Good: Spend daily time with God and meet with a discipleship group weekly.

A Weekly “Time-Map.”

This is a template that can be modified each week.

Think through your roles, priorities and responsibilities.

Include: Classes, recurring meetings, work schedule, time with God, ministry responsibilities, study time, exercise etc.

Look at the sample:

Your Time-Map should reflect your priorities and incorporate your goals.

This should be right after your goals in your notebook so you can refer to it often.

You can also add it to your phone calendar.

Take your time in doing this before each semester begins. Adjust it as needed.

What if I don’t really want to do this:

I don’t want to have my schedule all planned out.

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” -Benjamin Franklin.

That’s not really my personality.

What you are really saying is, “I don’t want to take responsibility.”

Proverbs 21:5 ESV

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

The “Weekly Preview” - A Page Designated to Each Week of the semester.

Set-up your “Weekly Preview Pages”

In your notebook, after your “weekly time map,” have 15-20 pages set aside to be used for “Weekly Preview” pages.

At the top of each page, write the start and end date of that week, (ex. 4/16 - 4/22)

“Begin with the end in mind” - Steven Covey

Gather your class syllubi

Articulate your goals for the semester

For each week, write down assignments that are do or tasks that need to be done in order to accomplish goals.

If you have a test, paper or project due one week, place times to prepare in the weeks leading up to it.

If you notice you have multiple things due on one particular week, plan to finish some of those assignments early.

In this way, you can actually get a good picture of how each week of your semester will look, before it even happens.

At the beginning of each week, use the weekly preview page for that week to further plan your week.

Review the Past week:

What were the big wins?

What worked? What didn’t?

What % did you complete?

Review Projects:

What was not completed?

Review current projects.

Organize in a task list.

Plan Ahead:

What deadlines lie ahead?

Determine what tasks need to be done?

Use the Priority Matrix to determine what is actually important.

“By cutting away the non-essentials, you create space for the things that really matter, to flourish.” -Michael Hyatt

Determine your “Big 3” for the week.

Adjust your Calendar accordingly.

Utilize your weekly time map.

The “Daily Page” for each day of the week.

Each day, refer back to your weekly preview to see what needs to be done.

Determine and write your “Big 3” for that day.

Write any additional tasks.

Write your schedule for the day.

As new tasks come up, write them down.

Check off tasks as you finish them.