It is a universal constant.
Every one of us has exactly the same number of hours in a day.
Some people seem to get more done in their 1,440 minutes than I do. I want to be like them. Don’t you?
Budgeting our hours helps us get there.
Just like we plan to maximize our money, we should strategize the spending of our time.
To live like a MASTERPIECE, maximize minutes according to God’s purposes and priorities.
To live like a MASTERPIECE, maximize minutes according to God’s purposes and priorities. Click To Tweet
When establishing a household budget, you account for your highest priority bills first. Next, you allocate funds toward lesser necessities. Then you consider the nice-to-have items. When there is excess, you might even plan to put a portion of your income toward fun.
Today we are going to apply the same budgeting principles to our allocation of time. Seeing how you spend your time, helps you make the most of it.
So, I put together another pretty printable to help you do just that.
1. Gather Tools. The first thing I do is gather the tools I need to have on hand:
- Answers to the 10 questions we asked to makeover our schedules
- Daily Time Budget Worksheets (<- click for free download)
- Recent Day Planner or Calendar to remind you of previous commitments
- Pencil
2. Pray. Do not take this step lightly. As you sit down to plan, be sure to pray first. Invite God into the process of planning your time. He alone knows how much of it you truly have. He also knows all the other commitments and opportunities that await you. Until we grasp that our time here is limited we will continue to over-commit time we do not have. And that is foolishness.
Realizing our days are numbered helps us spend them wisely (Psalm 90:12). Click To Tweet
3. Allocate Hours. Fill in the spaces provided on the worksheet for each day in pencil. At this point, you will want the flexibility to make changes. I prefer to work in priority order instead of hour order. Consider daily prayer time, Bible studies, weekly Sabbath, church, date nights, husband’s schedule, kids’ activities, fitness classes social engagements, regular doctor’s appointments, classes, work, etc. Don’t overlook the time you spend doing laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, meal preparation, personal hygiene, or driving between commitments. Just like small expenditures have a way of adding up in your household budget, these seemingly small tasks actually represent a significant chunk of your time allotment.
4. Deconflict. Where do commitments intersect or overlap? Can they be rearranged to maximize efficiency and minimize conflict? This is why you want that pencil. It is easier to erase and replace on paper, than it is once your schedule impacts others. Refer back to your priority list to gain clarity in this step.
5. Assess White Space. Identify places where you have free time and consider what you’d like to do with it. Do you want to spend it doing more or do you think you’ll be energized using it to refocus your mind on the next activity? I suggest giving yourself some time to see how your already scheduled hours flow before filling in all your white space. Join me in a couple of weeks for a look at how I Build in this Buffer.
I know this seems like a very lock-step procedure, but I’ve learned the more precisely I plan to spend my hours the less panicked I become when changes arise. And we all know how unpredictable life can be.
Predictability keeps panic at bay.
Predictability keeps panic at bay. Click To Tweet
When I know how much of my time I have committed to my priority engagements, I also know how much time is left for the opportunities that come my way. It is a lot easier to say no, when you know you’ve allocated your time in accordance with God’s purposes and priorities for you life.
Budgeting time, just like money, allows you to predict problem points and make a mitigation plan before becoming overburdened and under-resourced.
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16
For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups - Suzanne Eller, Thought Provoking Thursday, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Grace and Truth, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Grace and Truth Friday, Good Morning Monday, Soul Survival, Monday Musings, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Women With Intention Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Word of God Speak, Testimony Tuesday.
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