Giving youth pastors the tools they need to make and shape disciples.

Six Questions To Ask About Your Schedule

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I was recently talking with a young man about his schedule and he asked for some feedback on how he spent his time. I told him to send me a copy and I’d take a look.

The schedule he sent me was solid. It seemed like he had a handle on his responsibilities. Now, I don’t know all the ins and outs of his church or how busy they are, but from what I saw, his schedule looked pretty standard.

I sent him back few questions that might be good for all of us to review in light of our schedules.

Am I doing what I’m strongest at and delegating my weakness?

We spend way too much time trying to get better at something we have no business getting better at. There are five people you know who can do what your doing right now, better. Why not have them do those tasks and you focus on what you good at?

If you don’t know someone, check out some place like Fiverr or Upwork to connect with professionals who can do the tasks that need to be done better than you can.

Here is my message: stop doing sh*t you hate. Nail down your strengths so you can discover your passion. – GaryVaynerchuk

What are my time wasters?

What’s getting in the way of being more productive? This is the key. Is it people coming into your office and chatting with you? Get rid of the chairs in your office or put something in them so people can’t just come in and sit down.

Is it the internet? Set the timer on your phone to 15 minute while you surf the web and when the alarm goes off, you go back to work.

Is it social media?

This INC. article shares 8 time wasters we should also be aware of, here are a few

Postponing harder tasks – Tackle the hard stuff early

Saying Yes. – You can’t help everyone and it’s ok to say no to things.

Unnecessary meetings – If you can solve it with an e-mail or a phone call, do that instead.

I do not want to waste any time. And if you are not working on important things, you are wasting time. Dean Kamen

Am I scheduling re-charge time?

What charges you up? Give time to things that make you happy or make you feel alive. I like to paint models and read so I make sure I schedule time for that. All work and no play…makes us miserable and less effective.

I can be very heads down when it comes to work, so much so that time can get away from me if I am not careful. Planned leisure time is something I feel I have to take. If I have it on my calendar I am more likely to accept it asa normal part of my schedule versus something  I have to take.

“Are you managing your energy well and using it for things that matter? Do you stop to recharge before you push yourself to critically low levels? Unplug to recharge.” ― Susan C. Young

Am I scheduling the most bang for my buck?

What moves the ministry forward? Does putting x amount of time into sermon  prep really move the dial of the over all ministry? I’m not saying it doesn’t for you, but we can be sermon smart and people dumb. Our services don’t run on sermons. it runs on people moved by the Spirt.

Where in your schedule are you making the most investment? If you’re spending a greater portion of your time in an office instead of having breakfast, lunch, or dinner with leaders, kids or others in the church, you may be slowly cutting off your oxygen to what makes your ministry alive.

“If you want innovation, growth, and culture, invest in people, not technology. Technology can’t lead, love, or connect.”
Farshad Asl

How can I serve some else?

When you increase productivity, getting more done in less time, you can help someone else. You could ask to take something off your Pastor’s plate or ask another ministry leader if they need help with a program or skill building.

Helping others is just sowing seeds for the future and shows that you’re a team player. Solve a problem for someone else and it will come back to you.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.                      – Og Mandino

Determine the WIN moment

I am always determining the WIN (What’s Important Now) moment. Just a minute ago, it came to mind I should text someone and let them know I was praying for their husbands surgery. That’s important now but would mean much less later. Now moments only matter now.

Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen… yourself, right now, right down here on Earth. – Bradley Whitford

If after thinking through these questions you’ve decided your schedule isn’t as productive as you thought,, change it; it’s yours to waste or improve.

 

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