“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Over the past few weeks, we have discussed the importance of taking time to work on your business and not just in your business. Completing your to-do lists and investing time in being creative with research and development is necessary to advance your business. It can often be difficult to balance everything. However, the more you carefully plan your time, the more successful you will be.
You will notice:
what works well
what does not work well
what takes longer than you think it will
what things you seem to be repeating over and over
what things you need to ask assistance with, and
where you might be spending time you do not need to
As you address these inefficiencies, you will become more successful in controlling and managing your schedule.
Your business requires a great deal of your energy. Sometimes, entrepreneurs may put their health way down on the priority list. Does that sound like you? A good barometer for knowing if you are planning well is whether you are designating time to be healthy. This means your spiritual health, physical health, mental health, and emotional health. The Lord has told us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
As we need to dedicate adequate time to successfully run a business, and care for those who are working with us, we need to also care for ourselves. If we are not spending time with the Lord, sleeping well, eating well, exercising, and taking time to rest, we run the risk of becoming unwell, ineffective, impatient, and irritable – which does not honor God.
Look over your past month and ask yourself the following eight questions:
Have you spent daily time with the Lord?
Have you regularly read your Bible and spent time in prayer?
Have you regularly slept 7 to 8 hours per night?
Have you regularly reached the Physical Activity Guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity and at least twice per week strengthening?
Have you regularly eaten healthy meals?
Have you regularly taken time to relax?
Have you regularly spent time (even virtually) with loved ones?
Have you regularly taken time to do something that is fun to you?
Did you answer “no” to any of the above questions? Then it is time to plan time in your schedule to address that area. You will notice that the word “regularly” is often included in the above eight questions. Not everything needs to be done daily. Rather, some things may be only done once per week or so. When I give exercises to my patients, I prescribe which ones should be done daily and which ones can be done twice per week. There is therefore variability in when they can be done. It is the same thing when you plan your schedule. Look at the next seven days and designate when you will do certain things. Although unusual circumstances may arise, it is dangerous to go week by week, month by month, year by year and not address your health. If you visualize yourself five years from now, will you wish you had taken better care of yourself?
To complete your work, and continue being creative with research and development, schedule meeting time and guard it as you would any other important meeting. It is now also time to be setting a designated time in your schedule for any of the eight questions you answered “no” to.
This week, as you plan your agenda for the week, make sure you include the “E”: in your ACE schedule, which represents “enjoyment.” Enjoyment of time with the Lord, and learning more about Him, enjoyment of time with loved ones and enjoyment of sleep, exercise, healthy food, relaxation, and fun things to do. It is time.
May God richly bless you as you honor Him with how you spend your time and take care of your health.
Have a wonderful week. Plan well!
Bonny, Christian Women at Work
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