You can’t seem to get on top of things at work; the to-do list at home is growing; time with loved ones is increasingly limited. You have come to accept your busy-ness and justify the lack of time with family with, “It’s not the quantity but the quality of the time spent together that matters.”
You sense the distance growing between you, your spouse, your children, or other significant persons.
Take care of yourself? You have no time to exercise, rest well, or eat properly. You always feel tired.
Spiritually, you have lost passion and excitement for the things of God because you do not have time daily to get alone with God to be renewed and empowered. You also lack the time to be involved in a small group where you can be nurtured and challenged as a follower of Christ.
Even with more technology to help, we are busier than ever. We seemingly never have enough time to do anything to our satisfaction.
I recall a time in my life when I wore busy-ness as a badge of honor. I embraced the false belief that says, “The busier I am, the more important I am.” I realized too late that my busy-ness was an unhealthy need to be needed.
This culture of busy-ness has moved us away from human beings to human doings. We have lost touch with what it feels like to be human beings in loving, caring, helping and nurturing relationships. Rather we are defined by our busy-ness.
Perhaps you’ve had a friend or loved one in need who didn’t ask you for help. When you asked why they did not ask you for help, they replied, “I didn’t want to trouble you; I know how busy you are.” What would lead them to such a conclusion except that you have been living a life of busy-ness before them?
How do you address the issue of failing to adequately attend to all that you have to do? I do not have some magical way for you to overcome this apparent dilemma. But I do know that if you will take some time to explore carefully and honestly the following questions, you will begin to slow down.
What are my priorities?
We make time for what is important to us. The challenge for many of us is that we have not taken the time to decide what is most important to us. This is where deciding your priorities will help you decide what to make time for. Ask, “What are things only I can do, and what things can get done just as well without me?” When the things only you can and must do are neglected because you are doing things others can do, then you have conflict in priorities.
What can wait?
Next, identify those things to which, at the present, you should say, “No.” You may love doing some things which simply are not practical for this season of your life. To do these would lead to the neglect of other more important area(s) of life. This does not mean that you will never be able to do them; only that, based on your priorities and current reality, you will postpone them for now.
What are the exceptions?
Exceptional situations arise in life that will require you to intentionally neglect some area(s) of responsibility. However, those times of neglect should be just that, the exception.
Strive for a life that is not defined by busy-ness but by balance and health. Live life primarily as a human being, not a human doing. This comes from giving adequate time and attention to the things that matter most in your life.
If you would like help in achieving your goals as a leader or in any area of your life, call us at 208-880-0307 or email us at errol@errolcarrim.com to schedule a complimentary coaching session. To read Errol’s other posts, visit Christ-Centered Life Coaching.