Monday, June 14, 2010

MANAGING OUR TIME

I’ve been thinking about time management and organization lately. Maybe because I’m badly in need of both for a change. Not because I’m disorganized—I’m actually known for being quite organized—but because my to-do list has grown much too long. Something I’m sure happens to all of us from time to time. I had to laugh recently when I ran across an item in a women’s magazine that indicated that there shouldn’t be more than 7 things on your to-do list for any one day. Otherwise you would suffer from brain overload.
The root problem for most of us is that we are often reluctant to say No when being offered the opportunity to fulfill some job—especially if it’s at church or in another Christian organization. Recently I ran across a note I’d taken in a writing class. The teacher made this comment: “When someone asks me to do something, I ask them if there is anyone else who could do the job as well or better than I could. If so, tell them to ask that person. If they can’t find or recruit that other person, then come back and I will do it.”
One of the keys to not having too much to do is giving up those jobs that someone else has been called to do.

2 comments:

Susantm said...

I agree, Sally. I used to both teach Sunday school and be on a church committee, the latest being Missions. While I believed strongly in the work the committee did, I found it was not something that came easily to me, and it took time away from writing, which I do feel is my calling. So when my term ended, I turned down a second term. The committee has new, enthusiastic members and is doing fine without me.

I do continue to teach Sunday school, as teaching IS one of my callings, and I write Sunday school curriculum, so the two fit nicely together. But I do know how hard it can be to say "No" when asked to helped with something.

Shay said...

A great reminder, thank you.