24 Tips to Maximize Your Time

This is the fourth in a series of posts on Redeeming the Time. First I discussed how to redeem your time, then I shared 3 common objections in time management and how to counter those, and then earlier this week I shared 3 stages to redeeming your time. Making better use of our time is something we all struggle with and can improve. Today I want to share with you 24 practical tips for making the best use of your time.

1.    Pray about every thing that concerns you.

2.    Study Scripture to gain insight into God's will for your life.

3.    Commit yourself to budgeting your time.

4.    Set aside time before the start of a new year to plan your goals for the year.

5.    Take time at the beginning of each week to plan for the week ahead.

6.    Take time each day to plan out your day.

7.    Think through your day on the way to work.

8.    Keep a list of projects you want to accomplish.

9.    Reflect on your day on the way home from work or at the end of your day.

10. Try to do something each day that will help you accomplish one of your yearly goals.

11. Do the most important things first.

12. Don't believe that taking time to plan is a time waster. It is a time saver.

13. After you have planned, start!

14. Do one thing at a time where thought is required.

15. If no thought is required, then multitask.

16. Make sure you have appropriate tools for the work you are doing.

17. If you feel like you are getting overwhelmed with loose ends, stop and write a quick list.

18. Complete each task. Complete what you start.

19. Do the vital, even the distasteful, first.

20. Set aside think-time.

21. Be deadline oriented.

22. Know your personal rhythm. When is the best time for you to do certain tasks?

23. Be specific in what you want to accomplish.

24. Base your decisions on the most accurate and up to date information you can acquire.

I challenge you to always live in the light of Paul's admonition to "redeem the time." What are your thoughts on this list? Which are you eager to try? Which will be most challenging?

3 Stages to Redeeming Your Time: Solve problems, Make Decisions, Plan Effectively.

Work consists of three primary activities: problem solving, decision making, and planning. In his book 30 Days to Confident Leadership Bob Biehl shares a method of time management built around these three aspects of work. I use Biehls' method when I teach my PhD students how to more effectively manage their time. Today I'm sharing with you the important steps to take and questions to ask to ensure that you are making the most of your time at all three stages.

1. Problem solving. This is past oriented. What went wrong? A problem is something that went contrary to expectations. It is often manifested in what I like to call "the law of unintended consequences." Dr. Phil often puts it this way, "how's that working for you?" Point: it's not.

When Solving Problems:

• Learn to ask questions.
• Ask, in one sentence, "what is the problem?"
• What are the facts related to this problem?
• Why does the problem exist?
• Who can help me solve this problem?
• What resources can I bring to bear on this problem?
• Of all the potential solutions, which has the greatest potential to be right?
• What policy would keep this problem from recurring?

2. Decision making. This is oriented toward the present. It determines what we do right now. I think of this in terms of forms. Moral decisions are between right and wrong. Wisdom decisions are between wise and foolish actions or words. Priority decisions are choices between that which is good, better, or best. Of course decisions are all predicated on what you want to be, accomplish, or avoid.

When Making Decisions:

• Pray for wisdom.
• Gather your facts.
• Ask, "what are my alternative decisions?"
• Ask, "what are the consequences of each decision?"
• Ask, "who will be affected?"
• Ask objective third parties for feedback.
• Ask, "am I setting a precedent?" or "am I following a precedent?"
• Ask the "what, why, who, where, when and how much" questions.
• Ask, "what if no decision is made?"

3. Planning. This is future oriented. It determines what you want to accomplish. It is a predetermined course of action directed toward a desired result. It manifests itself in goals. We see this often in "to do" lists.

When Planning:

• Pray and ask God, "What do you want me to accomplish?
•  Write out what you would like to see accomplished.
• Be specific.
• Write the goal so that results can be measured.
• Seek appropriate help.
• Ask, "am I willing to pay the price?"
• Ask yourself, "why do I want to reach these goals?"
• Ask, "what will happen if I do not achieve these goals?" What is at stake?

Which aspect of time management is the most challenging for you? Do you ever skip one of these steps? 

4 Ways to Redeem Your Time

Photo Courtesy of Zorro1968

"Dost thou love life? Then, do not squander time. For that's the stuff life is made of." -Ben Franklin 

So, how do we maximize our use of time? Understand that everyone has the same amount of time, 168 hours a week. The key is what you do with what you have. In order to use our time effectively, we must do four things:

1. Understand our purpose.
2. Determine our priorities.
3. Establish our plans that reflect our priorities in light God's will for our life.
4. Then let our plans determine how we use our time.

What we are trying to do is learn to seize control of our time and in turn our lives. The key here is planning. Some people object to planning. Consider these 3 objections and my responses.

1. Objection: It can limit my freedom if I predetermine my course of action (plan). 

Response: Seneca once wrote, "if you don't know which port you're headed to no wind is the right wind." And Lawrence Peter observed, "If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else." My point? It is better to have a plan which reflects what you want to accomplish than have no plan at all. If your attitude is that you do not want to limit your freedom, and as a result you are unwilling to plan, you are planning to fail. What is it that you want to accomplish?

2. Objection: I’m so busy putting out fires that I have no time for planning. It is as though they simply run from crisis to crisis. I know people who appear to work that way. 

Response: When events are out of control, this is the time when planning is most needed. The presence of repeated crises, may well be a key indicator that planning has been neglected.

3. Objection: There is simply no time to plan. 

Response: Here is a fact. If more time is given to planning, less time (in greater proportions) is required for execution. It is not that you cannot afford to plan. The fact is, you can't afford not to plan.

Bottom line: if we do not plan, we will not control events. If we do not control events, we will accomplish nothing, or we will make matters worse.

For more thoughts along these lines check out my first post on redeeming the time.