Time.
We all have the same amount of it, but for some reason, none of us ever seem to have enough of it. We always want more.
More time to spend with our families.
More time to get our work done.
More time to relax.
Time is an interesting commodity in that sense. On one hand, you never run out of it until the day you die. But on the other hand, it always feels so elusive—as though it were a gentle puff of mist lingering in the air around you, but when you reach for it, it disappears.
This must be why most of us are so categorically protective of our time. We only have so much of it, and once it’s gone, we can never get it back. We can’t buy more of it. We can’t earn more of it. We have what we have, and we simply need to make the most of it.
I’ve been thinking a lot about my own time lately… or rather, I should say, the time I have been given. See, as a Christian, I don’t actually believe that it is “my own” time. I believe that every day—every moment—is a treasured gift from the God who created me. And sure, I can use it exclusively for my own enjoyment and gain. But if I do, I am violating the purpose for which it was given.
Now, you may not hold the same worldview as I do. But I think that we can all agree that time is precious. It is fleeting. It is valuable. And it is something that most of us want to handle with prudence. So today, I want to share three ways that—regardless of your worldview—I believe we can use our time in order to maximize its potential!
1. Use time wisely.
We all have ideas of how we want to spend our time. But how we want to spend our time is not always the same as how we should spend our time. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that the “want” category is only full of the fun stuff. To be honest, I’m such a workaholic that so often what I want to do is to spend every moment that my baby is asleep getting a little extra work done. But sometimes what I should do is take a little breather, lie down for a nap, or have an at home date night with my husband. I am such a productivity junkie that I start to feel anxious when things aren’t getting done. But that doesn’t mean that using my time to be hyper-productive is always the wise choice for me.
At the end of the day, the point isn’t really how you spend your time. The point is whether or not you are choosing to be intentional about how you spend your time. Using your time wisely means putting a bit of thought into your days and moments and not taking them for granted. It means paying attention to what your doing and making active choices that will help you accomplish your goals. Sometimes that might mean a little extra work. Sometimes it might mean taking a nap. Sometimes it should mean turning off your phone and giving your undivided attention to your loved ones.
There’s no formula for wise time-use. We all need to figure it out as we go. Just don’t make the mistake of letting time slip through your fingers while you’re being distracted by things that don’t matter. Be intentional. Pay attention. And use your time wisely.
2. Use time willingly.
It’s easy to feel entrapped by our busy schedules sometimes. But there is nothing to be gained by going through life as a prisoner to the clock or calendar. Instead, choose to use your time willingly.
Say “yes” to something new every once in a while. Use some of your time to serve someone else. Or choose joy rather than annoyance when going about your mundane, day-to-day responsibilities. This might require a bit of an attitude adjustment at times. We all have a couple things on our to-do lists that we dread doing. But the reality is that we don’t gain any time back into our lives by complaining about the undesirable tasks.
Use your time in a way that expresses gratitude for the life you have… even when it means dying to yourself a little. You might just find life a touch more meaningful when you willingly choose to give a little bit of your time away.
3. Use time wishfully.
Don’t forget to dream! I get it. Life is crazy. It’s full. It’s a whirlwind. And it’s hard to find enough time to figure out tomorrow’s schedule, never mind dream about the future.
But listen. We were created to dream! We humans possess the unique ability to imagine, and re-imagine, and wish for bigger and better things! I’m not saying that you should live in a state of discontentment, never taking any steps forward and simply wishing that your life was different. But I am saying that you should spend a bit of time, once in a while, following those little sparks in your heart that ignite your imagination and get you excited about life!
Those little sparks need time to grow. So use your time wishfully—dream, and think, and imagine all of the great things that you can accomplish with a little bit of determination and some time well spent.
What’s your experience? What is the best way to make the most of your time? Scroll down and leave a comment!
Braver Than Before 