How I Tackled the Time Monster: Part 2

Simple Steps for Tackling Your Time
Now that I have sold you on this concept of time budgeting, let's discuss some simple guidelines for creating a time budget that works best for your life.  Today, we will look at the big picture and establish priorities. 

Step One: Remember that there are 168 hours in a week 

Sometimes, twenty-four hours just does not seem like enough time to do anything meaningful with your life.  However, it is important to remember that each of us is given the same 168 hours a week to work with.  It’s all about how you work it.  You can get a great deal done in 168 hours.

Always keep the bigger picture in mind. In the middle of life's craziness, it is so easy to allow our responsibilities to overwhelm us.  There are more items on the to-do list than there are hours in the day.  Yet, stepping back to take a panoramic view of an entire week, 168 hours, gives an entirely different perspective. 
 If you need help with this, Laura Vanderkam wrote a whole book about it.

Step Two:  Know Your Priorities and Own Them!

Take time to make a list of everything that you normally try to accomplish in any given week.  This includes work, homeschool, family time, work, exercise, and social and church activities.  Basically, every aspect of your life.

Now, make a new list.  Write down all of the things that are most important to you.  When you get to the end of your current life season, and take a look back, what do you want to say about it?  Those images and words that come to mind are your priorities.  Do not feel as though you have to apologize for them.  This is what is important to you.

So, what's important to you?