Preachers: Ten Random Time Management Tips
“Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness.” (Author Unknown)
Here are some quick thoughts on time management in a random order:
-
It is ok to turn your cell phone off for a few hours.
-
Write your to-do list the night before. (Clear your mind for a good night’s rest.)
-
Plan the coming month before the end of the previous month.
-
“Counting time is not so important as making time count.” (Author Unknown)
-
Not every plan should be digital; write them down on paper, calendar or post-it note.
-
Facebook is not as important as talking to someone.
-
Plan your preaching. (Click here for more information)
-
Get up 15 minutes earlier.
-
Read your Bible before doing anything else in the morning.
-
Review your to-do list before turning on your computer.
Here are a few more time management tips I have found useful:
-
Lump visits for great efficiency.
-
Schedule your time in 30 minute increments.
-
Take a day off to relax.
-
Keep your to-do list visible.
-
Keep a long range goal list visible.
-
Limit your to-do list to 8 items.
“Most of our troubles stem from too much time on our hands and not enough time on our knees.” (Author Unknown)
Just my thoughts,
Preachers: Time Management #2
As mentioned in the first article (click here for the first article),
“There are only 24 hours in a day even though we might wish there were more. If for some magical reason we were granted an extra two hours each day, we would still fill them with stuff and not use them to take a moment to relax and recharge. Time is precious and we should treat is as such.”
Managing time is a definite for preachers. Preachers can work in the ministry 24 hours in a day because there is always a stand to take against sin. While sin never stops, nor does it care about time, so as preachers we must use the time provided to proclaim the gospel.
Office Hours:
If your congregation requires you to keep office hours, make it known to the congregation. In managing your time with a congregation, it is vital to make known your office hours. When the congregation sees you will be in your office, the lines of communication might be opened.
Be aware that having office hours might be an issue when members stop by just to chat and they take up the majority of your time. I encourage congregation, if they decide to set office hours to do so in the morning, such as 8am – 12pm. This give the preacher some alone time in the afternoon.
Member Visitation:
A requirement of many congregations is member visitation. It can be a benefit to preaching and it can be a time hoarder. The benefit of member visitation is getting to know the people with whom you will speak to each week. It becomes a time hoarder because one visit can last several hours; with the daily requirements of ministry, time is valuable.
My suggestion is the schedule certain days for visitation; lump visits together and make appointments with possible.
Various Visitation:
Part of the position of a preacher might be visiting those on the contact/evangelism list or those who have visited the congregation. During this process, it might be “hit or miss” as you try to find people at home. I have found leaving a postcard with a personal note to those that are not home has a positive influence on those you missed.
As with member visitation, I suggest taking a day of the week to schedule some visits, instead of using a short period of time in the afternoon.
These are just a couple thoughts to consider when planning your time as a preacher of the gospel of Christ. The most important factor is remembering your purpose as a minister.
Just some quick thoughts,
Preachers: Time Management #1
“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6.7; ESV)
There are only 24 hours in a day even though we might wish there were more. If for some magical reason we were granted an extra two hours each day, we would still fill them with stuff and not use them to take a moment to relax and recharge. Time is precious and we should treat is as such.
For preachers, time management is a powerful class to take and it is usually taken at the School of Hard Knocks. As noted in some previous posts, the schedule of each preacher will be different due to the workload of their local ministry.
I would ask preachers to remember two things:
-
Remember your purpose.
-
Release expectations.
The verse listed above is a powerful reminder that preachers cannot do everything; we might want too, but we cannot. Even the apostles had to reexamine their purpose and redirect others to take an active part in the work of the church. Consider Acts 6.2:
“And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.’”
The apostles knew their abilities and knew that removing themselves from preaching the word to serve tables would not be the best use of what God had blessed them. As a result they mobilized others for the work and success was achieve.
It is my belief the apostles knew their purpose and stayed true to it. Consider Acts 6.3 as their purpose statement to those seeking a solution:
“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
The apostles knew where their true devotion should be and they release the expectations of others by mobilizing a group to serve. We need more ministers devoting themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. When the apostles chose to stick to their gifts and abilities, great things happened…
“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6.7; ESV)
Have preachers forgotten their purpose?
Have preachers left preaching the Word to serve tables?
Have congregations allowed (or encouraged) preachers to forget their purpose by involving them in other areas?
Just my thoughts,
Preachers: The Changing Schedule
The week is planned, the schedule made, the agenda is set and the to-do list is ready to be completed by Saturday night…then, the phone rings. Every preacher knows what it is like to have everything ready to go for a good looking week only to have it explode into chaos at a moments notice. Many times it is nothing the members or anyone has control of; it is a member in the hospital, a death or even a member’s family problems. What is the preacher to do?
Maybe the question is not “What is the preacher to do?” but instead a statement of, “Look at what the preacher does.” While the week may look like crystal clear sailing, it will be turbulent waters because the preacher is going to sacrifice his time for that of others. He does not do it because it is his job, he does not do it for glory of self, he does it because he knows that God is active in the world and he is just a servant of the Creator.
A preacher’s week is anything but monotony. On the surface the weeks looks calm and one the inside it might be a storm raging on an ocean. The surface, to many, looks like preparing for Sunday, but the insides tell a different account. Most people will only see the work of a preacher during a short amount of time on a Sunday or Wednesday, while during the week it has been study, prayer, phone calls, emails, church administration work, planning, member visitation and many other behind the scenes aspects of ministry.
(Side note: When a preachers schedule is monotonous, then the congregation might be dying.)
If you ask a preacher about his normal week, do not be surprised if he laughs; because there is never a normal week. While he may plan every aspect, it will change.
For 99% of ministers I know, they love the everyday change the the possibility of a changing week every week. The “same ole, same ole” would get boring and would not be beneficial to our lives, and we enjoy knowing that no matter what happens during the week, whether we plan it or not, God is always in control.
We love what we do…even when schedules change!
Just my thoughts,
What is in Your Toolbox?
Not long ago I spent a few hours deep cleaning the garage; a task I have put off for approximately three years – three years!
The task was not difficult; it just took concentrated time and a few hours to work through. The task was simple and extremely needed. You see, I have three children; two daughters and a son, who enjoy rummaging through my toolbox to see what they can find. As a result of their rummaging, I had tools scattered through out my garage and even my house. So, I decided to take on the task of some major cleaning. I sat in the floor of my garage for an hour rummaging through each tool, screw, nail and unknown item placing them in organized sections on the floor.
After all the organizing was done I began to place each one back in my toolbox and tool bag in a useable order. To say the least, every tool I have is organized and can be easily found! Tonight one of our neighbors needed some help with a car problem and ask to borrow my automotive tools. Guess what was easy to find? – my tools! I was actually excited about finding a spark plug gapper because I knew exactly where it was located.
Is your “personal development toolbox” organized and easy to find? I know each individual has a filing system accustomed to his work and his personal needs, but what about your library? Is it easy to find the book you need? I am not a guru on time management, but I am thankful I have a father who stressed time management from my childhood. He stressed it because he knew in whatever occupation I chose I would need it. Here are a few tips and tools I would suggest:
-
Handle every piece of mail and email once! Many second, minutes, hours and minutes are wasted due to mail or email many times. Once you receive a piece of mail spend a few moments deciding what to do with it and do it. If it needs a reply, send one; if it needs to be paid, pay it. Schedule time during your day to handle mail.
-
Schedule two times a day to handle email! Instead of handling each email as it comes into your inbox, take an hour to two a day. Spend a scheduled amount of time handling email, instead of a hit or miss system and watch your productivity increase.
-
Do not move stacks of stuff! Each of us has stacks of stuff. My stuff is material I need to read. Whenever you start organize your toolbox or workspace, do not move the stack of stuff form place to place. Spend an hour or two dealing with your stack of stuff. Plan time, in the next week, to deal with your stack instead of moving it from the right side of your desk to the left side.
-
Spend time planning! Take 15 minutes at the end of each day and plan tomorrow. Spend 30 minutes on Friday (or your last day of the week) scheduling next week. Spend 45 – 60 minutes at the end of the month, planning for next month. Plan, plan plan, or plan to fail.
-
Use your computer for a limited amount of time a day. Schedule a block or two of time for computer work. Use your other times for writing, reading, praying, etc. As a technological people, we waste much time surfing the internet, instant messaging, reading email, and the list could go on. Spend a block of time online, instead of the whole day and see how it goes.
Spend time organizing you ministry toolbox and watch how efficient you can be. I will share a couple more tips next week.
Just some thoughts,
Podcast Feeds
Some of What I am Reading
I use Elegant Themes
