From Hustle & Hurry to Holy Rest: My Formula that will Reclaim Your Time

So, the first clue that God—is trying to have a chat with me is when my throat starts feeling like I've swallowed a porcupine, followed by the sniffles, body aches, and a fever. It's like my body is staging a protest, and I have no choice but to wave the white flag and dive under my blankets, admitting defeat. I'm as stubborn as a mule, and nothing teaches me to hit the brakes faster than a sneaky little virus. Over the years, I've been the wise friend reminding others that maybe their sniffles are just a divine nudge to slow down. But did I ever think I'd need that advice myself? Of course not! I mean, I totally know how to chill out, when I want—I can stop eating donuts anytime I want... right after this one. So why don't I take a break from being Super Mom or the Email Queen? Good question! I could ponder this until the cows come home and still not have a decent answer. Truth bomb: I don't slow down because I put everything else on a pedestal and treat relaxation like a second-class citizen.

So, what's it gonna take for me to see the light? Why don't I treasure downtime like I do my busy schedule? Aha! That's the million-dollar question!

Turns out, I'm not the best at managing my time. Why do I feel like I'm always in a race against the clock? Is time really slipping through my fingers?

The other day, I had a lightbulb moment about time. Who's the timekeeper? God. And what do we always say? "Not enough time!" It's like telling God, "Hey, thanks for the gift, but it's not big enough, shiny enough, or, well, good enough." Ouch. Imagine having to explain that one at the pearly gates—awkward! Let's not go there, okay? I'd rather not offend the big guy every time I'm in a hurry. How about you?

So, how does a busy bee like me slow down and bask in the gift of time? I've got a few ideas for your ME LIST!

1.  Who are the 5 most important people in your life?

2.  What top 3 things do you value most in your life? (e.g., family, community, education, etc.)

3.  What brings you the most joy?

4.  What gifts has God given you?

Now, take a peek at your upcoming week.

1.  Are your VIPs getting your time?

2.  Are you investing time in things you truly value?

3.  Are you doing what makes you happy?

4.  How often are you using the talents God gave you?

Chew on that. If it looks good, then YAY!!! Keep doing more of THAT! If your time doesn't sync with your ME List, that's probably why you feel like you're on a time treadmill. Are you packing your schedule with "to-dos" instead of ME List goodies? When we live reactively, we do all the incoming stuff first and squeeze the ME List in later. But guess what? The "done" list is never done. Laundry, dishes, papers, cooking... you know the drill. By reacting and cramming in "all the things," we end up pushing out our ME List, our people, our values, our joy, and our gifts.

Can you delegate some tasks to older kids, a spouse, a neighbor, or a coworker? Probably a good starting point. It's not going to happen overnight, but trust me, God has given you all the time you need for the tasks meant for you. It's the other stuff that needs a good spring cleaning. Ready to declutter? Let's go!