#FMF – Better
One of the my goals, prayers for 2019 is that I make a better use of my time. I wished I’d realized earlier just how precious time is, but finally after all these years, 48 to be exact, I’m finally getting it.
I remember in my elementary years when every minute seemed to just drag on and recess seemed far over the horizon. But now, it seems my weeks, months and years simply vanish into thin air.
I’m believing that 2019 will be the year I have a break-through in how I use the irreplaceable minutes given to me each day. It’s not the first time I’ve tried and the nay-sayers in my head are telling me that this year won’t be any different and I just wasting my time even trying.
But no, 2019 will be the year, when I learn to number my days as Moses advises us to:
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Ps. 90:12
For me this includes not only numbering my days, but also my hours and my minutes one by one.
I believe and understand more today than I have in the past that my life, my one precious life matters to God. And friend, so does yours.
Over the years, I’ve bought several different types of planners even the Stephen Covey ones, but most of them have ended up largely unused at the end of the year.
Last year, I started sketching pages of my life journal and sent them off to my designer. I wanted to create a planner that would work for me — as one who likes the freedom of an open page to write or doodle my ideas and thoughts. I also needed something practical that would help me to work on my must-do projects and plan for my daily appointments and kids’ activities. And what resulted was the Life Book Journal. The first book came out in December and to my relief, I was able to produce the fruit/goals I set for the month.
I shared the Life Book Journal with a few friends who said, why not make it available and sell it online? And with a bit of trepidation I sent out the January 2019 book to the rest of the world just before Christmas.
I’m praying that my Life Book Journal will help me overcome my “addiction” to scrolling through social media and reading all the amazing, even godly information that comes into my inbox.
One of the first steps, I’m taking is writing down what I do with my time from 7 am to 9 pm daily. And since I can’t exactly remember what I did during day at day’s end, I’ve set my phone to go off at every hour. I stop to write down what I did that past hour and pray over the next hour. The minutes I squander here and there on social media and elsewhere are decreasing dramatically. Praying and asking God to help me throughout the day has given me such a sense of clarity to prioritize my tasks.
It may seem a bit over the top for some.
But, friends, the truth is neither you nor I have a minute to lose.
Here’s praying that 2019 is not only better but the best year yet.
Writing this week at the Five Minute Friday community where writers are encouraged to write for 5 minutes based on a word prompt.
I also am working at bettering my time. I feel like I saw the need before this year, but perhaps not the NEED. (if that makes sense)
Thanks for stopping by. I do understand — as I’ve written, it’s taken me many years to see my NEED. 🙂
I love the idea of setting an alarm on your clock to go off every hour. Starting Sunday I’m going to track for one week the activities that are taking up my days so I too can make the most of the time I have and eliminate waste. Social media is no doubt one time-sucker, but it may not be the only one! Thanks for sharing and I signed up for the Life Journal!
Susan, praying your tracking goes well next week and even if it doesn’t don’t give up. Every small step of change adds up. And thanks for signing up for the Life Journal.
Hi FMF neighbor. Great post. We went in two different directions – I love to see how words affect writers. Be blessed.
Susan, I read your post and loved it. Made me smile. I can see where you are coming from too.
Hi,
These are great ideas to better use our time. I signed up for the January Journal. Your neighbor at Five Minute Friday today.
Mary, thanks for stopping by and so glad you got the Life Journal. Praying it blesses you!
Using time better is something I’m trying to do too! I like the idea of writing down what you do each day to see where there is time wasted. That sounds like a good way to identify areas to work on! Visiting from FMF #24.
Lesley, here’s praying that with God’s help we will use our timely wisely in 2019.
Just be you, and it’s enough. Not a minute will be wasted.
Terminal cancer taught me that; it was worth the lesson.
#2 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/01/your-dying-spouse-566-sense-of-wonder.html
Thanks for stopping by, Andrew. I appreciate your perspective. “Lord teach us to number our days,” as Moses prayed is helping me to do that — to be me — to be all who God created me to be.