Do you ever feel like you have way too much to do? I don’t mean too many fun options. Instead, I’m talking about all the tasks and responsibilities. Family duties. Household chores. Preparing meals. Laundry. Yard work. Car maintenance. Work obligations. Church and social commitments. And the list goes on.
We make our to-do lists. But sometimes they seem so overwhelming. And lots of times, the list is so long and tedious that it just seems impossible to do “everything” that we need to do. And often, squeezing in time for prayer and studying God’s Word can add to the impossible list.
Some of us try to multi-task – like paying bills while the dinner is on the stove. Or help the kids with homework while tidying up the living room and getting the laundry started.
No wonder by the end of the day many folks feel as if they can’t even think so they plop in front of the television and just numb out for a while.
While I can’t wave a magic wand and give you more hours or a squad of helpers to take some of the burden from you. What I can do is give you a little tip that helps me get a whole lot more done and hold on the peace of mind (most of the time).
The tip is called Time Blocking. It’s most often applied to business purposes, but I find it very useful for personal and home obligations, also. Plus, since we do have a desire to be with our Lord and strengthen our faith, the time blocking strategy can be a welcome new habit.
Actually, time blocking is a practice that’s been resurrected from days gone by; a common housewives’ way of organizing tasks.
Maybe you recall the vintage embroidered dish towels with the colorful household chores time management plan, “Wash on Monday. Iron on Tuesday. Mend on Wednesday. Churn on Thursday. Clean on Friday. Bake on Saturday. Rest on Sunday.”
That was a type of time blocking. Putting aside a block of time to focus on a specific task. It worked then, and the plan can work now for folks like us!
Time blocking is making an appointment with yourself. Instead of just making a list of things to do, you set aside a specific period of time to give your full attention to the specific activity. And then you can make this appointment part of your regular routine. A great benefit of routines is that they create order. And order reduces chaos, which reduces stress and the feelings of overwhelm.
Think about the regular tasks you want to accomplish each week. And then also those activities that you want to add to your schedule. Consider your calendar and try to make those time blocking appointments with yourself. For example, you might want to set Saturday as your marketing and cooking day where you plan your meals for the week, do you grocery shopping, and then come home and prepare several items for the coming week.
When my children were young, Sunday afternoon is when I packed all their lunches for the coming school week. I set out five paper bags for each child, placed non-perishable items in each bag and added a little note or prize to give them a special surprise from mom. I prepared and stored the perishable items in little bins in the fridge. Then on the school mornings I just added the perishable items and within a minute the lunch for the day was ready.
You can time block your prayer and study time. Perhaps you can set aside a time each morning for a quiet time with your Lord. Find a time each day that you can set aside and let it be an appointment with Jesus! A one-on-one time where you can visit with Him, read the Word, study, and give thanks.
Time blocking is a strategy. It’s a useful way to organize your time, create routines, and accomplish those activities and goals in your life that are important to you. Rather than letting time control you . . . you can control the time by making a plan, setting your appointments with yourself, and enjoying the order that comes about.
By the way, I love hearing from you and so do others who visit this blog! Leave your thoughts below about how you might use time blocking and routines in your life.
Do you think it’s ok to set a timer, I think it would help me focus on God more instead of looking at the clock, morning is the best time for me but I don’t have a lot of time. I kind of in a way hate to set a timer to be with God but I really think it would help me to focus on him better during that time. Then when the timer goes off I need to get up & get ready for work.
Hi Karen,
Yes, I’ve used a timer before so I could train myself to be quiet before the Lord. Use it for a while until you don’t need it any longer. Ask the Lord to help you open your heart to know Him better. Then seek His presence. You will be there. It may take some time, but you will get there.
Be blessed
Every morning I wake up and look forward to reading what God has to tell me through you, Susan! Today I found myself more stressed out than most days over all the things on my agenda and while sitting in a waiting room at the doctors i was scrolling through my e-mail and came across this daily devotional that I some how missed. And it couldn’t have been more perfect time to find it. God saved this for me for when I needed it most! Thank you so much Susan for writing these messages to us each day! I value them so much! You are a blessing!
Truly a blessing thank you so much
Thank you so much Susan, God always know what to tell us, when and how. Just this morning I was thinking about how chaotic my life is and I was thinking about creating a schedule, a daily routine schedule to keep me focus and productive and now I read your blog and you reinforce my thinking. I am taking this as conformation from my heavenly father that I need order in my life, in my house and in my routine.
Once again thank you
Thank you so much Susan! Just the method I was looking for to getting things done. It be so hectic sometimes but God always manages to pull us thru?
Hi Susan, thanks a lot for sharing this i needed this and i plan to start blocking time for things so that i become better effective my struggle is with consistency and i guess as you say it is the key and the best way to achieve it is to be consistent. God bless you
Thanks so much Susan,
I am really bad with scheduling my time – First thing when my heavenly Father wakes me up I give him thanks get some reading, praising in and try to continue doing the same thing on my job when I have time but still I need to do more and be more productive in managing my time – Again, thanks for the reminder and input – After I get off work today I will try to apply this method – no, I will apply this method –
Going to start my time blocking with God. I need to pray more to our Heavenly Father. I find myself getting caught up with social media. Social media is not important…God is!!!. Thank you so much for sharing. Blessings always.
Hi Susan…I have always struggled with the life/work/exercise/ prayer balance. I feel the Lord is calling me to a new way to work through this. I appreciate your way to block out time for specific things throughout the week on a schedule. Great reminder. Thank you
I have attempted this several times, but I seem to have an issue with consistency. I can’t explain why, but it’s very frustrating!
Grace, you’re not alone on this issue. I truly believe that consistency is a key to our success. It’s certainly an issue to tackle!
Thanks for your message!
Thanks! great info…Lord knows I need time with him…I will begin ‘Time Blocking ” with a schedule this Sunday
Its like you were looking straight into my life right now, I just went to the lady’s room to do little girls staff and at the same time pray to God…I forgot to pray and as I sat here at my desk I found this email….thank you so much , I will plan my life now.
Thanks Susan it’s really timely for me, I had reached a season in my life when I felt circulated & empty at the same time. Am going to use the method to reorganize myself. God bless you
Thank you for the useful information, something i need to start doing
Being 58 years old, full day employed with two adopted kids of 14 and 10 years old I need to block off my days very carefully to get every thing done! It helps the two kids with discipline in keeping their routine! And may I share with you – if have to rise at 04:15 in the mornings to make time to be with Jesus, else my day runs too fast and before I know, I’m in bed without the luxury of spending time with my Savior!
thanks a million “Susan i realy needed this i have a list which had no order. Now by applying time blocking, i’m sure i’ll achieve my goals.
Stay blessed.
Good Morning Susan
I have set a time table for my activities but I am failing to stick to the schedule. please assist.
Regars
Consistency is an essential key to our success. And we can find it in routines.
You are in my prayers.
Thanks, made attempts before that were somehow derailed. Have worked out the early morning prayer will now apply it to the rest of things I need to get under control.
God has anointed you to help those mums struggling to juggle so many things… God is oderly and we should be too. I am very good at accomplishing my work deadlines…but when it comes to other things i feel like there is no time and i want to kill two birds with one stone… like work out while listening to audio sermons, help my child with homework while i write my to-do-list…which leaves me exhausted and i doze off before finishing bed time prayers. I need that Date with Jesus daily and personally this is the answer to my prayer. Just reading it has made my morning less chaotic.
God bless you and everyone visiting your blogs.
I go to sleep tired and I wake up tired , a lot of times I tried to finish my work early to get an early rest , but it doesn’t work ,again I feel tired both ways cause I try to cover so much things in one day and still don’t get the most of it done , so , thank you Susan I’m going to try this time blocking program and see how much of a difference it make for my work and me . thank you again susan .
This really came at the right time. I will start today.
Thanks Susan
Thank you so much! This is a blessing to remember to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, then you can bless others!
Susan Gregory, I’ve been praying for a time with my Saviour, so this is so timely. I am in a mess at the moment and I thank you very much for this time blocking, it will help me a lot to organise myself. May our God continue to bless your ministry.
very helpful , definitely trying this week !!!
Yes. I remember those days! Those days were also days when most mom’s didn’t work outside the home. I suspect it worked a little better for them than it did for moms/women who have a career as well as being a full time wife and mother. But it’s still a good point. I was surprised, to see the suggestion to use Sunday as a day to do weekly chores. Granted, we need to eat, but Ex 20:8-11 reads like this: Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV)
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore theLord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
And then in Ex 16:22-26 it reads like this as to what that means as far as food preparation goes: Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses,23then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26“Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day,the sabbath, there will be none.” I may be old school but I don’t think the commandment has changed.
just sincerely wondering what the reasoning is. …..
11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” – Matthew 12:11-12
Thank you so much Susan. Thanks for that great advice. Im really going to activate that plan right away. You;re truly blessed. Thanks again.
Thank you, Susan for the information on time blocking. I have a dedicated “me and God’s” time set in the early morning when no one else is up (the first two hours of the day or longer, depending on the studying I’m doing) and the rest of the day is easier to do what I have on my to-do-list, which I list in the order of importance and all that I can’t get done in the time allotted, I start over the next day.
Thank you so much for this information. I am going to apply it to my “to do” list.
It was meant for me to read this. Thank you so much. Time blocking is something I m gonna try , divinely I will starts spending more time with God!
Time blocking sounds likes a great plan. I find spending quiet time alone with the Lord in the early mornings refreshing. Everyone needs guidance and this has been great help getting me started.
May God continue to guide you in your ministry!
I keep thinking about getting organized and being consistent but it never happened. Now, I’m going to try time blocking as I’m sure I will be amazed at doing some things I have been talking about for several years. I’m retired for a year now and will start time blocking today! Thank you Susan and may you be blessed more and more!
Thank You Susan for sharing the method of time blocking.God bless You more
Thank you! I seem to have a “to do” list; then I can’t find it or I start doing something else. May the Lord richly bless you!
Thank you Susan for this profound revelation, I’m not overwhelmed at the moment, because we ending the second term. I starting this time blocking tomorrow to prepare for the busy days ahead.
Thank you so much Suzan I will definitely try this cause a person is always rushing and not having enough time. From Dikeledi Mdedelwa
Thank you Suzan because now lately I realise I dont have time for anything,i think this is a revelation to me I have always wanted and it will help me to manage my schedule, you are indeed a blessing from God
Thank you Susan, I am currently going through a turmoil and have a list of things to do but didn’t know how to start. I believe time blocking will be effective for me and my children. God Bless you.!!!
Hi I am going to try this method as from tomorrow. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for this message, I have been asking the LORD for divine order, and he has answered me in his own subtle way. Starting the day early in the morning works better for me , by first Thanking Him for the day, and asking him to guide me through out my day, Thank you Susan for being a BLESSING to me.
Thanks so much for that,its just reminded me of the angels God brings into our lives.I’m a mother of three and I only see my kids on weekends. Thanks to my sister Busi for looking after my 7yrs old son Lindo n my 4yrs old daughter Zenande and to the hostel mother who take care of my 13yrs daughter Lihle,I don’t know how you do it but thanks guys
Thanks Susan; I’m currently going through a turmoil and will indeed try this
Susan,
Thank you….I have tried this before but I got distracted or sidetracked and got off course…..but again, Thank you because it will be helpful to me.
This little saying keeps coming to me;
“Little things can make a big difference’
Take care!
Thank you for the advice. So wise and really old hat but it’s so easily forgotten in my busy days! I get frustrated real easy when things don’t get done. So, having this is going to help. Wide my schedule into a routine rather than the pressure of everything – kinda micromanaging
My job was not “scheduled” so I had to apply this principle everyday to accomplish my goals. Since I retired I accomplish very little because I think I have all the time I need. Thank you for reminding me of what I need to do! Have a blessed day!
Thanks Susan,. For sharing that passage I pray to God for a increase in my business and he answered my pray got so busy in work, I stop taking the same amount of time with God, when I needed his to bless me. Thing started happen, that when God got my attention more stayed on him. Without God I am nothing. Say Brenda Daniel!!!
Oh my I received this email right on time. Feeling very overwhelmed and tired. Thanks for all the helpful tips to help get life back on track and most importantly spending quality time with God.
Am very greteful to receive the advice on time blocking is helpful my timetable. Thank you very much.
Thanks a lot for sharing. May you be rewarded greatly.
Thank you so much Susan.This has come as a breath of fresh air to me as I have been struggling to establish order and how to manage my time.God is good!
Thanks Susan Gregory
To God be the Glory!!!! I definitely needed to read this on this day and at this time.
Thanks so much for the advices
This is great thank you. I do it for some things but need to do it for more and be consistent in keeping the time block for what I have set to do. Thank you for inspiring me! God bless.
Thank you Susan .. This is just what I needed to read this morning. Isn’t it neat how the Lord works. Thanks for sharing.
I agree! It is so neat to see how the Lord works! I was feeling overwhelmed last night trying to get used to a summer schedule (I’m a teacher). I’m going to go schedule block right now!
Great idea, I have not thought of making an appointment with myself. I can see how this will help me give building my faith a time and priority in my life. Looking forward to blocking time with Jesus. Thanks for this most helpful tip.
I have enjoyed reading your message. It is very helpful. Since I retired from teacher, my organization has gone astray. Your suggestions are great and I am going to try them. Things have gotten overwhelming and I do need a change.
Hope you are having a wonderful day. I love to read your suggestions.
May God continue to bless you.
Without even knowing what’s it’s been called, I’ve been doing it already and yes, it works great! Only time it doesn’t is when I take a nap instead of doing what I put in that set time frame, lol.
Thank you,. Susan. I needed this. It’s funny last night I wrote a list and could not find time for everything. I am definitely going to work on my time blocking. Again, thank you. Peace be unto you!