Why Time Management Still Matters

I spoke last weekend on the topic of time management to a group of nearly all women.  Turns out the phrase "time management" means something to a lot of people and the room was packed.  It's not that the workshop wasn't about time management but I typically speak about it within a larger context.

To me, time management fits into the broader concept of the spirituality of work.  Here is the image that I often use to explain the big picture:

piechartThe thing is, very few people want to attend a workshop on just wages or labor relations.  Time management though, is still a phrase that matters to a lot of folks.  Here are three skills that every time management workshop could include:

Get things out of your head. By writing it down (or using some other capture tool), you'll cultivate the habit of clear thinking and get more things done.

Create a master project list. While it's important to separate work from personal, the key is to simply put it all in one landscape and then slice and dice it later.  Visit this list once a week and you'll rarely forget something again.

Plan your day. By taking a tactical approach to your day, you'll be able to conquer whatever battles come your way.  I typically form my day according to three columns: To Do, To Connect with, To Meet.  A very simple approach.

Turns out time management still matters after all.

Do Amazing Things

3094047527_f58b57b356_mWorkplace performance matters.

So does time management.

So does your ability to handle email in a timely manner.

So does your ability to get projects done at home.

Why?  Because all of these things allow you to do amazing things.  A great parent instills discipline in her child because it will help form the child's character (amazing thing).  The effective manager will hold his reports accountable because it will enable the group to achieve its quarterly goals (amazing thing).

Amazing things don't happen by accident.  They are the result of deliberate choice, consistent discipline and the courage to be different.

*photo by DrRJE

The Value of Syncronization

2955928515_5d0ea96d1c_mHow much value do you place on being in touch with the people that matter most? Isn't this the question that parents are unconsciously answering when they say yes to a new cell contract for their teenager?  Or when an adult child pays for an instant alert necklace for an elderly parent who is prone to falling.  For many of us, we place high value on getting to what matters most, when it matters most. I've fallen in love (ok not really but you know what I mean) with The Omni Group's app for my Macbook Pro and my iPhone called OmniFocus.  It's totally over the top when it comes to task management but it's so intuitively built that it makes you forget the cost of both apps.  Sure, others are out there with a lower price tag but one try of OF and you may be hooked like I was. The thing that I enjoy most, besides the interface of OF, is its ability to sync via Apple's MobileMe.  My iPhone and desktop are always in perfect syncronization and one impacts the other.

In your work life- is your use of time in sync with your biggest priorities?

In your faith life- are you in sync with a lifestyle that is different from the crowd?

*Photo by roland

8 Things I've Learned by Leading a High School

2059201321_18c0cb410f_mIn July, I began a new role as the President of a nearby Catholic high school.  After a decade of various roles in parish and school ministry, it was time to step up and see if all of my preparation for leadership would pay off.

I think that Emerson was right when he said, "Each man has his own vocation; his talent is his call. There is one direction in which all space is open to him." Each day feels very full and it's hard to put it all into one post but I'll do my best:

  • Manage your email and voicemail: I'm cool with the former but don't really think of myself as a big phone person.  Phone work is a discipline that I've had to work at.

  • Meet on purpose: I enjoy meetings if they have a purpose and if the accomplish forward motion.  Surprisingly, I spend many hours each day in meetings.  Just today, I met with a strategic planner, a fund raiser, my admin team and with several students.  It's an interesting combination of fellowship and work, rolled into a full meeting schedule.  We try to pray before major meetings as a way of staying focused on God's work.

  • Practice small government: Not a micromanager, I've found that people work best when you trust them to do their jobs.  So far so good in this regard.

  • Stay healthy: I'm tempted every day to skip meals, not drink enough water and just keep pushing through my schedule.  Believe it or not, it takes work to stay balanced and healthy.  This has been surprising and it's an area that I know I'll have to be focusing on in coming months.  I'm thinking of taking a Karate class as a way of letting off some steam.

  • Stretch the hours: I've always enjoyed work so a few more hours each day is no big deal.  An 11 or 12 hour day is fairly common but I don't mind this slight adjustment.

  • Practice gratitude: I feel blessed in life so it's wonderful to thank those around me for the small (and large) things they do each day.

  • Remember that even a school is a business: each day reminds me that our work in a school is grounded in its dual-function as a business. Neglect one and the other falls apart.

  • Play: it's fun to enjoy the company of those with whom you work.  At school, we encourage folks to have fun and be upbeat in our interactions with students.


So far so good.  I'm wondering if you've had a job change in the past year and what you learned from that transition?  For a backstage pass to my daily schedule, check me out on Twitter, @thedailysaint

*photo by strangelibrarian

How to Structure Your Day so That God Shows Up

As my seminary professors turn over in disgust at this post's title, I fully acknowledge that (theologically speaking) God is already everywhere.  No need to await His arrival and yet our mindfulness of God is at times lacking.

So how do you structure your day so that an awareness of God is more consistent?  Here are some tips:

  • Cultivate Am quiet time.  Grab your coffee and a solitary spot and just be.  Read the Scriptures, do your journaling and get centered for the day.  Invite God into your concerns and hopes for the day.

  • Hit the road with prayer.  A good practice before commuting is to say a little prayer- for safety, for others on the road, for a good use of time.

  • Take a break.  I always ask my wife after a busy day, "Did you take some time for yourself today?" Whether it's a walk around the block or an afternoon cup of tea, a break is a little way of practicing Sabbath wherever you already are.

  • Examine your conscience.  At the end of the day, take stock of how well you did as a person and as a worker.  Was mediocrity the norm or were there some moments of excellence?


God's already there.  Now it's our turn to show up and show out- for His glory.