But I guess those who fail at time management.... teach time management?
Or, probably better said, those who have failed at it so many times knows really well what NOT to do!
Distractions are everywhere these days.
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.
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Oh, sorry, just had to check Facebook real quick.
What was I saying?
Oh yeah. Distractions are everywhere these days. From day jobs to kids to spouses to Facebook to Pintrest to Twitter to <<
So how do we manage our time so that we can hit that all important word-count goal if we want to be a successful writer?
Honestly, I've read a billion blog posts in my days about how to manage your time in order to write. And all of it is good advice. I've tried making a daily goal, I've tried scheduling a time and trying to protect it. I've tried turning off Facebook (well, I tried and failed...). I've tried leaving the house and going to a coffee-shop. I've tried to take advantage of the little bits of time I have by writing for shorter spurts like during a lunch break or while waiting for an appointment to start.
I've also tried managing the "non-writer" time in my life better too. Tried to put my family on a good schedule. Tried to limit Facebook/email/online time to a specific time/time limit every day. (I, um, failed at that.) My kids are REALLY tired of Mommy's schedules that end up going in the trash a week later.
Nothing was this magic key for me that solved it all.
Because I still struggle daily with how to manage my writing time.
This is turning into a pretty hopeless blog post, huh... but then again, I warned you from the get-go that I am FAR from an expert on the matter.
Here is the thing that I'm realizing, though. The thing I want to share with you, what I feel like God is laying on my heart to implement into my own life, and maybe, just maybe, it might help you too?
No schedule will be perfect. Doing these tips we read are all really good and perhaps even God-sent at times. But no one thing is going to work for everyone at every time in our lives. Life for ME is totally different than it was, say, 2 or 4 years ago. What worked for me then does NOT work for me now. And what doesn't work for me might be the perfect advice you need.
So there is value in being flexible and testing methods to see what WILL be beneficial.
But there is one thing that does NOT change. Ever.
And that is Jesus. Through all the sifting sands that is this life, through all the times that I get so frustrated about not having enough time or not being able to write like I need to, God puts his strong hands on my cheeks and lifts my gaze to meet his shining, love-filled eyes and says, "Keep your eyes on the prize, my love. Remember WHY you do what you do, and follow ME."
Its amazing... because when my eyes are focused on Jesus.... my feet tend to stumble less. My schedule seems to be a little more easy to handle... words tend to flow better out of my heart.
So yeah... that is my odd, unconventional time management tip for the day.
When all else fails (and maybe even BEFORE all else fails...) follow Jesus.
7 comments:
Thanks so much for being honest, Krista. As a fellow failure at time management 101, I completely relate to every single word you said! And oh, I loved that last part. Reading that was like pausing to fill my lungs with a great big breath of clean air. More of Jesus.... that sounds so much better than any schedule I've ever tried to stick with.
FABULOUS reminders, Krista.
I'm writing a time management post for Seekerville and I told Tina "WHAT? I don't know how to do this time management thing!"
Thankfully, you've hit the nail on the head.
It's about GOD and sprinkling our mistakes with grace - then taking the next step (over and over and over again)
Love you!
And Karen! (just so Karen could hear it again, you know :-)
Struggling with this AT THIS VERY MOMENT. I had something. It seemed to be working pretty well for me - for close to THREE months. And now it's fizzling. Turning to Jesus (and maybe a nap :::r::: ).
LOVED this post, my dear.
Krista, I love this post. I ebb and flow in scheduling writing time. The one thing I learned when I first began writing was that time with Jesus must be my top, daily priority. When I'm fast drafting, I get up early to get those words on the page for an hour before I let "real life" begin. But, after that, I almost never write/revise anything else until I've spent time with Jesus. Some days it's hard, especially with the busy year I've had, but when I have time with Him, I find that story thoughts and focus flow.
Thanks for sharing your honest struggles. :) I'm so glad I'm not alone.
PS--FB can be my downfall too. :)
LOL...oh Krista, I love your honesty! You are always so relatable...yep...we struggle with the same things, for sure! Thanks for the smile and great points!
*phew* SO glad I'm not the only one who struggles to even get a D in Time Management 101! :-) Y'all made me smile today... and Jeanne... my time with Jesus in the morning has NOT been regular like it needs to be, this post was a reminder to MYSELF of that too!
Great post! Keeps things in perspective. Thank you.
With all the tasks Indie writers must manage its a wonder we are not all a little nuts. I am truly impressed with writing moms that manage school, soccer, music, and homework schedules along with Domestic Home Director duties.
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