“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NASB)
Part of managing your time well is to train yourself to be punctual, even if it means being five minutes early to an appointment. This same verse in the Message Bible reads, “So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkably. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.” We all have the same amount of time – 24 hours in the day – but what distinguishes successful people from unsuccessful people is how they use their time. Successful people understand that the most precious commodity on earth is time. It was Essayist Henry David Thoreau who said, “It is not enough to be industrious. So are the ants. The question is, what are you industrious about?”
Here are a few suggestions on learning to manage your time.
- Know your purpose. Be sure you’re planning your day around your purpose.
- Set your priorities.
- Eliminate distractions.
- Just say NO. In other words, be careful to not over-commit.
- Delegate more often.
- “Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow.” Robert Kiyosaki
- Time is a gift – use it well.