MFP 327: Five Steps to Give You More Time

The only way to not live constantly in the Urgent is to manage those things that are Important.

 

Summary

“How are  you?” “BUSY!” Isn't that the response so many of us give when asked this question?  How did we all get so busy and how do we get off the crazy train?  Parents have as much time as anyone else (even though it doesn’t feel like it!) but they need to be more conscious than anyone else regarding how they spend the precious time they have.  In this podcast, we give five steps that parents can use right now to use their time wisely.  Using the Eisenhower matrix of Important/Urgent we will show you how to manage those things that are Important (children and all their needs!) so we aren’t always living in the Urgent.  Parents must be careful on how they spend time because days turn into weeks, and then years, and then kids are gone!  Childhood is short and we need to be very intentional on how we spend our precious time with our precious children.  

Key Takeaways

• We all need to evaluate how we are spending our time.  If you always feel like you are putting out important fires, then you need to learn how to manage those things so your life isn’t always “urgent”.

• To make sure you take care of those relationships that are essential in your life, you have to schedule an appointment.  Put on your schedule prayer time, date night, special time.  

• One essential way to live a balanced life is to create routines that will build good habits for you and your children. 

• Make your time purposeful.  It's not always about the quantity of time, it's also the quality of that time. 

• Keep in mind your mission!  The mission of your family is to confer identity, belonging and purpose upon your children.   If you don’t do it, they will seek that out from others and that is a scary prospect.  

Couple Discussion Questions

1. Let’s evaluate our time. Are always putting out fires? Do we feel our life is frantic?  How can we identify pain points and create routines to address them?

2. What is the best way to use our time together?  What are the needs in our marriage and how can we satisfy those needs when we are together? 

3. How can we use our time better with our children? What would they like to do?