DO YOU NEED MORE TIME?

TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR TIME

"For everything there is an appointed time." -Ecclesiastes 3:1.

IN ORDER to make time for what matters, you need to know what those things are.  This will be easier if you have a clear grasp of your values, your goals, and the specific activities that support these. 

First, then, clarify your values. You might try writing down every value that comes to your mind, such as family, friendship, hard work, education, accomplishments, good looks, money, happiness, marriage,  kindness, physical health, spiritual health.  Then ask yourself.  "Which of these values are most important to me?"

After that, consider all the goals that you would like to achieve in life.  What is the difference between values and goals? For the purpose of this discussion, we can say that values are ongoing, whereas goals can, at some point, be achieved and marked off as completed.

What goals might you set for yourself?  Do you want to spend more time  with your family?  Find employment that is more suitable? Improve your skills in a favorite hobby?  Find a new one? Develop a certain quality?  Take a vacation? Read a book? Write a book? 

Next, decide which of these goals are most important to you. Make sure that they are compatible with your values. If, for  instance, you set a goal of become extremely rich, you are likely setting yourself up for conflict.

Now, for the goals you selected, consider a number of activities that would contribute to reaching each goal. For example, if one of you goals is to lose a certain amount of weight, exercise is an activity that can help you do that. 

Next time: DO YOU NEED MORE TIME? - How Can This Analysis Help You?

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2010