Time Management 1: Prioritizing
June 28, 2011 by Lillie
Table of contents for Time Management
- Time Management 1: Prioritizing
- Time Management 2: Organizing
- Time Management: 3 Executing
Like the last post, today’s post is the result of a request—or in this case two requests—in comments.
Dominic Faith from P/S Public Storage wrote:
Well Lillie, after reading your posts and comments, I feel that you should write a post on how to manage time. Many people want to know how you are so active with the blogs without compromising on your personal life and other routine things. May be a few tips would help us as well because I grow frustrated when after a week I check my blogs and have a huge number of comments to reply! Please share your strategy with us. Thanks.
Gareth Brown from Bentley Walker followed up with:
Dominic has said right what I wanted to. I understand this because I too have a blog and I get stressed out in checking it every now and then and moderating queries followed by answering questions. I want to know how can I manage time and give adequate attention to my blog while performing routine activities like office, family, travel etc. Thanks.
My initial reaction was that I’m certainly no expert on time management, so anything I would write on the subject wouldn’t be very helpful. However, after giving it some consideration, I decided to tell you what I do for two reasons:
- Perhaps something I do will be helpful to someone.
- Maybe some people will feel less guilty to know they aren’t alone in feeling overwhelmed with so many things to do and so little time to do them all.
The most important thing in managing time, I believe, is determining what is most important to you. None of us will ever get everything done that we want to do or that we feel we should do. The key is to spend most of our time on things that matter most to us.
I was blessed to have a wake-up call that made me realize I had to take action on my dream if I ever wanted to make it happen. It’s so easy to drift through life and put off for tomorrow what we want to do so we can do what we think we have to do today.
I’m not advocating anyone fail to fulfill their responsibilities or honor their commitments. I started writing shortly after I had a stroke, but I didn’t become a full-time writer for several years. I owned an interior landscape company, and I took the time I needed to sell the business to a company that promised to keep my employees and to serve my clients the same way I did. Though I realized I couldn’t continue to delay my dream, I didn’t recklessly abandon my current obligations. What I did was put writing high on my list of priorities. I changed my schedule so I could spend all day Saturday working on my novel. That meant I had to give up some things I had been doing on my weekends. Writing was more important to me, so I made time for it.
You’ve probably heard the saying you can have anything you want in life, but you can’t have everything. Only you can determine what you want in life…and what you are willing to give up to get it.
A woman I know told me that writing is her first priority. “I figure I can do less important things—like eating, bathing, and sleeping—when my book is finished.” Most people probably wouldn’t give up eating or sleeping, and most of their friends wouldn’t want them to give up bathing. 
But her hyperbole emphasizes how important writing is to her.
Priorities will shift over time and through varying circumstances. After Dream or Destiny was released, I started writing a novel about a secondary character (Bonita) in Dream or Destiny and expected to finish that novel and another one based on a different secondary character (Tess). However, my circumstances have changed. My husband now needs more help and attention, and I am gladly giving him my time, attention, and assistance. At this point in my life, writing fiction has moved far down in my priority list. Jack is my top priority.
Meeting my clients’ needs is also high in importance. I honor the commitments I make to the people who trust me to edit or write for them, so client work gets done before projects of lesser importance.
I have always volunteered many hours each week to my church. Over the last couple of years, I have turned many of my responsibilities over to others. Although volunteering is important to me, it has moved down the priority list as family responsibilities have moved up.
Everyone needs down time—time to relax and recuperate. Reading is my favorite pastime, but I don’t get many opportunities to sit and read for hours. Instead, I have a book on my Kindle at the dining table so I can read when I’m eating a meal or having a snack without Jack. I have another on my Kindle for PC so I can read a few paragraphs while I’m waiting for a file to download. I have another on my laptop for the weekend or holiday occasions when I can sit in the den with Jack and read for hours. Reading in snatches this way, I’ve read 26 books and reviewed them on Goodreads so far this year.
My other hobby is blogging.The two commenters asking my advice were impressed that I had time to reply to every comment and to post the monthly thank-you post. Interacting with commenters is important to me, so I will choose to moderate and reply to comments rather than do something else that is lower on my priority list. I don’t get everything done, but—because it is a high priority—I usually do a good job of keeping up with comments on my blog.
When you look at managing your time, first establish your priorities. Only you can decide what is most important to you, based on your individual circumstances, values, obligations, and interests. You will never be able to do everything, but you can do anything.
In the next post, I’ll talk about the tools and systems I use for organization.
photo credit: garryknight,
“Someday” is Today
June 24, 2011 by Lillie
Although my love affair with writing started in high school, I never expected to be able to make a living as a writer. So I worked in government jobs for a few years, then started my own business—first a plant shop, then an interior landscape company. I always planned to write “someday”—when I had time, when I could afford to retire … “someday.”
Then I walked into a chiropractor’s office for a routine treatment and had to be carried out after suffering a stroke. I spent months in rehabilitation learning how to walk again, learning how to function again. I wondered, Would I ever be normal again? Would I be able to run my business? Would I be able to take care of myself?
Would I be able to write—or would I even be alive—when that mythical, magical “someday” arrived?
I realized “someday” is today. I was not—and you are not—promised anything beyond this present moment. If I wanted to fulfill my dream of writing “someday,” I had to start.
Realistically, I couldn’t start immediately because I was too incapacitated. However, I made the commitment that I would work as hard as I could to become functional again and that as soon as I could, I would start a novel. Nineteen years ago when I was in rehab, there were no computers in the therapy area. The rehab hospital allowed me to use the office computer in the therapy department as part of my occupational therapy to learn to type again. I worked as hard as I could every chance I got to practice typing—one letter at a time until I mastered them all, then gradually increasing my speed.
“Someday” actually arrived several months after my stroke when I returned to work during the week. I didn’t have a computer at home, so I went to the office on weekends to write my novel on my work computer. That first novel was Stroke of Luck, a romance novel about a woman who had a stroke similar to mine. The writing was not only the culmination of a lifelong dream, it was also beneficial to my emotional recovery. Writing itself can be therapeutic, but so can achieving—or even taking steps toward achieving—any dream.
I’ve written other posts about my stroke wake-up call, but a recent comment reminded me that few people—or maybe no people!—were reading my posts in the early days of the blog, so maybe it’s time to re-visit the topic.
Rhys from How to Preach left a comment on my post Stroke Awareness Month 2011:
Just reading one of your posts where you make this quite momentous remark; “After the stroke, I realized that ‘someday’ is today”.
It took me many years to discover this, and I think you could well write more emphatically on just this point.
It is tragic when we discover we didn’t do something, and it is now TOO LATE because that person is no longer there!
Do you have a dream that you’re putting off for “someday”?
Are you delaying a family visit for projects at work or putting off starting your own business until you feel financially secure? Are you waiting to reconcile with an estranged loved one until he apologizes to you? Are you postponing learning a second language until you have some extra time or avoiding returning to school until you aren’t so busy? Are you deferring your art while you focus on your career or suspending a career change until the economy gets better? Are you procrastinating on something you really want to do because you’re afraid you won’t succeed?
Are you putting your dream on hold until that mythical, magical “someday” that may never come?
Someday is today! If you have dream, start on it now. Maybe all you can do is the equivalent of my sitting at a computer and hitting one key to type a single letter. But that single keystroke led to more keystrokes and faster keystrokes and more accurate keystrokes—until the keystrokes turned into pages of text and eventually a novel.
Make that first keystroke. Take that first step. Today is “someday”!
Tribute to Farmers on Father’s Day
June 19, 2011 by Lillie
My father was a farmer, and this video captures so much about him. I especially remember him being able to repair anything with baling wire and duct tape!
Thanks to May 2011 Commenters
June 17, 2011 by Lillie
Thank you to the 86 commenters who left 123 comments in May. Your comments extended the conversation and added value and interest, and I enjoyed replying to every one of them.
Every month when I post thanks to commenters, I get questions about how I compile this list. I have explained my system in detail in Compiling Thanks to Commenters.
Top Contributor (9 comments)
| Dawn Colclasure | Dawn Colclasure Blog |
Major Contributors (4 comments)
| Mia | SBP |
| Rhys | How to Preach |
Outstanding Contributors (3 comments)
| Christopher Roberts | Technology Bloggers |
| Dominique | 4 Walls and a View |
| Jenny Lyons | Bingo Babe |
Significant Contributors (2 comments)
| abhilasham | Best Buy GPS |
| Ajeet | Techno Zeast |
| Alex Aguilar | Team Aguilar |
| Andrew Heaton | Good Honest Dollar |
| Angel | Coldwell Banker Jaco |
| Barney | PakOwn |
| Brent | Arthouse 42 |
| Fred | Finally Fast Blog |
| Grace | Pricewise Favors |
| Jane | Toaster Oven Reviews |
| Jean Henry Mead | Jean Henry Mead, Novelist/Photojournalist |
| Karen | Pledging for Change |
| Karen Fisher-Alaniz | Write Now |
| mariosx69 | Wadi Rum Seven Pillars Camp |
| Michaela | My Traveling Nanny |
| R.J. | Extremely Normal Couponing |
| Sarah | Writing Consultation |
Important Contributors
Flag Day and Honor America Days 2011
June 14, 2011 by Lillie
Today is Flag Day and the beginning of Honor America Days.
Flag Day commemorates the adoption by the the Continental Congress of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. Citizens are encouraged to fly Old Glory to observe the anniversary.
Honor America Days are the 21 days between Flag Day and Independence Day and are designated for events to honor our country. May God continue to bless the USA!
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ 1928 Book of Common Prayer
photo credit: Rainer Ebert
Global Day of Prayer 2011
June 12, 2011 by Lillie
Today, Pentecost Sunday, is the Global Day of Prayer. According to the Global Day of Prayer website:
We can find inspiration for the Global Day of Prayer in the three parts of the birth of the Church: ten days of constant prayer leading to Pentecost, one day of prayer witnessed by the whole city and days of blessing that followed. For these reasons, the Global Day of Prayer has three parts.
Today was preceded by ten days of prayer beginning on Ascension Day and will be followed by ninety days of blessings, when Christian ministries and organizations are expected to form alliances to bring transformations to their communities.
Millions of people will gather around the world today and pray the following prayer for the world. Let us we all join together and call on the Lord.
A Prayer for the World
They lifted their voices to God with one accord. ~ Acts 4:24
Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Together with believers all over the world,
we gather today to glorify Your Name.
You are the Creator of heaven and earth.
There is no one like You, holy and righteous in all Your ways.
We submit to Your authority as the King of the universe.
We pray with one voice to enthrone You in our hearts
and to honor You before the world.
Lord God, You alone are worthy of our praise and adoration.
Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for loving the world so greatly.
You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ,
to die on the cross for our sins
so that we could be reconciled to You.
We are grateful to call You Father and to be called Your children.
Nothing can separate us from Your love.
Thank You Father, for adopting us into Your family
because of Jesus Christ our Savior.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You alone are worthy to open the scrolls of history,
for You were slain and have redeemed us to the Father by Your blood.
We confess that You are Head of the Church
and Lord of all heaven and earth.
May people from every tribe and language become Your followers
so that Your blessing brings transformation among all peoples.
Let Your kingdom be established in every nation of the world
so that governments will rule with righteousness and justice.
And may Your Name be great, from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Jesus Christ, You are the Savior of the world and the Lord of all.
Father of mercy and grace,
We acknowledge that we have sinned
and that our world is gripped by the power of sin.
Our hearts are grieved by injustice, hatred and violence.
We are shamed by oppression, racism and bloodshed in our land.
We mourn all loss of life in murder, war, and terrorism.
Our homes are broken and our churches are divided
by rebellion and pride.
Our lives are polluted by selfishness, greed, idolatry and sexual sin.
We have grieved Your heart and brought shame to Your Name.
Have mercy on us as we repent with all our hearts.
God of mercy, forgive our sins.
Pour out Your grace and heal our land.
Spirit of the living God,
Apart from You, we can do nothing.
Transform Your Church into the image of Jesus Christ.
Release Your power to bring healing to the sick,
freedom to the oppressed and comfort to those who mourn.
Pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with compassion
to answer the call of the homeless and the hungry
and to enfold orphans, widows and the elderly in Your care.
Give us wisdom and insight for the complex problems we face today.
Help us to use the resources of the earth for the well-being of all.
Holy Spirit, we need Your comfort and guidance.
Transform our hearts.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Because You were dead, but are now risen,
and the Father has given You a Name above all names,
You will defeat all powers of evil.
Tear down strongholds and ideologies
that resist the knowledge of God.
Remove the veil of darkness that covers the peoples.
Restrain the evil that promotes violence and death.
Bring deliverance from demonic oppression.
Break the hold of slavery, tyranny and disease.
Fill us with courage to preach Your word fearlessly,
and to intercede for the lost faithfully.
Almighty God, deliver us from evil.
King of Glory,
Come and finish Your work in our cities, our peoples and our nations.
We lift our voices in unison with believers from Africa and Asia,
from the Middle East and Europe, from North and South America,
and from Australia and the Pacific Islands—together we cry:
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Be lifted up ancient doors
so that the King of glory may come in!
As Your deeds increase throughout the earth,
and as Your blessings abound to all the nations,
they will seek You, asking, “Who is this King of glory?”
Together we will answer:
He is the Lord Almighty!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Come fill the earth with Your glory as the waters cover the sea.
The Spirit and the Bride say:
Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
Book Review: Halley’s Bible Handbook
June 10, 2011 by Lillie
I generally review indie books at the request of the author or publicist here on my blog, but I typically write at least a short review on Goodreads of everything I read. I’m posting this Goodreads review of Halley’s Bible Handbook because the book impacted me so much I think every Christian should read it.
Halley’s Bible Handbook: With the New International Version by H.H. Halley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I didn’t realize what I was getting into when I started this. I had given up secular reading for Lent and intended to read several Christian books during that time. But this overwhelmed me and kept me reading far beyond Lent. The other books I planned to read are still waiting.
Halley’s Bible Handbook began in 1922 as a 16-page hand-printed pamphlet that Henry Halley gave out to encourage people to read and understand the Bible. Halley started as a clergyman but was told by his doctor that he had to get outside and do hard physical work for his health. He gave up pastoral work and went into the construction business, but he never gave up his faith or his love of the Bible. He memorized and could quote Scripture from every book of the Bible for 25 hours. He gave recitations in churches, always beginning each one with a brief description of the book he was quoting from. When note-taking by the audience distracted him, he decided to print up the information in a leaflet. Over 80 years and 25 editions, that little leaflet grew into this nearly 500-page-book, edited by Halley’s great-granddaughter and her husband.
The book begins with explaining what the Bible is: “1) The Bible is God’s Word. 2) Christ is the heart and center of the Bible.” Halley gives background on the setting and time of the Bible, including archaeological discoveries and historical references.
He then goes through book by book and gives the main thought of each book. I intend to go through this the next time I read the Bible straight through. This year I’m following a chronological reading plan and since the year is half over, I will finish that plan. But next year, I’ll start over reading the Bible from the beginning, and I will use this handbook as I read. Although I have done a lot of Bible studies, this was more effective than anything else I’ve done in helping me understand how the Old Testament is part of Christ’s story. Many cross-references are very helpful.
There are a lot of maps and charts and information about places and people and events. But the most important message of this handbook is, in Henry Halley’s words, “that every Christian should be a Constant and Devoted Reader of the Bible; and that the primary business of the Church and Ministry is to lead, foster, and encourage their people in that habit.”
I purchased this book to read; no one asked me to review it. I wrote the review because it impacted me so greatly I wanted to share it with others. The Amazon link is an affiliate link.
EPIC’s eBook Awards
June 7, 2011 by Lillie
The EPIC eBook Awards™ competition is open for entries between June 1 and July 15. EBooks published between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011 are eligible.
All electronically published works—novels, novellas, short stories, anthologies, graphic novels, nonfiction, children’s books, and poetry—are eligible. A complete list of categories, along with the cocmpetition rules and entry form, can be found on the contest page of the organization’s website. Although only ebooks are eligible for the competition, books do not have to be published only electronically. You may enter a book published both in print and electronic formats.
EPIC’s eBook Competition™ started in 2000 and is the oldest contest honoring eBooks and the ePublishing industry.
If you are published electronically, take a look at membership in EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition. I have been a member since 1999 and have judged in the competition since it started.
