From Overwhelmed to In Control: Mastering Your Finances Simplified living requires purposeful stewardship of each day.ģ. It’s too easy to fill our schedules with things that don’t matter-and neglect the things that do. For Hybels, he started putting on his schedule, “Home” for time to be at home…away from work…

The question isn’t, “What do I want to get done in the next thirty days?” but, “Who do I want to become in this next season of my life?” Once we answer that key question, calendars and schedules are terrific tools for helping us accomplish our life goals, both interpersonal and practical.īy utilizing your schedule as a holistic tool for all areas of your life, you can ensure that each square on your calendar is centered on things that matter to you, rather than being consumed month in, month out by the same time-suckers that leave you feeling overscheduled and exhausted.ĭo you keep healthy boundaries by not allowing work to leak into your home hours? If not, use your calendar to make those adjustments. To create a schedule that reflects your most important life goals, you must begin with the right question. Your calendar is more than merely an organizer for what needs to get done it’s the primary tool for helping you become who you want to become as a person, as a family member, and as a friend. It’s your responsibility to keep command of your calendar-and you must, in order to simplify your life. News flash: You are the boss of your schedule. Hybels notes that no matter where he is in the world, he hears a common complaint: “I’m overscheduled.” “I don’t have time.” “I’m too busy.”Ī runaway calendar will keep you from simplifying your life. From Overscheduled to Organized: Harnessing Your Calendar’s Power Exercise: Most experts agree: Exercise and proper rest patterns give about a 20% energy increase in an average day, average week, average month.Ģ. Recreation: Recreation literally means to re-create energy and vitality in your inner person.ĥ. God, in His love for you, would love for your job to be a bucket-filler and not a bucket-drainer.Ĥ. When Hybels sees people who are consistently filled up, he often discovers they’re quite satisfied with what they do vocationally.

Satisfying Work: As King Solomon says, “It is good and proper for people to find satisfaction-replenishment-in their labor.” Many of us drain an exorbitant amount of energy from our buckets by constantly maintaining our personal image.ģ. Spending time with God each day is the antidote to one energy-killer in particular: image management. Connecting with God: Hybels explains that when he’s really connected with God, he’s far less concerned about other people’s opinions or their plans and expectations.

Hybels provides five keys to replenishment:ġ. What sorts of things fill your bucket? What refuels you? What activities or engagements restore your energy levels? What do you need to do to start pouring new streams of replenishment into your badly depleted life? What relationships inspire you? What do you read that elevates your perspective? What in your life is actually a bucket-filler for you? Jesus told Martha that her only hope was to pull up a chair, unplug from all the busyness, and begin a conversation with the only one who could restore her frenetic heart, settle her spirit, and get her heading back to true north. Let’s sit down and get caught up with each other. “In all your activity,” He says, “don’t lose sight of relationship.” Unrushed. Jesus strikes a different note in His response to Martha’s activism. Take a chill pill.” Then, with genuine kindness, He makes an observation: “You are worried and upset about many things.” He can tell she’s overwhelmed, overscheduled, and exhausted-the very words that define our culture. When Jesus says, “Martha, Martha,” he essentially says, “Easy does it, Martha. From Exhausted to Energized: Replenishing Your Energy Reserves

Unclutter your soul