When it comes to anxiety, you likely didn’t know that having a grasp on how you spend your time can play a role. But your time can be one of the biggest reasons to panic. Most of us think that having a job that schedules our time and we use the rest for fun is enough. But there are any number of reasons to worry when our time is in the hands of others.
And that is exactly what happens to us. The job, appointments, dates, school are among the situations that dictate what we do and when. But we discover that intentional people have the attitude they have because their time is important. So they take control of their time, even when a job or appointments are involved.
Proverbs 19:15 warns that ‘being slothful can put one into deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. That deep sleep can be aimless living, much like an aimless soul with nothing to do. Most of us don’t realize that how our life is structured can cause us a lot of worry, even if we are well-off.
We don’t necessarily need to be struggling to have problems when we are not in control of our time. A lot of people who are no longer alive have a list of people who tend to say, if only I knew that would be the last time. There are people who also would love to stop and spend time with friends or family, take a stroll in a park, but they don’t have that time when they’re near these places.
When we are intentional about our time, we can make that quick stop while passing the park to take a stroll sometimes. If our minds remind us of such and such an event, we need to make sure we are in a position to give ourselves a little time to walk and take in nature, and calm our minds before anxiety sets in and bring our mood down.
There are also a few minutes we can drop in on family and friends, our minds tend to try to convince us we just don’t have the time for. The mind will say we have to get up early or we have to do tasks, or we have to make it home in time to watch some show, or we have to be at an event at such and such time.
But when we are intentional with our time, events, and shows, getting ready for work as soon as evening kicks in isn’t as stressful as trying to find time. Proverbs 21:15 explains that ‘the plans of the diligent will lead to plenty, but that of the hasty will lead to poverty’. Poverty can be more than money. A person’s mindset never has time for anything other than things that need to be done.
The people who are intentional with their time tend to be less stressed. That is because they know the where and the when. Being intentional leaves room for adjustment on the fly at times, because the chaos has an order that intentional people follow. This typically leaves extra time or time that can be altered for those important things, like dropping in on family and friends.
We can also have time to take that stroll in the park at odd times. Structured events don’t always work because plenty of emergencies can steal our time and attention. When we are intentional, though, we are able to direct our attention instead of settling into routines that sap our energy.
How do we manage time?
Time management sounds like a corporate thing; but time management is a stolen act used by corporations to control our time. If we could recall what life was like as a child, we would be able to see what controlling time looked like. Mom or dad always had playtime during day and evenings, and we would see friends or hang out alone.
As we grow older, school and then work, and then college, and then a career take hold of our time. But even then, it is possible to intentionally map and gain some control of our time.
Time management requires that you know your schedule. Map your known schedule with dates and times. Map your free time next to it. And then create a third section with the times filled with things that we want to do.
Proverbs 14:23 assures, ‘in all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty’. Again with poverty. One truth many of us discover in life but can never grasp, is that if we only want something, but don’t do anything to get it we’re probably not going to get that thing. James 1 verse 22 reminds believers that we ought to ‘be doers of the word of God and not only hearers’.
There is a lot of fooling ourselves when we allow others to control all of our time. I know it sounds strange because you may think that you have free time when you’re out of work. But think about it; you plan your free time to fit your work schedule – is that free?
When we can schedule things we like to do for the times we’re not at work and do those things, we take control of the first parts of our time. The career, which makes paying bills in this society is 1/3 of our 24 hour day and attempts to take more. But if we intently focus on getting things done outside of work, we may notice our time slowly coming back to us and freedom in managing time and work.
What does mapping time mean?
Mapping your time is a fancy word for writing down your fixed times, like work and recurring appointments, in order to see your free time. It is your free time, you can structure it however you want.
How does time affect our mood?
Time itself doesn’t really affect our mood, for the most part. The things we do with our time do affect our moods. When we have no control over our time because of work and other events, we tend to go with the flow, which can become like a flash flood at times. While we cannot control every aspect of our time. It is good practice to take control of what we can.
Managing our time allows us to sync back into rhythm when life strikes. Almost anything can happen at any time. But if we exert some control over our day, we can be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment. While many may not count it as a great thing, it is still a task accomplished.
Getting things done can boost our mood and confidence and give us more time to spend with family and friends away from social media. Being intentional with your time can also boost your creativity and productivity. I could drone on and on about the benefits of time management because there are endless benefits. But I hope you find this article useful in some way.
A little Biblical wisdom; Proverbs 16:3 says, “submit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established”. When we pray and believe, our thoughts are moved by the Lord for many things. If we are doers of the word of God in faith, our intentions can align with the word of God. Makes life a bit more interesting and manageable.
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