Would you consider signing up to receive my posts via email? Simply enter your email address in the box in the top of the sidebar. And if you would follow me on Twitter here or “Like” my Facebook page here I would be oh, so grateful. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome Encouragement for Today devotion readers. If you are joining us and haven’t yet read my devotion today, click here to do so and get up to speed with the rest of us here. Don’t forget to hit your back arrow and come back for 5 keys to tangent proofing your time and a giveaway!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you been there? Allowed the Internet or another hobby or pastime knock you off course and sap your time? How can you prevent this from happening in the future? Here are 5 guidelines that have helped me focus and keep on task:
~ Plan your work and then work your plan, grouping like tasks together.
There is no substitute for a good working list. If you set out to “get things done” without a written list of what it is you need to accomplish, it will sap your mental strength. You will unknowingly be preoccupied with the fear of “forgetting”: to make a call, send an email or pull meat out of the freezer to thaw for supper.
If you can brain dump your tasks on to a piece of paper or “notes” app on your phone or electronic tablet, you can focus all your mental energies on doing the task at hand rather than worrying you’ll forget one you hope to accomplish later that day.
When you are making your list, group like tasks. Think about the errands that require you to leave your home: the dry cleaners, grocery or drug store, post office run or item to return. What about tasks that require the computer: sending an email, making an online purchase or paying a utility bill. Are there around the home chores that must be done? Cleaning, laundry, pulling weeds or organizing a closet?
Rather than just launching out on a “mission to accomplish” and randomly start working, think smart. You will save time, motion and effort if you group like tasks as you work.
I do this, once I have written out my list, by using different color highlighters. I’ll highlight all the “around the town” errands in pink, computer tasks in green, etc… While I’d like to be organized enough to group the tasks as I write the list, that often takes more effort and may require starting over. Just doing a general brain dump and then going back and categorizing with highlighters works best for me. Besides, I like to see pretty colors on my to do list rather than just a black and white list.
~ Utilize your phone alarm.
Work in pre-determined “shifts”. Set out to tackle some household chores, but set your phone alarm for 30-45 minutes later. Then, dive in and work, without thinking about anything else. Roll up your sleeves. Stay focused. Listen to music or an audio Bible on an Ipod or MP3 player. Lose yourself in your work.
When the alarm sounds, read what the screen says. (I “talk to myself” by making my alarm reminder read “Good job girl! Go make yourself an iced tea!”) Wrap up the current task, take a short break and move on to the next thing.
~ Alternate between working with your brain and working with your hands.
I find that if I am using my brain for an extended period of time perhaps writing, filling out college forms or other paperwork, I need to mix it up after a few hours. Those tasks are not particularly draining physically but do deplete my brain’s energy and creativity .
To remedy this, I will switch to something brainless for a while instead. Yes, I will fold laundry or clean the house while watching Gunsmoke, Bonanza or another retro show. It rests my mind and refreshes me. Then, I’m ready to jump back in and use my brain again.
~ Set up a visual reminder of your time priorities.
I place my Bible on top of my Ipad each night on my nightstand to remind me “Bible over blogs”.
Maybe you’ll need to make your phone’s lock screen read “Have you spent time with God yet today?”.
Or put a picture of your family on your computer’s home page. Anything that will help you connect with God and your family BEFORE you venture off into cyber-land.
~ Less is more.
The less I am pulled by social media and cell phones, the more time I have for God, family and just “being” rather than “doing” all the time.
This has been the biggest lesson lately for me when it comes to electronic devices becoming tangents. I was letting social media, my cell phone and emails I received call the shots and dictate how I spent my time. With the instant access that today’s culture provides, it can overrun a people-pleaser like me.
Up until a few months ago, I gave out my cell phone number freely. I was accumulating friends on Facebook and also accumulating lots of “invites”, and “requests” and challenges to play games. And, I was getting dozens of emails per week from people asking me questions to which I had no answer or asking for time-consuming favors from me.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love helping people. I am thankful for the connections that can happen and the ministry that takes place via the Internet. Seriously thankful.
I am deeply grateful for cyber friends and blog readers and I am a faithful reader of a few blogs myself. However, because I tend to be a people pleaser, I would jump when I got a private Facebook message and feel I needed to answer right away. Or, if a text message came in when I was supposed to be accomplishing a task or spending time with my family, I would feel the tug to text back quickly.
When I would fight the urge and, in an attempt to live my priorities, not respond until later when I had time, I would feel guilty. Or others would feel slighted that it took me a day or so to answer. However, when I added up the time it would take just answering people (sometimes to tell them I actually had no answer!) it would be hours per week.
So now I give myself some guidelines and boundaries including limiting answering emails (that aren’t from family or my work-at-home ministry position at Proverbs 31) to 30 minutes a day. That might mean I can’t answer someone for a few days or weeks depending on how full my inbox is. I also got a new cell number and only give the number out to family, close friends, my one son’s school and other sons’ tutors and crucial ministry contacts. I can still communicate with friends (in real life and cyber both) by Twitter messages rather than texting.
I have become so convinced that electronic communication methods, with their instant access to people, have become modern day bullies. They boss us around and burn up our time when we aren’t intentional to use them as tools only. I can’t describe to you the freedom I now feel now that my phone buzzes only occasionally and I don’t feel glued to the computer. Ahhh….freedom!
Now, please leave a comment with which of these tips you’d most like to try. Or, any other piece of advice or thoughts you have on this topic. One gal will be chosen to receive a signed copy of my book The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized and a $15 Staples gift card to purchase some list-making notepads or a new planner to help you use your time wisely.
Winner announced Monday.
I plan to use the grouping and highlighting of chores. Since I work outside the home 4 days a week, I find myself racing around to accomplish everything I can on my days off, but end up not getting a lot done.
I also like the time limit on chores. I tend to get caught up with one thing and then wonder why nothing else got accomplished : )
Thank you for the great ideas!
Hi Karen,
I teach a Sunday school class called Kid Raisers. It’s for folks in the process of raising children I can’t wait to share this with them.
I use an electronic tablet to make my lists.It even has a highlighting tool with different colors.
I really like the “alarm” idea Never thought of that one.
I look forward to my time with you Prov. 31 girls every day.
Blessings
I will try to think about why I am doing things. I have trouble staying balanced and find myself either totally into a thing, such as facebook, and then getting overwhelmed by it and having to break myself off completely. Balance is so hard to find. I could use the timer idea so that way I have 10 minutes and not an hour playing games. thanks for the good ideas.
Thanks Karen. The two I am most likely to try are the timer and the grouping of things. I tend to be unorganized in my list making. I like the timer idea to keep me on track with the task at hand.
I like the idea of using my phone alarm more. I don’t have a fancy phone with gadgets but using it more faithfully as a timer is a great idea. I usually have my day planned out on my google calendar, but I am easily distracted. Thanks for the tip! Visual reminders have been really good for me, too. Media in moderation…it takes much self-discipline:)
Wow. You stomped all over my toes. Just what I needed at the beginning of a busy week end…and time to re-evaluate my use of time! Thanks you Lord for sending this to me today!
Hi Karen, I am a list maker at work – but not at home. Maybe that is why the house NEVER gets completed and is always half done. Thank you for refocusing my efforts this morning. Bless you!
Hi Karen, thanks for all these wonderful truths and tips to help. They are all great, but there were two that jumped out at me, Visual Reminders – Bible over Blogs. and to utilize my phone alarm. I was just thinking about doing that yesterday and then I read your blog today. I’d love an opportunity to win your book or a Staples gift card, my favorite store. ~ Abby
Thank you for these ideas!
The one I like the most is writting messages to yourself with you alarm reminder! I just set up my phone alarm with “ok, enough computer for today, let’s clean the house!”. I hope it will work!
I also will try to alternate between work with brain and work with hands. Maybe have a good balance between both will help me becoming more productive.
I like the Bible on the ipad idea. Not that I have an ipad but I do have a wireless keyboard-LOL.
Good Morning Karen:
I enjoyed your blog and also your Encouragement of the day devotion. Your blog post today confirms to me that although my ministry and work requires me to be online especially with social media (I am a PR consultant); I am spending wasteful hours online that I need to consolidate. I will pay attention now that I realize there is an imbalance.
Thank you for your words of wisdom regarding electronics and busy work that produces nothing but tiredness.
Regards, E. Michelle Lee, An Exception To The Rules!
Thanks so much. I will use all these ideas for sure but the biggest on e for me is visual reminders. I can get off track so easily so I wanna use my phone alarm and make notes to post places so I don’t forget. I loved putting a pic of your family. Because I can get lost in getting things done when they can wait cause my kids need me more.
I like the idea of alternating brain and hand activities. I can use that at work even more effectively than at home. Not sure what it will look like, but I’m very motivated now to figure something out to avoid the continual brain drain that I return home with nightly.
I like to alternate between “brain needed” and “no brainer” tasks. I have a lot of trouble with decision-making, so after a decluttering session, I am ready for washing dishes or folding laundry. Thanks for your suggestions and the giveaways!
Karen,
Thank you so much for the wonderful ideas! I think I’ll be trying more than one – but the alarm idea really “hit” me. I tend to get sucked into the computer – mainly because it is a no-cost form of entertainment…but really it does cost. It costs me TIME and while it is good for a little “down-time” I need to make sure I’m not “down” all the time!
I also loved the ideas of putting my Bible on top of my laptop and a picture of my family on my screen. Both great ideas to keep my focus clear! Thank you!!!
Donna
anotherbattlewon.blogspot.com
I loved the timer idea. Time can get so lost on line and then I am upset with myself that I wasted so much time. I also will use the timer idea doing other tasks. It is good to know tha their are others fighting with the same problems. thanks.
My daughter will be starting high school next fall, and we will be giving her a cell phone. I have been very concerned about her ability to adjust to a new, more time demanding environment, and balancing the use of her time with her telephone, and other social media. These are great tips for my peace of mind, and a wonderful resource to share with her. Thank you!
I would like to try using that clear pastel clipboard (purple) that also opens to stash current mail or such in, however I can’t seem to find where you purchase these. I have tried the suggestion of Wal Mart with no luck. Karen gave this tip awhile back but I haven’t forgotten it.
‘Less is more’. . . something i’ve seen evident in my life when i gave up all computer time except to keep up with email for two weeks. It was a tough two weeks, and i probably couldn’t do it again! The tough part now is to remember what i learned through it rather than slipping back into some of those old patterns of having my mind glued to what is happening that i need to keep checking in on those various websites!
Love the timer idea – will start incorporating that into life. I’m a big list maker and have tasks on my outlook, but have trouble incorporating both. I agree with what you said about emails – I feel horrible if I don’t respond right away or if I have a full inbox. I have a 23-month old son who pulls me away from the computer when I stop to look at it on our way to play. I feel bad about stopping, but the emails seem to call me! I like the idea of a timer or set times to respond. This way, he and I can play and I know I’ll respond at an appropriate time. Thanks!
I completely agree with the concept that cell phones, iPads, social media, etc are “tools”….and it’s a word that I have chosen to use over and over with my kids as they have progressed into using cell phones. I want to get that word “tool” in their head so they look at it that way. For example, I explain that when I make them put their phones downstairs at 9pm that it’s not punishment, its them training their friends that they “aren’t available” after 9 pm….again because it’s their tool, not their friend’s to wake them whenever they feel like it.
Do love the list “dumping” with different color highlighting…..think there’s an app for that?! ; )
I am a list girl! Love the highlighter idea! Definitely would help with grouping tasks. Thanks for the idea!
I like the hint to alternate between brain and hands. I get sleepy when I stay with a brain activity too long. I can push through but it takes longer if I do it while sleepy. If I switch to a hand activity, I will become awake again and probably get more done in the long run.
I loved this message today in my inbox! As I have been busy with women’s ministry, daughter getting ready for Mission Trip to Haiti and passports, and medical records and shots and my newly started home business, some days I have so many lists I can barely keep my thoughts in tact. The suggestions and wonderful wisdom that jumped out at me were: Visual Reminders I love color coded anything – Bible over Blogs is my favorite because I usually check msgs and email due to online bill paying and to utilize my phone alarm. Even though my phone is not fancym it does have that feature which I never used until NOW. I’d love an opportunity to win your book or a Staples gift card, one of my favorite stores for business supplies and it is close to home. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. In Him, Joan
God is so good. I have recently (thanks to Proverbs 31 ministry) began concentrating on being the woman God intended me to be. I am spending time studying the Bible and praying for His guidance. In the past two days the urge to put away my laptop and spend MORE time with God and my family has become a constant tug. This morning I heard Him say, “Spend time with me before you pick up your computer.) I did that. I studied my Bible, prayed, and read my devotion. I then picked up my computer and there was your blog. What a God-send. Your words and wisdom reinforced everything the Holy Spirit has been speaking to my heart. It was the seal of approval that my soul needed. I am now limiting my time on the computer to certain (pre-determined) times. More importantly, I am not going to look at anything electronic until AFTER my time with God. Thank you so much for being an encouraging voice in a mind-boggling world.
Thanks for the tips! The alarm and grouping tasks sounds great. We are downsizing and the packing has begun and is it overwhelming! 16 years in this home so many memories and stuff to prioritize, get rid of(Not the memories!!), etc. I will start today!!
Hi, Karen!
By the way, I love the picture of your Bible over your I-Pad! In the background, you have the book by Renee Swope “A Confident Heart”…my Bible study gals and I are going through it right now and LOVE it!
I really want to make the most of the summer with my blessings (children) by limiting the time I am on Facebook, even though it is a great tool for encouraging fellow believers. Thank you for the reminder as well that time with Him needs to come before time on-line…time with Him in His Word, that is
Praying that you have an amazing day straight from Him!
Timely words as I prepare for a rainy day at home! I am going to se the Bible over Ipad idea by changing my computer login to something like “All for Jesus”..
Thanks for your practical advice!
I love the visual reminder, and setting the alarm so you can work in shifts.
I also love that you are using your phone as a tool. Although I was connected to my phone at the hip when my husband was deployed, if I am busy now, or it’s inconvenient for me to answer the phone, I don’t. Of course, I always try to answer for my husband, and I will do the same when my kids are old enough, but I think it’s sad when people are so worried that they might miss a phone call from someone better that they answer the phone no matter what – even if it means saying “Hello, I have to go, there’s someone on the other line,” to a person they just called.
It can also be a clear reminder of where you stand in the other person’s life, especially if you are always getting ignored or hung up on because someone better is calling.
I am so glad this was the first thing I read today! Yesterday I was thing and having a conversation with God about prioritizing my time with Him. I spend alot of time on Facebook just planning games, answering inbox messages and encouraging friends and family. I am not giving Him the attention I’m suppose to! One of the things that stuck out to me was placing your Bible over your iPad, I use my phone and plan to make my wall photo a picture of a Bible! Also, making a to-do schedule with encouragement alarms will join my new lifestyle change. This was such a blessing for me and I know it will help me get back on track! I also want to get a planner to have that is not on my phone so I can spend less time using it as well. Thank you!
I put everything in my phone. My grocery and shopping lists are organized by store and I keep a list of pantry items too.My to-do lists are categorized by date due. Sticking to a “its Friday so I must be doing this” schedule also keeps me in a good routine. That’s much easier to do now that my kids are older and there are less frequent surprizes from them! Organizing has been hard for me but my husband’s grace and encouragement has helped me see the great benefits.
I like the idea of using a timer…and rewarding yourself with a short break after. This blog came at a great time for me, one week into my summer break with a TON of stuff to do around the house and a new baby.
The highlighter trick really works. I used to try to group things on the list but sometimes my list lasts days before I can finish it all and besides, the highlighters are cheerful. As for Faceblog and others, 15 minutes total per day, no games, I limit friends and don’t have it connected to my phone. That’s the only way I can stay objective and on task.
I so needed this post today! I find that I waste too much time on my days off from my paying job. I plan to use the highlighting tip to organize my day and to schedule my media time. Thanks for the great ideas. I am starting today!!
This is a great article Karen with good tips. I use the timer on my stove when cleaning and that helps me, I use to get into another job before the first was finished and the timer helps me stayed focused. I must start doing the same when at the computer! I like your idea of a list, highlighting by groups. I will start using visuals to remind me of my priorities. Thanks so much Karen for these tips.
I love the idea of setting a phone alarm, and being really focused on the task. Listening to music while doing so, then a “pat on the back” after completing the tasks. Great ideas!
I like the idea of grouping like items and using a timer.
Your article on controlling Facebook was very timely, as I had closed my FB account just two days ago? Why? For all the reasons you gave–major ones being the sacrifice of time I’d previously given to God and his Word, and letting my heart hinge on whether I got replys to my messages, or “likes” to my rare posts. Thank you for your excellent devotion and blog post at just the opportune time. God is good. That said, I like your idea of creating a good working time list best. Works for me. I recently went to Microsoft Outlook and clicked on “calendar.” There I created a recurring week’s daily schedule simply and quickly, printed it out and hung it on my refridgerator. What a blessing to have this check on using my time productively. Thank you for your insightful posts.
Thanks for the encouragement. I always do so much better when I have a task list written out but haven’t been as good about doing it as much lately.
Oh, so true, so true. I am getting out my bible right now. Thank you
Thanks for the encouragement today! I will go back to starting a to-do list every morning–highlighting like tasks is a great idea. As a home schooling mom, I get into the “I know my schedule, I don’t have to write it down” but then I have days (and weeks!) that get away from me.
Karen,
I just discovered your website. Your sage advice ROCKS- and I so need to incorporate it all. I have recently had a major life change; a company downsizing brought me back home after 11 years in the workforce. I am so thrilled for the opportunity to be home with my kids for the summer, but often feel all over the map when trying to get a handle on “all things home.” Why was it so much easier to focus at work? I wonder : ) I praise God for those sweet little faces daily – but I sure could use your book! Thanks!
This was great! I too have a love/hate relationship with social media. I am going to work on devoting myself to one thing at a time for a set period of time. I tend to start lots of things without finishing the one before and in the end I know it takes more effort to get it all done. Also really like the switching back and forth between mentally and physically draining work. Folding laundry or even ironing CAN be a break – especially if you are watching/listening to something fun!
This is just what I needed. Facebook and the internet have taken up way too much of God’s time and my family’s time. I have the guilty feelings you talk about. Thankfully today His mercies are new and His grace is abounding. Thank you for this post.
i love your idea of color coding a to-do list! and placing time limits on electronics/social media! thank you for your encouragement!! blessings to you!
I enjoyed your post so much. I had just journaled about this problem Wednesday night. I am retired and it is so easy to spend too much time on the computer. My cell phone is just a plain phone but it does alarm and I’m going to use it. At times, to motivate me to do a task at home that could be lengthy, I would set the timer on the microwave and that is helpful.
Today I plan to wash windows in two of the rooms at our lake house and will listen to movies on TV as I do so–I like the retros too.
Thanks Again.
I like the idea of a visual reminder. A very simple way to remember what is important! thanks for the tips.
Thanks for all the great tips. I need to be more aware of my time on these electronic traps we have. I want to be great role model for my children and be the spouse I am intended to be. One thing I do is silence my text alerts and email messages so I don’t feel I have to run to my phone when I hear it beep. I can’t wait to read the book!
After just going through divorce – the loss of my husband, my home, and my job -
I am STUCK! I just can’t seem to get myself in gear and do anything!
I need to sort, donate, trash, and pack. I need to find the job the Lord has for me. And I need to find a place to move (which depends on where the job is).
I realize the time I am wasting, but just can’t seem to bring myself to do anything.
I wish I had some encouragement and ideas to help someone else……
but I am in need of prayers. If anyone reading this would ask God to give me a swift kick in my backside, I would certainly appreciate it. Thank you and may God bless you~
I went through a divorce 4 years ago. At the time, my daughters were 7 yrs & 15 months and I had no motivation to do anything with them or for them. Just getting food on the table for them was a HUGE chore. I was married for 13 years, so I had to completely change my life & change who I was in order to adjust to being a single parent when my husband left. In the midst of 2008, I was lost. However, 4 years later, I’m a happy girl. Getting divorced was the best thing that happened to me (crazy to hear that!). Christina Aguilara’s song “Fighter” was my theme song. It was even the ringtone on my phone! Divorce made me a fighter. It made me stronger than I ever realized that I could be. Now, I’m empowered and feel like I can take on the world (not every day, but most days…lol!). Sometimes, I wonder if I’ll ever marry again, because I don’t know that I want to rely on a man again. I’ll just depend on God’s plan for now! For you, now….I suggest asking for help. It is the hardest thing for me to do, but you’d be amazed at how many people are willing to lend a hand. Get friends or church members over to help you sort, donate, trash & pack. Otherwise, you may get overwhelmed (like I can get at times) and end up throwing your hands up & walking away from it until you feel like tackling it again. And, it’s ok, if that happens!!! Listen to Jars of Clay “Love Song for a Savior”. Fall in love with God! And, rely on Him! He’ll lead you to the right job and the right place to live. I will be praying for you and I’m sure the other ladies reading this blog will too. I pray that you will embrace your singleness and find your inner strength! It’s there, I promise!
I think, for me, it’s a matter of self discipline. I’m looking forward to the freedom that is available when I put first things first! Thank you for your encouragement!
I so struggle with this… I am going to try to be better about making a list and I love the idea of the visual reminders. Thanks so much for this article.
Thanks Karen for such wonderful advice!!! I already use the phone timer method and it really helps to keep me on schedule! The highlighted list sounds like something I would like to try! Loved your devo on p31! Such truth!!! Your book sounds like one to enjoy and share!!!
Blessings To You!
Wow! Thank you for writing this! I have been thinking and praying about becoming more organized, being intentional about planning my day, and am looking forward to setting up boundaries for my cyber time! I would love to win this book!
I love how God weaves together all the things I am reading to instruct me. In another book, I am reading about the things that distract, that overfill my time and keep me from focusing on and thinking about the things of God. I had no clue how much I let the Internet control my life until I made an intentional choice to step away! Thanks for providing more practical steps to control instead of being controlled by!
Karen, I had also come to the same conclusions as you – social media/TV/computers can definitely eat up our time! I’m already doing much of what you suggested, however, I love the idea of setting your phone alarm to limit the amount of time on a given task. I tend to want to “complete” everything and struggle with stopping a project. I think that setting an amount of time to work on a project and not having to finish every project in one sitting will help greatly! Love your blog!
I don’t wrap myself up in my computer for hours on end. With 5 kids, how could I?? But I do feel like a slave to that “ding” when a text comes in & it often pulls me away from my family & the things I’m trying to accomplish for them. Thanks for reminding me that texting can be used wisely also! I look forward to giving myself 2-3 small blocks of time to catch up on all communications today, rather than allowing them to be tangents to the “now” that God has placed before me. It will be extra difficult because my precious mom sends texts throughout the day & I know she expects a quick response. Maybe I can tell her that I’m checking morn/noon/ night so it won’t be such a shock
I make it a game. I do a few things on my to-do list and then I take 15 minutes online. I keep going back and forth with this. I do like the idea of using my phone to remind me to get back to work.
I love your idea of using highlighters on my to-do list! …and another thing that spoke to me was putting family first too — I always start my day with God but I don’t always put my family next, thanks for these GREAT reminders!
I have a 10 month old, so life feels like one tangent after another at times. I like the alarm idea with the note to take some me time. I don’t tend to do that often. One thing that has helped me is to assign each day of the week a task. I did this with basic household chores and it really helps me make sure I get those important tasks done. I made it fun by making the task start with same letter of the week, like Monday is mopping. It helps with my mommy brain.
I love the idea of color-coding my list, and also placing the Bible on top of the iPad!
Thank you for some very practical tips that I need to implement in my life beginning today. I plan to make a list(something new for me) and also use my cell phone alarm to delegate my time effectively on tasks. Seems so simple, yet something I struggle with each day.
I found facebook and emails were taking up much of my free time. Now I only check facebook 2 times a week and deleted alot of emails that I didn’t need to be getting daily anyway.
I just recently purchased the Iphone and want to become more efficient with it and my scheduling.
using my cell phone is a great idea. i also have a kitchen timer ( idea from flylady) highlighting idea is great.. looking forward to the bible study also
Plan your work and work your plan…need to get back in that habit!
Just what I needed today. Summer is here and I need a plan! Thanks.
Have a Blessed weekend!!
Linda
Excellent points! I loved hearing how you personally set up boundaries. It gives me some ideas about how I need to be using (and not using!) these tools myself. While I don’t have the extreme pull on my time that you do, there is so much I can learn from how you have handled the prioritizing. I don’t really think of myself as a people pleaser, but sometimes it sneaks up on me. Thanks.
Thanks so much for this encouragement! I am great at making the lists, but then I always get distracted. The color-coding system will help bring me back to the tasks I need to be focused on. I am so excited to try this out! Thanks again!
Good morning Karen, I so enjoy keeping up with you through your blog (which I’ve been reading for about a year). I am encouraged by your guidelines today for our time and plan to promptly cut cyber contact. I too am a people pleaser and have felt the guilt for not answering quickly enough, but that’s truly not where our priorities should lie, so thanks for the reminders and keeping us girls focused! Awesome ideas.
I like all of tips but I am going to try the one of putting my Bible on my electronic device. After reading these tips I have found encourgement.
I love your highlighting idea for the list.
I also like to keep my list in a journal like book to have an additional reason to THANK GOD for what He is doing in my life.
It is also fun to scratch them out as I get them done.
I started with a cute book to motivate me to get in the hablit!
Oh my, this post speaks to me and reminds me of what my husband somestimes says aobut my computer time
Yep, the computer sucks me in, because I love to read! I read everything – it takes an effort for me to even scroll through the comments above and not read them all. In no time, my day has slipped away and I realize I wasn’t nearly as productive as I had hoped to be. I am usually a list maker, but haven’t been lately, so I need to get back to that! I love the idea of different colored highlighters & setting a timer. I get distracted, so this may help 
Thanks for all of these great ideas!
I work on a computer all day and the last thing I want to see when I get home is a screen. So in my home, I don’t use the computer or check email and I very rarely watch tv. The kids have the same no screens rule during the week and it’s been a little lax since school got out. I’m seeing the fallout from that and intend to put that rule right back into effect. Everyone spends more time together, is kinder, has less of an attitude and just in general, it’s much calmer and more pleasant around our house. Love it!!
Wow! Your e-mail from Proverbs 31 this morning & your blog post really hit home with me. I was starting to feel left out and uncool that I don’t spend so much time on Facebook. I also loved reading the other women’s comments. It makes me feel like I am not the only one that struggles with this. When I do get on the computer for e-mail and/or Facebook, I am frustrated later that my precious time has flown by. I have limited the friends that I really truly want to keep up with and I don’t spend time posting (which my friends think is weird), but I really don’t want to spend my free time or time when I should be with God and/or my kids doing it. I have felt pressured to be a part of it, but I now I have recognized that it is a tangent for me. I love how you set a timer and limit yourself. That’s what I’m going to start doing (without the guilt).
Thanks so much for writing. It was what I needed to hear. Bless you!
I really needed this!! I am already using the alarm on my phone–learned this from a diet program and making list to free up my brain–learned this in an online Bible study with Glynnis Whitwer (hope I spelled that right). I am going to start using visual reminders and alternating working with my brain and working with my hands.
I don’t own an ipad but I do own the ever present, time consuming computer that seems to call my name. I have become addicted to a computer game and why my brain tells me I need to play it as often as I do………I will use the ipad (without and ipad
.
A appreciated this post very much! I work several part-time jobs (mostly from home) so my mind can easily get distracted jumping back and forth between job responsibilities and parenting my young children. I struggle to stay focused enough to be as productive as I should be in all areas! .I recently started making seperate lists in a notebook with tasks for each of my areas of responsibility. While I think this is a step in the right direction, I LOVE the idea of color-coding! I can’t wait to incorporate this idea into a daily routine. After reading the post, I was also feeling convicted about needing to protect my time with God each day–He should get priority first thing in the morning over checking my email and facebook messages! I am putting a posted note on my computer right now reminding me to spend time in the Word and in prayer before getting online or responding to calls/texts!!! Thank you, Karen
Thank you, Karen! I am in such desperate need of organization so that I quit wasting the precious time that God has given me…I am that person whose time is just sapped away! I am off from teaching for the summer and want to get a positive start on life…I will be turning 51 on Wednesday and have realized that time is so very precious and I don’t want to live the way that I have been living. Your email was such a blessing to me…I feel like it was heaven sent…for such a time as this!
Blessings, Mary
Thanks you for sharing your struggles as well as your ideas to fix them. I to am a people pleaser and often put off important tasks for the not so important stuff. I love the idea of the Bible on top of the iPad. I try hard to spend as much time with God as possible but have not give God power over my time. I plan to put my Bible where I can see it more often. This will remind me to give the use of my time to God and allow Him to keep me on the right track. Thanks again, Denise
I like setting my alarm and giving myself a break even if only to have a refreshment. I will try to pray during that break as well.
I love using my lists, but the highlighting of like tasks makes a lot of sense! Also, setting a timer is something I have used occasionally and should try more often (to motivate me to start and to limit the time I spend online). Thank you so much for your ministry!
Thanks for this! It seems like since I’ve become a Mom, it’s harder than ever to stay on track, as I’m constantly being pulled off task to help the kids. My devotion time has also suffered. However, God has been patiently showing me how important my time with Him is. My Bible study leader said that when she heard the “Seek ye first” verse she took it literally, and devoted time first thing in the morning to spend time with God and she encouraged us to do the same, so I did. My son gets me up very early, so I’ve had to get up even earlier to have this precious time. It has been such a blessing! God seems to redeem the time I spend with Him, and I do think I’m more productive, or at least have the right priorities for my day.
This post is the answer to my prayer! I recently asked God how I could order my time instead of my time ordering me. This post has given me real suggestions. I especially like the making ur alarm “speak” and group and highlighting. Thank You!
love the cell phone alarm. you are simply the best at what you do girl!
I am not yet a victim of Facebook, twitter, or texting. While I have a cell phone, I seldom use it. I enjoy not being called or texted all the time; if people need me they can reach me on my land line, work phone, or email. I guess I’m old-school, but I’m okay with that. I loved your idea about using highlighters to group to-do list items. I’m a big list-maker so I think that suggestion will really help me!
I know there is a way to send certain emails to a folder automatically and plan on figuring that out….in the meantime, I will “dump” ones…like the daily blog emails to a specific folder then go back to it when I do have time. All contained. And not glaring me in the face in the inbox portion. With summer now here and kids at home, I am intending on getting on the email (no email goes to my phone!) only 2-3 times a day. Otherwise it draws me like an addict and I know after a week of doing it like that then the “gotta check email” feeling will pass.
Karen -
I’m a list maker! I get it from my Dad!!! I work full-time as a teacher assistant and can’t wait to have the summer off to get my house organized!!! I’ve been reading your posts and printing them so I can read them over and over. I have them in my Bible! Thank you!
I need to limit my time on the internet. It usually starts out good, but I get caught up and tend to stay on the computer too long. I also like the idea of grouping tasks and limiting time with some tasks. I know I will get more done by doing it this way. Thank you for the wonderful ideas and making think about how much time I am wasting each day.
Thank you! This post was meant just for me today! I am starting today to revolutionize my life in every area. I fully intend on becoming the woman God intended for me to be all along : -) I know I work better with a list, trial and error has taught me a lot of things…that is one of them. I love your idea to color code them! Perfect! I will do the same with my grocery list!! Thank you Thank you!
I just got married and have just transferred my life to my husband’s place. I have been a middle school music teacher for awhile now and felt I had my life pretty well together until we started living together. I am truly trying to be a Proverbs 31 woman and handle all the household items, but recently I became overwhelmed. I started crying and thinking did I make a mistake between him and the dog. I LOVE this topic! It helped me to realize that I don’t have to be super wife and do it all in a day. I can take my time and pace myself. I love the less is more concept and it will be my new mantra. Bless you for sharing with us!
Utilize your phone alarm…..Wow…never thought of doing that. What a great way to limit my time on the computer, and to remind me to move on to something that really matters. I am so easily sidetracked.
Thanks for the challenging and constructive post, Karen. I liked the phone alarm idea and the message with it! Clever! I also liked the grouping thought – I do that when I am out on errands, but hadn’t thought how helpful it could be in other venues, like home or work. All in all, very helpful!
As a third grade teacher, I can apply all of these amazingly useful ideas to both my professional and personal life. The one I plan to focus on first is “Less is more.” I find that I get totally sucked into technology both at work and sometimes at home. Between emails, texts, online news sites, and social media, way too much valuable, God ordained time is wasted away each day. Thank you so much for all of these ideas! Organizing my time to honor God is something at which I deeply long to be more proficient.
God Bless You and this ministry,
Nina
I am so guilty of sitting down to look something up on the computer that should take no more than 10 minutes and looking up an hour later thinking “what am I still doing here?”. Misery loves company, so I guess it’s nice to know that I’m not alone in this. However, the guilt I feel when I’ve wasted time like that is terrible. Not so much that I’ve neglected the housework, but because I’ve ignored my kids. I’m going to keep these tips & do my best to apply them. Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Karen thank you so much! This was such a reminder of Gods current theme for my life “Get it together Carol” – “I want to use you but your too cluttered and thus distracted” – I am a visual person so disorganization confuses me – I will put into practice thus making a habit of the “Plan your time and work your plan” principal and the setting my bible on my prayer chair (I dont have an iPad). Thanks again I dont have your book yet but plan on getting it when the funds become available.
Thank you for your devotional and post! I work full time, am married, and have a young son. Lately, I have really gotten into a bad habit of checking Facebook, emails, etc. when I should be more focused on playing with my precious boy. God has really been laying this on my heart so your message really hit home. While Smart Phones are really great for lots of things, they can definately be a time suck. My phone is up for renewal and I think its time to go back to a “dumb” phone. I don’t need to be THAT connected to the online world!
Social media has been my friend & nemesis this year as I’ve struggled with trying to understand and use it the way God would want me to. The question you posed of asking whether it is a tool, toy or tangent is a perfect way to tame my use. It’s already on a post-it note stuck to my computer. Thank you!
Thank you Karen for your tips and suggestions today. I think this is a topic that a lot of women especially have a difficult time with. Prioritizing, staying focused, and getting done what God wants us to do is difficult in today’s social media “playground”. I especially liked your suggestion of setting a phone timer to allot time for tasks that need to be done. Also, alternating between physical tasks and mental activities can be helpful. Thank you for the tips!
My number 1goal for this summer is to find ways to become better organized….thanks for the ideas!!!
Thanks for the words of wisdom! I needed to hear this. I am excited to implement some of your ideas.
Wow! I LOVE all the tips, I cannot possible choose! My friends and I have such a struggle trying to use all this technology for good and not evil. I misplaced my cell phone a couple of weekends ago and LOVED it! By Monday I needed it again and miraculously found it despite the battery dying, but I dearly needed that break from constant texts. I am forwarding this link to my friends, we ALL need this list!
I so needed this!! I am guilty of letting my phone control my time.
My favorite tip is to use your phone alarm. Of all the things I use my phone for, that is not one of them. Thanks for such helpful tips!
As I am reading this on my iPad while my bible sits next to me, closed, I think I need to do the “bible over blogs” tip! I can get so sucked in to the Internet that nothing feels accomplished during the day and I wonder where my day went. God is trying to break this bad habit in me. So this post was very timely!
Looooved the timer idea. I do want to suggest a use of social media as a TOOL. I send a morning devotional(often based on P31 devos) to over 40 people via text each morning. Some respond w/ a positive comment or just a HI–which I do not respond back(waste of my morn time). It has become a connection w/ faraway friends, old friends I don’t get to see anymore…a blessing 2 me & 2 many!
I really enjoyed the idea of brainstorming a “to do” list, then color-coding to group like items. This saves time that rewriting the list would have taken — and it’s prettier!
I love the advice of alternating working with your brain and your hands. Definitely going to try that one out!
Loved your blog today. Email has monopolized a lot of my time. I have started picking and choosing what I want to take the time to read, I may at times miss something that I might enjoy but there is so much more to life than email. Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions, The color coded list idea sounds like one I should try. It would give me focus.
This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. I had to do a “self-evaluation” a little over a month ago. Facebook was consuming my life. I have an iPhone which made it SO easy to just jump on facebook any spare moment (even moments that weren’t spare): waiting at a stop light, waiting in line at Wal-Mart, taking a break at work, and just basically…every 10 minutes at home – checking…just to see if someone commented, what someone posted, any messages? Well, I realized even more than it consuming my time it was also causing me lots of doubts and insecurities. People post EVERYTHING on there. So I decided to be one step ahead of the game. I deactivated my facebook. I love using it for a tool of ministry and witness, but when it causes more harm and destruction to self, that’s when its time to hang it up and re-focus. So I did. And everytime I look at my phone now, in a spare moment or “every 10 minutes” it is to re-read my devotions for the day; rather than checking for updates. But now I need to focus on the text messages. I too am one that feels they have to respond immediately to a text, and humbly admit that I feel discouraged if someone doesn’t quickly respond to mine. So that will be my next area of re-focus. I need to learn to not let those things take priority over BEING. Thank you for your message!
Thank you for this awesome encourgement. I know I need to apply all of the tips to my daily schedule but I’m excited to try the brain dumping my task on paper. The highlighting is what did it for me. : ) Anything to use paper, pens, and highlighters is a winner. Now off the computer to accomplish some things.
Thank you so much Karen!!!
I think God was talking to me through your ideas todays, I have been spending way too much time reading emails, searching for items I don’t have the money to be purchasing right now and many other wasteful tasks.
This has made me open my eyes to remember who comes first in my journey with God today and I need to take care of my family and other priorities first before spending time on the endless realms of the internet.
What a beautiful blessing for me to start my day!!
I love the phone alarm and getting a pat on the back when you have completed a task. I also like the highlighting of like tasks together. I loved the entire list and I am one of the people that jump up and volunteer when something needs to be done and feel overwhelmed most of the time. I am working on this and setting my priorities. Thanks for a wonderful post and a jumpstart to getting it done. Sweet Blessings to you and thanks for all you do.
Funny how much time playing games can take…Working on that one… Like the timer idea. Thank you so much for your devotion / blog
I love the Bible on top of your IPad! What a great visual reminder.
I love the phone alarm idea. I use my phone alarm for everything, but I never thought of using it like that. Thanks for the idea.
I loved all of the suggestions but the ones I will start using right away is grouping the tasks with highlighters and alarms. I have already started telling myself as of a few days ago that I am NOT required to answer EVERY text right away or EVERY inbox message. I need to answer them, but as I have time to do so…planned time. Thanks for the post!
Wow! God is so good! He knows what we need before we even ask! This devotional is EXACTLY where I have been struggling. My husband is gone out of state to raise support for the prison ministry God has blessed us with. While he has been gone, I have frittered away more of my time than I would like to confess. I really like your idea about setting a timer. We have a house to pack up to move. We are building a house and will moat likely be moving in August. I must get to packing.g, but I tend to be a procrastinator anyway. Social media has become my time-waster of choice. THANK YOU for your honesty and challenge. I will do my best to begin today. May God richly bless the ministry He has given you.
I like the phone alarm for Reminders & I too put my Bible on my Kindle-don’t have Ipod yet!
I alternate between physical and mental tasks. I have a bad back so taking breaks is a must. When I sit down I read, pay bills, sort paperwork, etc. for 15-30 minutes (depending on how bad I hurt) before getting up to tackle more housekeeping.
Thanks for these tips! Sometimes I feel like I just somehow missed all the lessons on time management and organization…and then I feel foolish trying to get ideas or tips from others because they don’t realize how far I need to grow…
Anyway, I liked the brain dump and highlight idea, but my favorite one was using he timer on my phone to focus and direct my time (and then encourage myself). Plus the reminders on my lock screen…evidently, I just need to run with these suggestions! Thanks
I’m good about not being attached to my phone, but that computer becomes a black hole that sucks up my time. I don’t like it! I haven’t joined facebook and one of the reasons os because I want to spend less time online, not more. I’m going to try to set a timer to limit my computer time. Thank you for writing these tips!
Thank you, Karen for all the wonderful ideas on using the TOOLS in our lives. I especially loved the idea of placing my Bible on top of my Ipad on my kitchen desk at night. What an awesome reminder for me of right priorities when I walk in the kitchen each new day!!
Uh oh, I think I’ve spent too much time, though, reading all the great comments to today’s post!
Gotta go, now. Love, Anita
Thank You Karen for your devotion on Tangent proofing your time. I closed my facebook account a few months ago because even though I love keeping up with all my friends etc, I simply do not want to be caught up in all the gossip and what others are wanting to say about other people but are afraid to say it to that particular person in general. I have found that I am so much happier and I have kept all my friends and relatives personal emails so that I can contact them this way and my day goes by so much better. I am sure if I need to know something that God will reveal it to me. Again, Thank You for the reminder. God Bless You in a special way today.
This quote right here: “Plan your work and then work your plan, grouping like tasks together” got my attention pretty quick! I tend to make nice lists for myself at the beginning of the week, but then I do not look at that list the rest of the week. One of my problems is that I do not “work my plan.” “Grouping like tasks together” makes a lot of sense too. I need to work on this as well. I am learning to try to be more focused and less of a multi-tasker because I do seem to get distracted a lot. I look up from doing something and realize I had deserted the task I orginally began (several times over) – I get on a lot of tangents. I am trying to reign it in as much as possible because there is a lot going on in my household and family lately. I cannot seem to keep up. I feel busy all of the time and go from one thing to the next but most of the time do not feel much accomplishment. That is debilitating sometimes and then I get even less accomplished. I also like the idea of the “brain dump” and then highlighting to put those things in the different colors to group like items together! Thank you so much for the encouragement and helpful ideas to put into practice! I would really like to be entered into the drawing for the book!
This is exactly why I left Facebook! And Ive never looked back. I still email, and text but am able to keep it in moderaton. I prefer these methods over actual phone calls most of the time, then I can answer questions, make plans, and get information for people on MY time, not when I hear the ring of the phone! I would like to do a better job if putting God first. I usually go for the iPad, and read emails first thing in the morning, while kids watch cartoons, and do my God time when they nap. I could even say a prayer, acknowledge Him, His hand in my life, and connected with Him before I start my day. Thanks Karen!
Thank you, thank you for this helpful insight today. I like the advice of 30 minutes of computer time per day. I too am finding that my phone & computer time takes away some precious minutes of my day. That is one thing that I am going to try
Thank you for the “doable”, helpful suggestions! I will try to set my cell alarm (I often use the kitchen timer) and the color-coding with hi-lighters for my task list!! Now it’s time for me to get off email and get back to my IPad screen that has my prayer requests…
I really like the 30 min of email. I get so tangled in frequent email checks and being mastered by their arrival and not necessarily focusing on the tasks I am in the midst of.
Really like the visual tip with the bible.
I just found your blog while spending time with Proverbs 31 writers on the daily email post. I like the tip about using my phone with the alarm. I like to use the tools to the max. I used to use the timer on my stove but this idea is a symptom of being tied to the technology gadgets you mention.
This is an area where I need to get out of this black hole. It wastes time and prevents me from getting things done. I signed up to receive your daily doses and get back to living above the hole!
I love the highlighter idea! I am list maker so I will definitely br using this one. I also like the timer idea.
I am already a list-maker and alternate between physical and brain activities. However, I plan to highlight my tasks and set an alarm. I also love the idea of rewarding myself! Thanks for the reminder of keeping my priorities straight. It’s just too easy to pick-up my iPad and spend too much time on Facebook when I need to be in the Word or talking with my family. God bless!
I love these tips, Karen! I have a Smartphone and found it can pull me away from God, family and daily chores. I love your tip of working in incremental time slots. I know that will work well for me. I like your idea of mixing brain-energy tasks with brainless tasks. I usually just go at it and find I go braindead before all the tasks are done. Mixing them up is a good idea. Thanks for your tips. I’ll be back to your blog again. I can really use your guide for getting and STAYING organized! I work so hard at getting organized, but I can’t seem to stay with it. I hope to win your guide to help me get there!
I love the tip for using the phone alarm. I am going to try that!!!
I’ve kind of avoided the whole technology thing…no Facebook, Twitter, etc. I just don’t want to spend all that time doing what looks like nothing. Of course, my boys are all in elementary school, so my opinion will probably change as they get older. I do find myself drawn to reading even when I have loads of work to do, so I have to be careful about that. Thanks for all your tips too.
Unfortunately I need to utilize all the tips and I look forward to trying them out, I really do need to set boundaries and prioritize my work/life, I really appreciate the encouraging words of wisdom and I am a people pleaser so I try avoiding my responsibilities to please everyone besides myself.
I am a list maker, and love the idea of using highlighters for like chores/errands rather than rewriting the list! Great idea!
I came over from the Proverbs 31 Ministries email I received. This came just at the right time (God seems to do that for me a lot).
I have been “avoiding” Facebook this week because I feel as if I get sucked into the comparison trap and it’s unhealthy for me. I’ve been trying to find a system to help with my time management and I appreciate the ideas on how to stay organized. I need all the help I can get. I work part-time (in work I don’t love – yet), I am taking a Masters Class and I am going through a year-long Health Coach program. I am a Registered Dietitian looking to start her own consulting business. Some days I feel overwhelmed and I feel like I don’t get anything accomplished when I’m home. I like the idea of mixing it up. I’m going to try the tip to use my brain for a while, then my hands for awhile. I have a lot of computer work to do lately and it is brain draining. 
Thanks!
Great advice! I already sort of group my tasks….what I am excited to try is the utilization of my phone’s alarm and work in predetermined shifts! I think focusing on just one thing at a time will help me a whole lot. I’m going to share this with friends!
Hmm, hard to choose just one of these great ideas! But I think I like the “Utilize your phone alarm” one best. I am one of those “chain Facebook-ers” who checks my newsfeed every few minutes, “just in case something new has happened”. Next thing I know, it’s bedtime, the sink’s still full of dirty dishes, the laundry is still piled in the floor, and the dust bunnies in my bathroom are having a family reunion! But hey, I know what all my FB buddies had for dinner! LOL (BTW, I’m linking this on FB….)
I love making lists, but I need to get better about managing the time I spend on each task. I love the idea of a timer. No one says you have to completely clean out a closet all at once. I think that is why I am not starting a task. I dread working at something for 2 or 3 hours at once. Why do I have to? Give it a good 30 minutes and move on! Come back to it in a few days! This has inspired me to get to the “abyss”. The room that was once an office, but now holds a bunch of JUNK-it’s the dumping ground for all kinds of things
I’d love for it to be a guest bedroom…..I will tame it this summer!
Your blog today is exactly what I needed! I, too, love to help people. I, too, can let friend’s requests fill my time. I, too, have a tendency to let time slip away when I am on the computer. I am trying prayerfully to regain control of my schedule and to set priorities. I will start making a list of “things to do” as I used to do. I think I will use my phone alarm when I get on the computer so time doesn’t slip away so much. Thank you so much!
Wonderful tips, I especially liked the bible on the i pad and the phone reminders with an encouraging message.
Thanks
I love the idea of braindumping the list onto one sheet & color coding! I look forward to prettier lists. My organizational secret is to exercise 1st thing in the morning; after taking care of myself, my love and energies can be freely given to my family & others. My mind is clearer too!
Great post today! I definitely needed the “Bible over blogs” message!!! The visual reminders tip will be helpful… before turning on or viewing anything via an “electronic device” blackberry, computer, etc. I need to first seek God’s written word. And for me in hard copy form – the Book. Sometimes even when the intention is to read something Biblical via a cellphone or computer, before I can get to it, someone has sent a text or email or even an article on the Yahoo home page will catch my attention and I am distracted from getting to the Word! As today is June 1st, I plan to put this into practice this Summer and hopefully it will be a “ritual” by Fall.
less is more, I am on day 118 of reading the Bible in a year. i try to read my Bible study first before spending time in e-mails and facebook.
I need to think about all that you mentioned….
Wow Karen, I love this! I have really been in search of balance since I am a stay at home mom of twins and run a business as well. It is too easy to get drawn into my work and neglect my little ones/housework! Thanks so much for your tips! I have read/tried some of them before and I think I need to just get back on it! Making lists has helped but I haven’t done them so much lately. I love the cute saying that you put for your alarm. I think I will try that!
The one that I find I would really like to try is: Alternate between working with your brain and working with your hands. I tend to be on the computer too much and then when it is time to do offline work or spend time with my family, I am drained!! I have a BIG problem with this so please pray for me lol! Thanks again! I love this post and have shared!
Continued blessings to you and yours!
I have always been a gal to make lists, but since being laid up for an injury, the lists have gone away. I have been trying to figure out how to get back to doing what I need to get done and now I know. My list will be made out each evening of what I need to do the next day. Thankyou for helping me get my life back in order while spending time on the couch with my feet up!
What a blessing for this to be in my e-mail inbox today! I usually get my Bible reading done first, but from there my day can be spent aimlessly trying to motivate myself to do something productive. In my journal today, I wrote: new day, new month, new attitude. Your inspiration has given me an application to put to use. My husband has been trying to get me to make “lists” for some time now. Thank you for your words of wisdom and practicality: now it’s off to make that list before another day gets away from me!
Thanks, Karen; these are all great tips. I recently began using a timer technique and it seems to work well – I just need to remember to do it more often! I really like the idea of alternating working with my brain and working with my hands. I bookmarked this post to go back to later =)
Wow! Thank you Karen!
You know God always has a way of giving you confirmation rather it be thru the bible, internet,
people, church you name it! but sense I read your artical Love it! It has really blessed my soul and gave me some in site on time management and organizing my time to be able to Give more
time to God, I am going to take the advice you gave here in this artical and apply it ASAP! Thanks! again Karen! you have helped open up and gave me a motivation to do the right thing!
love the idea of seting an alarm. it’s so easy to lose track of time and have an hour go by. thanks!
I like the idea of working in shifts. I’m definitely trying that one. Thanks!
I love the idea of using highlighters to group things on a list. I like to have a list, but get flustered when I realize I forget to add something that should have been at the top of the page.
Thanks for the giveaway!
This is great, I often use my iPhones calendar with alarm reminders of appointments or events and that helPs me a lot… But have never tried the 30/45 minute task alarm, that’s a great idea… Another thing I do is, I have a reminder every day twice a day that says “BE the best mom/wIfe you can be” because I don’t want to get lost in the “to do list” and let life get the best of me with a bad attitude… That reminder helps me to focus and when my husband and daughters get home with all the fun and not so things they did at work/school I can be a good listener ear and answer them with love…
Thank you fOr a wonderful devotion… Blessings!
Karen~
Your post has left me all choked up! I am online all the time when I am home. My husband and I are havimg major issues with our 16 yr old son, my husband is still recovering from an accident that happened last Oct (he was hit by a SUV while he was delivering to a Mr Hero, the driver crashed thru the window pinning my husband to the counter) I use the computor to “get away” from what is going on in our life and home everyday. I have been diagnosed with some unexpected health issues myself, and am overwhelemed by the clutter that has piled up in my home and do nothing about it. I have let it everything go~~ the shame I am feeling is overwheming, but I am going to write a list and tackle a few things tommorrow.~ putting God back first is my #1 priority, and then family, then my house. Clutter is so un-peaceful, when I look around, it makes me feel awful. I know it t won’t happen in a day, but I will keep chipping away at it, little by little. I also plan to set a limit for online time. Thanks Karen, for showing me my tangents, I now have some hope to change some things around~~~ God Bless You Always, Kim
Thanks!
I liked the tip on setting a visual reminder. Over the last few weeks we’ve been keeping a devotional book in our car and we do a famly devotion on our way to work/school which has helped reset our focus before our day officially begins.
I am amazed at the way we are so attached to cell phones & other gadgets, I see it on the bus, in stores, even in church….. Some things need to be left alone and when we start letting it control us that’s when we need to take a look at the big picture. Anyways, would love a chance to win your book as I do need to get organized & don’t know about Staples card as we don’t have one in our area but could always give it to someone….. Have a blessed day! Thanks for the good insights, much appreciated!
I like all your tips! Especially the highlighting one.
Great tips! “Less is more” really resonated with me. I need to set up some boundaries with my time on the phone/computer. Why would I want my daughter to think that my phone is more important than spending quality time with her?
I most want to try highlighting a “brain-dump” list in different colors. I make lots of lists on different pieces of paper and lose them or decide I need to “redo” them to organize them and it truly does get me sidetracked and even paralyzed at times! So that the tool becomes a hurdle instead of a help. Great idea!
This was exactly what I needed to read today! I am definitely using your idea of Visual Reminders, especially Bible over Blogs. I wake up in the morning and look at my phone first. I had downloaded a Bible App thinking that would help me read the Bible before FB or email but it didn’t work the way I thought it would. I think setting my Bible on top of my phone just might be the answer to help me re-establish this discipline! Thank you so much.
Thanks for your post. I totally agree with the timer idea. My daughter and I just spoke of this last night. She got on the computer after work, and before she knew it 3 hours went by! I like the idea of having the phone talk to me and tell me to get an iced tea too! I like all of your suggestions actually. I’m going to try them all.
I liked making a visual of my priorities. I feel daily defeat with Facebook. It is a wonderful tool to share encouragment, ideas, ect. but I find myself “sucked in” way too often. Thank you for your tips!
Dear Karen,
Thank you for all the great ideas. I do combine my errands and even plan my route for efficiency, and I have gotten much better with my games (former Farmville addict). But texting is newer to me, and I sometimes think I can text this person real quickly even though I’m in the middle of a conversation with my husband… Yikes!. The person sending the text can wait but my priorities cannot. Thank you for the reminder : )
Wow! This really hit home! Truly an eye opener and definitely see some things I need to change especially since my kiddos are home for the summer. I want to set the example that technology has its place but needs to be limited. Thank you for the gentle reminder to focus on what’s more important.
Thank you for all the useful tips. I don’t want my summer to fly by with me not getting my “To Do” list done because I wasted my time. I need to make a list of daily goals and clump them together when possible. I need to make sure I run errands once a week and try to keep them in one area of town as much as possible.
I need to set my cell phone alarm to only use the computer/email/FB or any other time zappers for a limited amount of time – maybe 30 minutes. I do use my computer as a tool for my daily devotions, but it’s used more as a toy & definitely more as a tangent. Sometimes, I finish a task (YAY!) but then sit down at the computer to fool around & have nothing of importance to even look up. It’s such a BAD HABIT!! Thank you truly making me realize that I’m not using the time God gave me wisely!
What a great post! These are all great ideas but the tip I’d most like to try is grouping like tasks with the same color. Thank you for sharing.
I love the highlighting the groups idea. I would usually re-write my list so that I wouldn’t miss something.
I had been trying to get organized just to be organized; but now that I am working full time, acting as my church’s Financial Secretary, volunteering for the American Cancer Society, going to school part-time and still trying to spend time with my kids, I need to be even better about it. I find that my Bible reading is already suffering.
One thing I have done is learned to say ‘no’. That’s much more difficult than it sounds.
Thank you so much!!! I love lists, but the hilighter idea is awesome, going to try it!!! Technology can be fantastic, but I see that it can drive a wedge in our relationships and suck up our time. I am avidly teaching my children the “lost art” of handwritten cards and notes
Hi Karen – great post today! I like a couple of ideas — 1)highlighting tasks of the same nature the same color. In making my To Do List, I like to keep like tasks together and it does take more time on the brain. 2)setting a timeframe to complete my task & setting my phone alarm to remind me. I’ve often found myself looking at the time, which is a distraction and gets me off focus.
Blessings on your day and weekend! ~Jodie
Alternate between working with your brain and working with your hands. This is the tip I would like to keep in mind. Hanging clothes out on the line is my ultimate “brainless” activity
Thank you so much for this blog post, I cannot tell you how frustrated I get with myself when I struggle to limit my text/internet time as I too am a people-pleaser!
I think I’d like to try the list idea, as well as the switching tasks from using my brain to using my hands tip. They’re all great ideas though!
The Proverbs 31 email, which I’ve only started receiving, really does brighten my day and helps me to refocus on God. I appreciate it so much
Love the brain dump and then highlighting. I think that will be a good strategy for me to try. I love my lists, but this will help me keep them a little more organized and managed. Thanks!
I’ve stayed away from most social media but still find the internet is a distraction. I like the idea of making a ‘things I need to do on the computer’ list and setting a time limit each day to work through this list. What doesn’t get done today will get done tomorrow. This is a habit I will continue when I finally join the social media world.
I use my google calendar as a to-do list and write in the time I plan to get a certain item done. The reminder dings on my phone and reminds me to “call now to schedule the dentist appointment.”
I REALLY needed your encouragement today! Thank you for your helpful tips! I’m planning on planning my time, using my alarm and limiting computer time to 30 minutes! Thanks again for sharing!
I enjoyed your blog today! Made me think of the time I actually enjoy being away from technology and electricity when we go camping. Definitely a refreshing time! The same goes with my telling boys to get off computer after a time limit is up, and I need to tell myself the same. In that case, I am getting off now!
I love the concept of phone alarms. I have been doing that particularly praying for my daughter at a particular time of day. Now will use the idea of grouping tasks and using different color of highlighters. Thanks, Karen!
Thank you for sharing these tips today! I love the idea of just dumping your ideas and going back with a highlighter to group them. I try to group them as I write them and often loose my train of thought and forget to write down some important task. I also am going to use the alarm system to keep from getting sucked in and loosing track of time, especially on the computer. This is a great idea!
Karen,
I tend to be a people pleaser, too, so I closed my facebook page. When I felt like I was supposed to do it, I put it off by telling myself I would only go on to answer facebook emails–but you know how that ended up. The smack to the forehead came for me when I realized how I was pushing my children away, telling them I would be with them when I finished reading things online. They are only with me for a short time, and I want every minute to count!
Thanks for the encouragement and great tips. I appreciate you!
Selena
Oh my!! I feel as if this entry was written with my name all over it! Last fall I moved from teaching to working for a non-profit agency from a home “office” (corner of the dining room?!) I have really struggled with time management. I have been overly connected to work & the families we serve and already knew that I MUST re-evaluate my practices to claim time for God, my family and myself. Karen, how could I pick just one tip that you shared? I love the idea of highlighting similar tasks on my to-do list. Alternating the work tasks–brain vs. hands will most definitely increase my productivity and effectiveness. One that I hadn’t considered was getting a new cell number…I truly see the benefit!
Thank you SO much for sharing these practical strategies. Eager to make changes.
Setting phone alarm to work on projects for a specific period of time. I can appreciate alternating brainy tasks with physical labor. I give myself physical jobs as micro mini breaks at work already. Lots of great ideas!
Karen,
I LOVE your idea about putting your bible on top of your laptop! I was challenged by a tweet from Travis Cottell saying what if we got to the end of our life and spent more time tweeting about our lives rather than living it? OUCH! This came during Lent so I took him up on the challenge to only tweet on the weekend. It has freed me up to not squander time, but I have to admit I have “peeked” a few times during the week. But grace
This is so for me. I am a stay-at-home mom with two young boys. I definitely have struggled with letting the computer and phone take over my priorities. I have the people-pleaser mentality and don’t like to disappoint people, and therefore feel I need to respond immediately and check my emails constantly to make sure I’m not “missing” something or someone. When in reality I am missing out on my own family. That sounds terrible to say. Ugh. I was convicted of this in recent months, and am still working on this struggle. I am glad to be aware of it though, and I love your tips. I am definitely a list maker and have gotten away from that since I’ve been staying home where I don’t feel as much “pressure” to get things done. I am going to get back to list making! I love the feeling of crossing something off a list. Thank you for your encouragement and sharing your story!
This blog came at a good time for me. I feel like I’ve wasted a lot of time with reading blogs, pinning on Pinterest, keeping up w/ Facebook, etc. And my house is showing the ill effects! Just before reading this blog, I was unsubscribing from any that weren’t giving me enough info lately. (I had already cleaned up & organized my FB “likes” & friends list a few weeks ago.)
I’ve enjoyed the blogs I’ve found and I’ve learned so much & felt so good about things, but too much is too much. It’s time to prioritize.
I love your tips, Karen! Today is my first day reading your blog, but I loved every word! I have been making the brain-dump lists (which help me sleep without worrying about all the things I need to remember) but love the color-coding idea! I also used the timer trick quite a bit when studying for final exams, and for a while when my husband and I tried to spend a few minutes each night tidying up. It would have worked even better if we had only kept it up! But my favorite of your tips today is putting the picture of our family (priorities) on the computer or phone screens, and Bible on top of the iPad. What a great way to remind us that every day is precious! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom!
I like the ideas of setting an alarm for a set period of time and just working on that task until the alarm rings, no delays!
I also love the idea of planning my work. I work off vague lists and ideas, but I really need to get back to the concrete schedule – I do so much better that way!
Less is more- that is what I need to work on. I am constantly available via my phone and therefore I always feel the need to answer/respond or message back. When really, the person doesn’t need an immediate answer, it is just that is what they are used to getting from me…
Thanks for the encouragement to live my priorities! I really enjoy your blog!!
I, too, am a list maker. When writing my grocery list I place items in order of the grocery store aisles so I won’t need to backtrack and waste time while shopping. Of course this works best if you shop regularly at the store and are familiar with the aisles. I also make an errand list in order of the store locations so I’m not backtracking or crossing the highways. Saves gas too.
I needed this today! I need to set (and then honor!) specific times to respond to emails and be on Facebook. I run a home based business so both are important tools for me but they can also steal focus from other important tasks. I want to do what HE asks of me first and respond to others’ requests second. Thanks for the post and. contest!
I am bad to list and rewrite the list to make it flow. I’m thinking highlighters are MUCH better!!
And bibles over blogs is brilliant. I always connect with God through my daily e-devotions, but this reminds me there is no substitute for His word in full. Kind of like the difference between my daughter having a FaceTime visit with her dad versus a real visit when he comes to see her.
Thanks so much for your wisdom. I am a list freak and consider myself very organized. As I read your blog i realized how much I’ve lost my way. I have felt so frustrated lately and it’s because i have allowed so many of these tools to become a tangent. I loved the suggestion of changing my home screen on my phone and then sadly, i realized that i do already have my daughters on my home screen. I will look at it different now. As a reminder of where my time is better spent. Also, i love the alarm suggestion. Since as mom’s be rarely have someone tell us that we have done a great job, i think the encouraging alarm will be a great pick me up when I’m cleaning. Thanks you so much for sharing.
I so agree with you about e-mail! I do much of my work on the computer so have to be careful not to get distracted making frequent email checks. One thing I do is designate “e-mail clearing” time every week. During the week I don’t read in detail all of the the devotions, newsletters, blog entries etc. that I get via e-mail. I take the time, usually Friday afternoon, to go thru and read all of those e-mails, at that time taking the action of forwarding, deleting, moving to another folder, etc. When I get into the “groove” of doing that it doesn’t take long; when I do it in the midst of other work tasks it’s harder to get back to the task I was SUPPOSED to be doing.
THANKS for the other great suggestions!
I had my regular “to do” list laminated. That way I can check things off with a dry erase marker and then at the beginning of a new week, I can just erase last weeks checks. Things that are out of the ordinary get written in my planner.
Thank you for all the great ideas. I like the visual reminder of time priorities idea. I am so thankful for all of you at Proverbs 31! Blessings to you!
Hi Karen,
Thank you for your post. I have been struggling ith this issue and losing ground. I already use a timer on my watch and was encouraged that the same concept works for you. I have tried to make lists, and end up doing “spider web brainstorming” on a small whiteboard, which isn’t always convient to carry about. When I use paper, I feel I have to write and re-write it so that my list is grouped together. I really like your idea of the highlighters because I can still follow my visual bent with the color coordination at a glance, without carying the whiteboard around, grin. I appreciate the ‘permission’ to limit my time being sucked away by technology, and being poured unproductively into people and away from the responsibilities and needs of my family. I still want to interact, encourage and minister to perople, but I can guiltlessly set a limit on my outgo of time through technology by the visual reminder of my Bible placed ontop of my laptop. Thank you so much.
I like the idea to alternate between types of jobs (mind and hands). I’ll have to try that.
I am going to try the idea of scheduling my time better, not being a slave to my phone, email, Facebook, whatever takes away from my family time. I also like the idea of putting my viable on top of my phone, so that’s the first thing I do in the morning.
You are my hero, Karen!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and putting into words the same feelings I have been having about “Tools, Toys and Tangents”! These feelings of guilt have been eating away at me, but I have never been able to put my finger on what it was that was really going on. After reading your article on Proverbs 31 and then reading your blog, I am feeling empowered to let go of the guilt and begin to use some of your tools to take control again!!
The tip that I’m going to try is using the alarm to help keep on track with my working list. I think this will break away from my tangent long enough to say, “Look at what you’ve accomplished during this time!! Now, let’s move on and accomplish something good in another area – and all for the glory of God!!”
Thank you for the encouragement to prioritize and get organized. The ideas you give are practical and helpful in getting focused on one area at a time. I have found that a lot can be accomplished in short periods of time. Even 10 minutes a day on one area can bring success. It is a day at home with so much to do it is overwhelming but I’m encouraged to start so here I go….
Wow! I really liked your ideas! I have discovered for myself making a list is very helpful and I feel like I’m accomplishing something when I can cross it off when it’s done. So, I’m going to try to do this everyday. Thanks for your ideas!
I loved the Proverbs 31 devotion and this post yesterday. I find myself often feeling overwhelmed with my 3 little ones, but I know a lot of it can be attributed to poor time management – too much time on FB/e-mail and not utilizing my time wisely. I love the idea of using my phone alarm to set time limits of when to do things. It’s a fine line for me between spending time with my littles and having a clean, organized house. If I used an alarm, I may find a better balance!
Love these tips!! I am definitely going to try the visual reminders. I also have times (like going to the park with my kids) that I leave my cell phone at home so I’m not tempted to endless check email and texts. Even just an hour or two can feel like such a huge break from being always-reachable!
I need to write down my lists rather than keep them in my head… And I like the idea of highlighting like tasks in the same color. Very timely post for me!
Great blog post ! I like the less is more. Sometimes that delete button is needed.
I like the idea of highlighting the lists. I do my calendar in different colors for each family member so why not make my to-do list colorful, too. I use a timer regularly. Especially for things I don’t want to do. I set the timer for 15 to 30 minutes and just do it. As it turns out, this job I’ve been dreading is done in 15 to 30 minutes. All that procrastinating for nothing. Like today, I “wanted” to clean the blinds and window in the toy room. Been putting it off all week. Done in 30 minutes! Sometimes when I have things I want to do but there really isn’t a time pressure yet, I make my list, roll a die, count down the list to that number, set the timer (usually 30 minutes) and go do it. If I totally finish it, I can cross it off. If not, I roll the die to see what I do next.
I use lists most days a big help staying focused. Need to use the timer to encourage keeping on task. Remember racing to get laundry on the line before the mail came as a kid.
I like the idea of having a lock screen that asks me “Have you spent time with God today?” because so often when I first wake up, I get busy with other things and haven’t done a quiet time yet. Thank you!
Reminder that I use – “No Bible . . . no breakfast!”
I love the cell phone/ electronic communication limits. I have found that if I take my cell phone and turn it to silent or vibrate and then lay it on the table rather than in my pocket, I can get a lot accomplaished and when I’m ready for a break from work, I can call or text back. Too bad I don’t do it more often – I’d have more time
Thank you Karen, this was a good and timely message. My husband and I were just talking about how back in the ’70′s when we were teens how life was so much simpler without cell phones and Internet, etc. if you were out and wanted to reach someone you used a pay phone! It seems so easy to get distracted with all the techie stuff, I believe it has in many ways become a national addiction. Thanks for your suggestions!
I liked the idea of using the alarm on the phone and also the list and highlighting! I am definitely going to try those things out.
I like the idea of setting an alarm on my cell phone. Great way to stay focused on the task without worrying about the time. Thanks for all the great advise.
Great ideas.! I hope to incorprate all five into my life on a daily basis. I know it may take time to change my habits, but I’m ready to start making changes TODAY! Thank you for the helpful tips!
I love the tip to use a timer for tasks!
The tip that I will set in place first (and have tried before) is to “Set up a visual reminder of your time priorities.” I really like the “Bible over blogs” tip. I have good intentions, but fail often. Thank you for the enouragement.
I also plan to get better about planning! With six children, spending even 30 minutes of one-on-one time is a big chunk of the day. I have promised them a schedule for Monday.
Thank you!
Elizabeth
I like the idea of leaving my bible at night over my laptop as a reminder. I also like to turn my phonee to silent every night at 8:00 for less distractions.
HI! I deffinatley have a problem with staying on track and getting things done, especially when i don’t have a motive. I loved all of your tips! I am for sure going to use all of them! I love to go on pinterest, and because i have such easy access to it, a 5 minute break can easily turn into a 2 hour break. So i loved the idea of putting my Bible on top of my computer! Such a great reminder! I will also put a reminder on my computer screen that says Tool, Toy, or Tangent? so before i even hit the internet button those questions will go through my head. Thank you so much. These simple tips are going to help a lot.
I absolutely love the idea of the colored highlighters around task groupings! I use a planner pad and using highlighting on top of that has to be the best of the best of organizing!!!!! Check out plannerpad.com. Hope this helps! Cindy
You are exactly right! I know I need to set the boundaries. I actually had the revelation yesterday after spending HOURS on the internet over the last few days researching a really good and useful topic for my family that this was no more than a tangent I was on. Imagine my surprise when today’s devotion was about technology being a tangent. Wow! Point well taken. Thanks.
I need to plan! I think I would be so much better at being organized if I had a system and a plan for every day. I don’t know why, but that initial step into planning is the hardest one for me, but I’m totally lost without it.
Your devotion “Tool, Toy or Tangent” was such an answer to prayer as I had made the decision back in January (a resolution) to reduce the amount of time I spent on the computer and texting as well. Yet, it had not been received well by many of my peers who are very attached to the immediate gratification that these seem to provide. I am a stay-at-home mom, “my job” is my kids and I just felt that technology was getting in the way. It was wonderful to hear that someone else out there agrees with my position! Thank you Karen.
I like the idea of grouping like items and using a timer.
Thank you for your tips. The Internet and just staying focused are my biggest stumbling blocks.
So glad to hear your comments about technology! I have been convicted for some time now about wasting time on FB just to be discouraged or frustrated over posts that were irrelevant. I do love to keep in touch with old friends though! Lol! So, I set the timer for a certain amount of time and say good bye for now when it goes off! I do try to make a list to do things that need attention, but never thought to color code by category. Great idea! I am going to try it and I know it will help me stay focused and get more accomplished! Thanks! I needed that!
I like the Bible over the blog idea.
I love this article…I deal with these issues every day. As a gramma raising grands, I am very overwhelmed some days. Praise God, .my health has improved, thanks to natural therapies, and I now have the energy to tackle some things, that have gotten out of control. At one time there were ten people living in my home., including 5 sweet grandchildren age 6 and under. I have wasted too much time on the computer in the past, and I need to get the bad habits under control. I now need to discover how to use some of these tips, as I am tech challenged.. I am blessed to have an Ipad, that I used Target giftcards to purchase.. .which was an amazing treat. I have a droid phone, but I am sure they weren’t designed for 49 year old grammas…thank you so much for this.. I am praying I can be a better steward of my time as a wife, mother and grandmother….
I plan to try the hightlighter method….. some days I feel like I get nothing accomplished because I don’t stay focused on one task at a time.
I, too, use the color coding system and the phone alarm! I love it my color coded calendar. I have a set of colored pens. Each color represents a different person in my family and/or a different part of my life (purple=church, green=work, pink=me time, etc.) I’ve tried to go electronic with my system, but I’m returning to pen and paper – I like being able to scribble notes in my calendar. Thank you for your insights!
Well, I guess I missed the giveaway, but wanted to leave you a comment anyway. I need to put some of these suggestions into practice(probably all of them). I too am a people pleaser and have been told by a counselor that I need to learn how to say NO. It is so hard and I have a terrible time being overwhelmed and frustrated by the things I can’t do. I am signed up for the latest bible study, but still don’t have the book. Thank you so much for posting these putting into practice ideas, that doesn’t come easily. Have a blessed week!
Thankfully I realized about a year ago that I was spending too much time on the internet and neglecting my husband in the evening and neglecting God. We both work full time and evenings are the only time we have together, when I realized he seemed very distant. Why shouldn’t he? I was spending all my awake time on social media sights! Now I have set limits of checking out what is happening about once a week (usually do it before he even gets home), and am back to reading my Bible daily! I have not missed the social sites one bit!
I so enjoy keeping up with your blog. You have so many wonderful insights and great ideas. I’m having a hard time keeping up with the times, never really cared to follow a blog, honestly, but I have thoroughly enjoyed receiving your updates thru email. Thanks so much for sharing your gift.
I appreciate your thoughts so very much. I struggle in knowing how to divide my time as I enjoy interacting with those who need encouragement. I have been setting my kitchen timer…..then when it rings I go to my next chore. I love organization. Without my timer, too much gets left for the following week. Many thanks for blessing all of us.
Hi I am a first-time reader and couldn’t agree with you more regarding the texting “stress.” It literally makes me anxious. I have found that leaving my phone on silent and letting the important people know they should call me on my house phone if it is important is so freeing! (Old fashioned…but freeing!! so funny) Thank you for your ministry I look forward to following your blog. We are kindred spirits in so many ways. Bless you!!
I want to start using my phone alarm more as you suggest.
Needed to read this! Since I have several online businesses (two Etsy shops and a Half-com shop, plus freelance writing which requires emails to editors), a blog that I felt God was pushing me to start, and ministry that I’m trying to keep up with on Facebook, I need some boundaries for online for sure. Tips I’ll use: listing goals (I tend to keep them in my head… not good); using the timer more (including to limit time online…); and Bible over blog – I’m going to stick a post-it on the cover of my laptop that says, “Have you read your Bible yet?” Thanks for the tips!!