Morning Quickie: Where Does the Time Go?

For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.  ~Doug Larson

Even though I don't sleep the recommended eight hours of sleep and do my best to multitask, I never seem to have enough time. There is always another chapter to be read, report to be done, event to attend. More work to be done, miles to be walked on the treadmill and hair to be washed... Usually I end up falling asleep reading, writing, or tweeting.
So I'm trying to figure out how to make more time to do what I need to do. My main focus is time for writing, so that's where I'm starting. (If I try to do it all at once I know I'm gonna be completely overwhelmed.) My goal is to carve out one hour a day during the week and two hours on Sunday during which I unplug from everything and everyone. No phone, no Twitter, *gasp* no tv. Just me, my pen and notepad. Maybe my iPad if I can discipline myself not to get online. Once this becomes a regular habit, I'll move on to carving out time for other important things. I'll also try to use my calendars/organizers more. I put things on the calendar (computer, iPhone and iPad) but rarely check them. What good does that do? Lemme tell ya, it does absolutely no good. But imma do better, I promise!

Do you have 24-hours a day, or does it seem like someone shorted you a few hours? What do you do or use to manage your time wisely?

 

Quote of the Day: "Tips for the Trip"

Usually on fourth Sundays, I kinda zone out during the sermon. The preacher is one that I would rather not hear (we have different preachers every Sunday of the month). But yesterday was a little different, probably because the sermon related to what I'm currently dealing with. He talked about the Israelites leaving Egypt & how God didn't take them the shortest way so they could avoid danger. (Somehow in all my years of churchgoing I've never heard that, but anyway...) The preacher gave four points, or "Tips for the Trip" as the sermon was titled, but the first two are what really stuck out to me.

1. The shortest way is not always the surest way 

2. It's not the speed of the pace, it's the success of the race

I could've broken down crying at both of these. At times--a lot more recently--it seems like everyone is ahead of me. I look around and everyone is moving, buying houses, getting married, working in the career they want. Meanwhile, I seem stuck in a rut and hearing the same old cliché, "Your time is coming." It's been tempting to just jump out there and try to make something happen on my own, especially with the house issue. But I can't look at what others are doing and think I need to be doing the same (or better) because I don't know what they are facing or what they did to get where they are.

We all have a reason for being where we are now, and a season to come into all that we are meant to be, do, and have. It's a struggle to be patient, but important not to move in such a hurry that we are blind to the pitfalls. Remember the tips for the trip and listen to that little voice inside of you. It won't lead you wrong.