This feels good. I haven’t done this in a while. I’m writing this post in a coffee shop on a Thursday morning. There’s nothing amazing about this. In fact it was a part of my routine for years. Wake up early, head to a local coffee shop, write, blog and set up my social media. Then life happened and my schedule took a hit.
Nothing bad has happened. The pace of life just picked up and the last few months have been like putting together a 1000 piece puzzle. It’s not the first time this has happened either, in fact there have been many times in my life where my schedule has been reshuffled.
Creating and maintaining a schedule is one of the best habits a youth minister (Any professional) can have for them self. A schedule:
- Gives Direction
- Creates Margin
- Produces Efficiency
The problem is when life happens. Maybe your pastor is leaving. Maybe a teenager passes away. Maybe you are expecting a child at home. Maybe you’ve just been battling personal demons. Doesn’t matter what the cause when your schedule gets knocked out of whack, the question that you need to answer is, “How do I get it back?”
This is where you need to:
- Set Aside Time: Sacrificing time when you do not feel like you have any is daunting. When you set aside time to work on your schedule and priorities you build a plan. If you use that time wisely you’ll not only make up for the times you’ve set aside, but you’ll find yourself getting ahead.
- Find Cheerleaders And Coaches: You need people to hold you accountable. That means asking people to encourage you in your journey to get back on track. It also means finding people who will give you insight and tools. Surrounding yourself with people who want you to succeed is key to finding peace in your schedule.
- Reflect On Your Limits: When your schedule becomes chaotic it’s because you went beyond your limits. It’s in prayer and during a sabbath when you can, with a cool head, focus on where you might need to say no. When you reflect on your limits you can discover what needs to be delegated. Reflecting on your limits will help you tweak your previous schedule so you don’t find yourself making the same mistakes.
- Ask God To Carry You: Getting back on track isn’t as simple as saying, “I want to get back on track.” It’s relying on God to give you the love, energy, wisdom and focus needed to get there. Be direct and ask God to guide you and when the opportunity presents itself, jump on it.
Life will happen. When it does you need to trust that God is with you. Lean on Him, revisit what you were doing and see what needs to change. When you are intentional about creating a schedule you’ll find order and that will lead to peace of mind.
How do you get back on track?
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