The Cost of Time

I'm busy.

You're busy.

Back to back busy.

So much to do, so little time.

I know you're busy, but...

Maybe I can squeeze you in.

I'll have my people get in touch with your people.

Busy is a badge of honor these days.

I confess I love being busy.

The more work and projects I have, the better I feel. I love productivity,

Free time? What's that?

I develop a slight rash when sitting quietly with no task at hand.

You know it's bad when I schedule "sit on patio" or "read a book" on my to-do list.

I have to force myself to rest and relax.

Free time? Ewe. So wasteful.

Time is a precious and priceless commodity that should be cherished and honored.

Every second counts.

But that doesn't mean we have to work ourselves into a frenzy, performing and tasking from dawn to dusk until we pass out from sheer exhaustion as we squeeze out every bit of production from every minute.

Stop the madness.

Take a deep breath. And another. One more.

That's better.

Life is to be lived, not worked.

Everything we do with our moments on this earth is precious.

Let's do a time study to see what we are really spending - and I mean SPENDING - our time on.

My top time wasters are:

• Scrolling

• Binging

• People pleasing (especially doing things I said yes to when I meant no)

• Overthinking

• Ruminating (a little more annoying than just overthinking)

• Discontented dreaming - wishing for things to be different

• Meetings (could have been an email)

• Email inbox organization (still better than a meeting)

• Password changes and multi-factor authentification

Seriously though, my fellow busy beaver, time is ticking, and the moments are flying by us.

God has blessed us with this life, and yes, every moment counts.

But that doesn't mean we have to work ourselves into a manic frenzy.

In quiet reflection, we can pause, connect with God, and gain the wisdom and rest we long for to live our best lives.

Working hard and playing hard is my jam.

But so is stopping to smell the flowers.

Or sitting with a friend who needs someone to be with them in their struggles.

Or enjoying the beauty of nature

Or listening to my kids tell me about their lives.

Or hearing my husband sing while he does yard work.

Or helping someone in need

Or watching my garden grow

Or feeling grateful and content with my life as it is.

Or spending time with God, thanking Him for loving and rescuing me.

Perhaps productive and peaceful should be my new jam.

How about you?

How are you spending your time?

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Proverbs 3: 13-18

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Psalm 39: 4-5

O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!