When you don't have time, make time

I'm the victim of the lie that our society believes: If you have free time, you aren't doing enough. i know that no one has ever said it, but that is the assumption. We are always moving, always busy, always stressed out.

I'm no exception. I work full-time, lead a worship team at church, teach zumba classes (they're seriously so much fun!), do makeup artistry and Mary Kay, and I run an etsy shop. So yeah, I am always busy. To top that off, I have an amazing boyfriend who happens to live 77 miles away from me, so I am always trying to "fit him in." But that's exactly the problem.

Let me back up for a second. A few weeks ago, I was listening to my co-worker talk about how she was overwhelmed. She explained all that she had to do and the things that people asked her to do. Finally I said, "Why don't you just say no?" The moment I said it, I realize that's the same thing for me too. I don't like to say no. I don't want to let people down.

But then I realized something important. If it's a church commitment and I don't have time for it, I need to say no and have faith that God will take care of this position. If I say yes and I am stressed out and over-stretched because of it, am I really giving my best for the kingdom of God? If I make myself physically ill because I have so much responsibility, am I taking care of myself? Is that being a good steward?

I know that everything comes down to priorities. What's important to you? What do you HAVE to do? What do you THINK you have to do, but you really don't? What stresses you out that doesn't need to stress you out?

Work is a priority for me, as it is for most people. Exercise is important, as it should be, as well as my church commitments. But then, I need to take time for me, and do things that I love to do. I need to spend my time investing in PEOPLE. I purposely leave my Friday nights without plans most weeks so that I have a moment to chill. I usually spend that time crocheting and talking with my mom or watching The Golden Girls.

God time needs to be a priority. "Me" time needs to be a priority, as well as the people who are most important to me. None of these have to be mutually exclusive. I can have God time while having "me" time. I can spend five minutes in my car reading my Bible before going in to Panera to meet my friends. I have realized that utilizing the minutes that slip away is the only way I can maximize my time.
I'm still learning, though. I'm learning not to beat myself up when I don't get everything done when I want to. I'm learning to relax and have fun and to give myself a break. I'm also learning how to chase all of my dreams without pushing myself to the breaking point. I know it's possible. But life's always a journey. I realize that I'm never going to "get there" because reaching the destination means the journey is over. I'm going to keep going and going, like the annoying Energizer Bunny, only less pink. (Ok, at least not fluffy pink...)

So I just want to leave you with this challenge: What is taking up your time that you THINK you have to do, but really you don't? What are your real priorities? How can you make time for the people who are important to you?