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Well, it’s been a while now, hasn’t it? But I hope you’ll draw up a chair and stay a bit! Today I want to write about getting things done. And as the title of this post suggests, these are simply my thoughts. I am a young student. I have a lot to learn. But these techniques are ones that have helped me when I feel overwhelmed or pressed to get things done. I am no expert on this and struggle on a daily basis with keeping my priorities straight. But I wanted to write them out anyway, and if you are encouraged, I am so glad! :)

Let me start by saying that even when pressured by a mountain of things to do, don’t skimp on your time with the Lord. First reading His word and praying will help you to keep a quiet and calm heart in the midst of a busy schedule. If you can, do it first thing in the morning, because I have found that the things I do right after I wake up set the tone for the entire day. 

(1) Make a list. Make a list. Make a list. List-making hugely reduces stress because it frees up our brains to not have to remember every detail. We don’t need to worry. We simply to refer to our lists when we get forget what comes next. I am officially hooked on Wunderlist. Wesley introduced it to me, and though very hesitant to switch from paper-and-pencil lists, I finally gave it a try. Now I can’t go a day without it. Basically it’s an online “list-making” program you can download to your mobile phone or computer. It allows you to enter items and cross them off when you’re complete. You can even share these lists with family members and friends! But regardless of the type of list you use, be sure that you don’t try to fit too much into one day.

(2) Communicate! If you live at home with your family, check with your mom/dad/siblings before holing up in your room to study. I can have a tendency to go study before double-checking with the family schedule, which leads to miscommunication. Let your family know what you are doing and try to structure your personal schedule around the family schedule so that you can be available when needed.

(3) Remove distractions. Before sitting down to tackle a pile of projects, first remove every distraction. Turn off the music. Log out of Facebook. Close the door. I personally have a hard time getting anything accomplished in a messy room, so I do a quick tidy first. Do what it takes to create an environment that will help you focus.

(4) Take the plunge. Typically, the hardest part about doing something you don’t want to do is getting started. This applies to not only studying, but also to workouts, chores, projects, and even just getting out of my warm bed on a cold morning! :) I have only one thing to say: Just. Do. It. You can’t get anything done without first starting it. Get past the initial push and it’ll often be downhill from there.

(5) Tackle the small stuff first. Do the little things on your list before attacking the big ones. Things like returning a phone call, shooting a quick message, or turning in that mandatory 5-minute survey should be done first. These are easy to pick off one-by-one. By doing them first, you’ll really feel like you are making tracks, which carries over to the big stuff as well.

(6) Recharge. Say you’ve been working non-stop for a while now. It’s time to take a break! I cannot emphasize the importance of this enough. One of the most common and detrimental mistakes students make is that they write up a big hairy huge list of things to get done, lock the door, grit their teeth, and resolve to not come out under any circumstance until it’s DONE. Completed. Bam. Big mistake. Taking breaks is essential for optimal study time. Give your eyes a break by not staying on the computer. Be creative and think outside the box: I like to play the piano, play fetch with my dog, throw the football with my brothers, do some jumping jacks, chin ups, or pushups, run a mile, eat a cookie. Or two. Or ten. Just kidding. You could fold a load of laundry, bake cookies, clean a bathroom, or do some other household chore that doesn’t require much brain energy. A good break will help you avoid getting burnt out and gives you the boost you need to come back at it with energy and enthusiasm.

(7) Re-group. Finally, one of the biggest mistakes I make at the end of the day is getting discouraged over what I didn’t accomplish instead of looking at everything I DID get done. Don’t make that mistake. If something takes longer than expected or if you ended up deviating from your plans to do something more important, don’t worry! Get back on track tomorrow. Life happens and doesn’t always go as planned. Don’t be such a stickler that you can’t enjoy a spontaneous event. That’s how memories are made. :)

So there’s my two cents on the subject. What are some things you do to help you get things done?

Before this semester started, I was pretty nervous. Not exactly nervous about my classes, but about how I would be able to juggle the full-time load along with my family life, job, projects, and responsibilities. And really, compared to the lives of some people, I wouldn’t even come close to “busy.” It’s a relative term. But it all seemed busy enough to me and I was kinda scared. I really didn’t want to be in that constant stress mode, feeling scattered and disorganized all the time.

Fast forward several weeks and after getting a feel for my class load, I can say very thankfully that it’s not nearly as bad as I’d anticipated, especially since all of my classes are online. But you know what else has helped me? Making a list and sticking to it. Devising a schedule which lays out my day and which will help me to be consistently disciplined. There are some excellent tools available to help me do this, which I’ll be covering in a future post.

I read this morning that sometimes the very hardest things to do are those which are small and seemingly unimportant. Having discipline to do the not-so-fun things that we want to avoid for as long as possible is tough. But the little things we do in life – the way we use each 15 minute block of time – add up. I’ll freely admit that I don’t always make the best choices about managing my time. I can get distracted and the time seems to fly away from me. Yet….

 “Being faithful in the smallest things is the way to gain, maintain, and demonstrate the strength needed to accomplish something great.”
-from Do Hard Things

Faithfulness means being steadfast, consistent, always there, depended upon. In application of this concept: wherever you are, be all there. We can’t be in two places at once and rushing something never accomplished much anyway. Here is a list of practical ways I’ve thought up to implement this challenge of “being all there.” I  wrote it out for myself, really. These are things I am trying to work on and I thought I would share them with you as well.

When trying to tackle a hard math concept or turn in a writing assignment on time, give it your full concentration and don’t mosey over to Facebook or your blog feed for a “brain break.” It’s easy to get lost in the internet and spend waaay too much time online, even if you’re reading some great articles. 

When having coffee with a friend or family member, fully engage in the conversation and enjoy it! One-on-one time with those closest to us is a huge gift. Don’t be distracted by all you have to do afterwards.

When you’re in church worshipping the Lord, do it with all your heart and don’t let your mind wander over the past week or the week ahead.

When cleaning the house, at work, volunteering, or ministering in some way – whatever it is – go the extra mile and give it your best effort. The people around you will appreciate you for it and you’ll accomplish more than you thought was possible. 

When having dinner with your family, playing a family game, or watching a family movie, put the phone away and don’t be distracted by text messages or your twitter feed. Most can wait. Family time cannot, is limited, and is a priceless time investment.

When you exercise, go all out and enjoy it. Exercise should not be something you dread. If you don’t like to run or bike, try walking, lifting, or doing a workout video instead!

When you spend time with the Lord in secret, quiet your heart before Him and ask Him to help you remove all distractions in your mind so that you can focus and leave with a cup filled to overflowing.

All of these things – devotions, relationships, school, work, play – are huge blessings! I never want to lose sight of the fact that all is grace in my life in the first place. I want to be a better steward of what I’ve been given and be purposeful about doing all to the glory of God. We are all given the priceless gift of time, our most valuable resource. It can’t be bought or hoarded away. Every moment is fleeting, never to return.

24 hours. Every day. How will we choose to use our time this very day?

Yesterday while flipping through a book that I have just started reading (A Chance to Die, by Elisabeth Elliot), I found a bookmark with this poem written on it. The poem was first written by Catherine Carmichael to her daughter, Amy. It was such a beautiful and timely encouragement to me. I hope it encourages you today!

He who has led will lead
All through the wilderness,
He who has fed will surely feed….
He who has heard your cry
Will never close His ear,
He who has marked your faintest sigh
Will not forget your tear.
So rest on Him today –
forever!