Intentional Time

 

Time.
A couple years ago, my husband and I spent a few weeks in Africa, visiting and encouraging our friends in the mission field there.  There were many things that were strikingly different in Kitwe, Zambia compared to my small Midwest town, as I'm sure anyone could guess. Among many things, one thing that stood out to me was the use and concept of time.

One day there was need for a part for a machine that had broken down.  Here in America, we could drive to a store, find the part, check out, and head home.  With the presence of self-checkout, we could even get that all done with zero human interaction.  The amount of time spent on the whole thing could be minimal. In contrast, in Zambia we drove to 3 different parts stores, each time first asking the owner how he was, how his family was, etc, and then discussing where the part could be found (spoiler alert, NOT in their store).  We spent an entire afternoon trying to find the part and in the end came home empty handed.

We did not get things done very quickly that afternoon, but we were quite intentional with our time.  Relationships were built and information was gathered. I remember our friend saying it wasn't a wasted trip, that things were accomplished despite the part never being acquired. And in the end, we did have to special order the part online.

I certainly had to shift my focus after that experience. In what I first had thought was a complete waste of an afternoon was in fact not that at all. I often get hung up on the to-do's and getting things done when in fact it may be more about what our time is filled with instead.

 

Despite the obvious benefits of punctuality and expediency, I am convinced that speed isn’t exactly what we’re after here in the America. What we want is meaning. Time well spent. Some of us might enjoy the thought of completing a hundred useless tasks in an hour, but I imagine most of us would prefer completing one single important task instead. At the end of the day, I want to know that I did at least one thing that mattered.

Of the myriad things we do each day, we want something to count– not just in a quantifiable way, but in a soul-filling, joy-inducing way

This is likely why the thought of an intentional life appeals to us. Of the myriad things we do each day, we want something to count– not just in a quantifiable way, but in a soul-filling, joy-inducing way. Being intentional means recognizing the value of our time and its possibilities, and making the best of it. Most of us can attest to the fact that discipline doesn’t come naturally. If given permission, many of us might watch television and eat chocolate all day, everyday. But we desire more– so we must build ourselves towards that. As I think about my most productive and meaningful days, I realize that there are particular practices that make that happen. Categorizing my tasks and designating a time slot is one of them. In other words, make a plan– not just a checklist. Many of us love lists, and crossing items off of lists, but our lists need an added component: time slots. Whether you plan a whole day or simply plan the next two hours, giving yourself a time to start and stop discourages procrastination. Along with that, creating categories can aid with focus. Complete each task category one at a time rather than switching back and forth between vastly different tasks. Even the act of organizing can generate focus and motivation.  This week, think about how you organize your time, your day to day. Is it electronic, on paper, a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants?  How can you improve your daily schedule so that intentionality is built in? Can you segment your hours to be more focused on certain tasks? Set reminders on your phone to bring you back into focus? Life is full and busy and will sweep us along whether we are ready for it or not. It's up to us if we let ourselves be pulled along, drifting without any real meaning or direction. Or if we choose to pick up the paddle, fill our time with intention, and live a life full of meaning.   Get the Using our Money, Intentionally Guide Get weekly inspiration and hope for living an Intentional Life delivered right to your inbox!  Sign up HERE