Help! I’ve fallen down in my work and I can’t keep up…

by vernsanders on December 17, 2010

There’s a lot of self-help material out there…in fact Google Answers says this (clearly some time ago, and before the 2008 economic troubles, but still…):

The total self-improvement market (incl. revenues of weight loss
programs) was estimated to be worth $9.59 billion in 2005. The market
grew more than 24% between 2003 and 2005. We expect 11.4% yearly
growth through 2010, to a value of $13.9 billion.

And most of those self help materials (well…maybe not the weight loss ones) tell you that time management is a major key to success (that, and the program they’re selling…). I’ve found a time management system that works for me, and it allows me to keep all my plates spinning.

But then comes something unexpected or really any form of laborus interruptus…including a vacation…and then I really have trouble. Something has to give, and it does. I’ve learned that the “something” needs to be some part of my workload, or the “something” will be health related in the form of a cold or flu, or worse. So whatever the “something” is that I give up, makes somebody mad, or frustrated, or both. Can’t be helped.

I’ve learned that the work will be there tomorrow, and “your sense that your agenda is important does not translate into a crisis for me.”

Why is this important? Because I took a week off at Thanksgiving time, and I’m still not caught up…and I’m going to take another week off at Christmas, because that week at Thanksgiving did a lot for my mental perspective. It helped me remember to have an interesting life, not just a 24/7 agenda.

Your results may vary.

But I heartily recommend it.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Janice Timm December 18, 2010 at 11:57 pm

So- my year in New Zealand did me a world of good in learning how to just step back and say “no worries” because it definitely will still be there to do when you return! Our whole culture is so wrapped up in *doing* that we forget to *be.*
I am considering having a “no event” Christmas next year – meaning except for regular worship services, and the Christmas Eve service, no extra things like carol sing-alongs or choir concerts – there certainly is plenty of other stuff out there, and yes, even other choirs to go hear!

vernsanders December 19, 2010 at 9:57 pm

Janice-

I find in my present situation that there is an important Christmas ministry in a Living Nativity presentation. Because it is a small church in a small town, I’ve made the decision that it is senseless to drain the volunteer pool and slice our efforts by putting on a concert or other presentation. These last few years have been the most stress free years of Christmas ministry in my career. And guess what…I don’t miss it…

much…

blessings,

vs

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