How Are You Spending?

Have you ever said you don't have time? I know I have! It's a commonly said thing. There are 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. We may not use the entire 24 hours when we factor in our sleep. If you get 6 hours of sleep, then you have 126 hours in a week. Time is a resource, just like money, and we spend it daily. We may not be aware of how we spend it, but we spend it. When it comes to tangible resources like currency, it can be a little easier to see when spending. Our bank accounts let us know when we have spent too much. When my husband and I wanted to become better stewards of our money, we looked are how we were spending it. We found that it wasn't that we didn't have the money, but we were overspending or spending in the wrong places. 

​The same I found to be accurate with time. When I looked at it, and I mean really looked at how I spent my time...I had it, I have it...I just am not stewarding it the best way. When I really got intentional about my time management, my eyes were indeed opened! Where did the time come from, I thought? The truth was that it was always there.  I just needed to look at my time bank account, and I had to be honest with myself. Did I have to watch 3 episodes? On some days, the answer is no. Other weeks it's yes because it was how I chose to unplug from a week of crazy. Did I stay on that call longer than I should have? Yes, because I didn't know how to tell them I needed to go or didn't want them to feel bad. Other times, it may be that I needed to stay on the call or keep texting because my friend needed me. When I spend in one area more than planned, I commit to cutting back in another place. I don't see it as a penalty, but a way to keep my time budget balanced. Should you feel like you don't have enough time, try taking some time to look at your time and obligations at the beginning of the week and determine how you will spend. Always remain flexible, but if you have not planned/budgeted, you increase your likelihood of blowing your budget. 

As  I sat and thought about the spending of time, it lead me to relationships.

We also spend resources when it comes to the relationships in our life. We spend time, energy, and possibly financial resources when it comes to our relationships. The relationships in our life can be costly! :) 😉   Because they can be costly, we should be intentional and thoughtful when we spend and with whom we spend them on. Don't overspend your resources on friendships that you are not meant to be spent on. Now, I think we should spend, but the quantity and quality of those resources are not equal across all of your life relationships. You have to know the right places to spend and the right portions! 

Can I share something? Some people in your life will say they don't have time, and they won't have time, depending on the season they are in. You must be gracious and understanding, especially if the bank account shows that they historically are a deposit maker and not just a withdrawer.  The feeling you are experiencing is a withdrawal on the account, but they will get back into their flow. They will start making deposits into the account. However, if they historically don't make deposits even when they aren't in a busy season...perhaps you need to evaluate their position in your life to help you manage your expectations of them. Don't keep making high-value deposits into an account that you can not withdraw from, and you are the only one making deposits...no matter the season.  

We are called to be good stewards of our resources. Here is some food for thought.
How are you spending them? Where are you spending them?  Why are you spending them that particular what? Is it the best way? Are you spending them on the right people?

Until Next Time~
J.Branch