Leadership: Set your schedule

God has called me to remind people of their chief end: To glorify God and enjoy Him. But in order to do this effectively, I have found that I need a plan - schedule. Here's how I set my weekly schedule:

1. Look ahead - I end each Thursday by looking ahead to the upcoming week. I look to see what's coming up with my family, personal and ministry calendar.

2. Priorities - If I'm not careful, I'll place my work ahead of my family and myself (sleep less, stress, etc.). So I begin placing what I consider are my most important items on my calendar. I understand that within ministry, emergencies will arise. So I am aware that my schedule can be changed. However, on a typical day/week, here's what I consider most important:

• Quiet Time - I schedule this to happen each morning. Bible intake and prayer.
• Wife - Ensure my wife is able to meet her goals for the upcoming week.
• Family Events - Soccer games, ballet, gymnastics, play dates, etc.
• Teaching Preparation - If I'm not careful, preparing for lessons/sermons can fall to the wayside and lesson preparation can be neglected until the end of the week. I consider teaching/preaching extremely important to my ministry, so I have learned over the years to make sure I schedule time to study and prepare for upcoming lessons.
• Read/Pray - I need to schedule time to grow. A friend recently reminded me 'Leaders are Readers'. I also schedule in another time to pray throughout the day.
• Meetings - I schedule staff meetings and other appointments.
• Ministry Programs/Program Planning - What events or programs are coming up? I look ahead and plan time to finalize details and also look ahead a few weeks and schedule time to plan for programs that will be upcoming in the next few weeks/months.
• Contacts - Who will I contact this week? Leaders, volunteers, families? I schedule this for the upcoming week.

Over the years, taking time at the end of the week to plan the upcoming week actually frees me to do the work of the ministry. Yes, emergencies arise and I adjust for the sake of ministering to others. But it's then that I am blessed to remind others of our chief end. Not weekly agendas or a perfectly planned week, but our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him.

http://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/5-steps-to-prioritize-your-priorities

https://michaelhyatt.com/productive-day.html

How do you plan your day/week?

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