Will what you’re doing today matter five years from now?
You’re overloaded and exhausted. You’re drowning in things to do. Business might be great, but you’re struggling. Your relationships are suffering, you’re neglecting your health, and you know life is not supposed to be this way.
I’ve been there. And sometimes I catch myself slipping back there. But over the years, I’ve learned how to manage myself when life gets overwhelming, and I want to share my secrets with you.
Make sure you’re spending sufficient time with God. Put prayer, meditation and study high on your daily priority list. Don’t claim lack of time as an excuse. When you give time with God the priority it deserves, you’ll have more time for other things. Purposefully partner with the Holy Spirit in order to make a living through giving of yourself intentionally and strategically in the ways you are meant to do. You cannot give from an empty pot, but God cannot fill you if you don’t spend time with him.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4, NIV)
Move. Get in motion. Change your location. If you’re inside, go outside, get in nature and reconnect with the beauty of the world around you. Get out of the place where you feel like stress is burying you. Movement can disrupt your overwhelm.
Enlist allies. This is more commonly called delegating, but I love the term enlisting allies. These allies may be in your office, they may be family members or friends. Look around to see who can help you and ask. Don’t prejudge and assume they’re not available; let them make that decision. And don’t wait until you’re drowning to reach out for a lifeline—do it while you’re paddling around in the shallow water so you never hit that crisis point.
Don’t take someone else’s monkey. You’ve probably heard some version of the example of someone walking around with a monkey (problem) on their shoulder trying to give it to others. If that monkey is not your responsibility, don’t take it. Of course, when you can help, you should—just as you need allies, you should also be an ally. But do it with discernment. It must be sustainable, not draining.
Make “no” your favorite word. Be discriminating about what you say yes to, and say no more often. All of those things you don’t do allow you to do the things you are supposed to do. Know what you’re supposed to be doing (you do that by spending sufficient time with God) and only do those things. Say no to the rest.
Did you know in the Good Book, it says:
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37, NIV)
The enemy knows he can’t get you to rob a bank, but he can rob you of your God-given destiny by stealing your time. Don’t let him.
Does it matter? Take a look at everything you’re doing and ask yourself if any of it will matter five years from now. Some of it will, some of it won’t. Keep doing what will matter and let everything else go.
Now, relax and enjoy being in the center of God’s will, which is a flourishing life with God, for God and sustained through God. That’s the life God intends for you.
