Redeeming Your Time

Redeeming your time isn't about getting more done, but making the time you have align with what matters most to you and glorifies God.

1. Accepting That Our Time Is Limited

Understanding that we have limited time on Earth can feel discouraging at first, but it's an important truth to embrace. Sin introduced mortality into the world, making it impossible for anyone to finish all they wish to achieve. Even transformational figures like William Wilberforce, who nearly eradicated slavery, felt their work was incomplete.

This acknowledgment leads to a perspective shift. For Christians, the work we do on Earth is part of a bigger narrative—God's eternal plan. Our unfinished tasks still carry weight because God can magnify and finalize the impact of what we leave behind. Steve Jobs, for instance, didn't complete everything he intended, but his inventions continue to shape the world today.

Recognizing our limited time prompts us to focus on what truly matters—our values, beliefs, and God’s purpose for us. Jesus Christ demonstrated this through His resurrection, reminding us of the eternal story we are part of. Our work has eternal significance because it contributes to God's kingdom, a mission larger than ourselves.

Examples

• William Wilberforce fought tirelessly against slavery, knowing his work may remain incomplete, yet trusting its lasting significance.
• Steve Jobs' innovations, like the iPhone, continue to impact lives beyond his lifetime.
• Jesus’ resurrection offers hope, underscoring the eternal value of our efforts.

2. Tackling the Mental Stress of Unfinished Tasks

Open loops—unfinished tasks circling your mind—create mental clutter and stress. The Zeigarnik effect explains why they stick in your head and distract you. A solution? Use external systems to capture these tasks and commitments, like trusted to-do lists or planners.

Writing down your tasks isn’t just practical; it’s documented to improve focus and calmness. Imagine planning a birthday party—listing everything needed shifts the responsibility from your brain to paper, freeing your mind. The same applies to commitments you’ve made. Honor your word by organizing commitments clearly, ensuring your "yes" remains "yes."

Adopting productivity frameworks, like David Allen’s "Getting Things Done" (GTD), breaks tasks into manageable bites, reducing stress. Tools like OmniFocus make task management seamless, helping you plan, prioritize, and focus effectively.

Examples

• Organizing a chaotic to-do list provides clarity and reduces stress.
• The GTD framework simplifies tasks through structured steps like organizing and reflecting.
• OmniFocus offers a digital solution for tracking priorities and deadlines.

3. Embracing Silence in a Distracting World

Creating quiet spaces is vital for clarity and creativity. Modern life inundates us with entertainment and distractions, leaving little room for stillness. Aaron Sorkin and C.S. Lewis found inspiration in moments of boredom, creativity sparked by the silence.

Solitude helps distinguish the meaningful from the trivial. Taking walks in nature, avoiding social media, or pausing screen time creates opportunities to think deeply. Cutting out noise isn't easy but yields significant benefits for mental clarity.

For practical changes, ask friends to share curated, valuable information rather than sifting on your own. Additionally, avoid infinite scrolling on social media. Instead, choose bounded content like books, print magazines, or podcasts—it helps curb distractions and restores focus.

Examples

• Aaron Sorkin’s creativity blossomed thanks to moments of boredom.
• A social media detox offers mental clarity and reduces overstimulation.
• Swapping endless scrolling for finite resources like podcasts encourages focused thinking.

4. Defining and Honoring Goals

Setting clear goals is transformative in managing time well. Tamika Catchings, a basketball star, demonstrated this by taping her dream—playing professionally—on her bathroom mirror. Having her goal visible allowed her to prioritize time and refuse distractions.

Jesus showed remarkable focus on His mission. In Mark 1:29–38, He chose to leave one village, despite demands for His attention, to prioritize preaching in others. Like Catchings and Christ, identifying key objectives helps us focus on what supports these goals.

Silent reflection is the first step in defining priorities. Writing down goals and committing to them visually, as Tamika did, ensures daily reminders of what matters. Pair this with the 80/20 Principle—identifying activities that yield the greatest results—and you can better invest your time.

Examples

• Tamika Catchings' commitment to her basketball dream led her to win four Olympic gold medals.
• Jesus prioritized preaching over distractions, achieving His divine mission.
• Using the 80/20 Principle maximizes time spent on high-impact activities.

5. Understanding the Eternality of Our Efforts

Even incomplete work has importance if it aligns with eternal values. The Christian narrative offers hope and purpose—our efforts contribute to a greater, godly objective. This perspective reframes death not as a limitation but as part of an eternal continuum.

Jesus invites believers to collaborate with God in eternal kingdom-building. When we focus our work as a means of loving others and glorifying God, its lasting impact transcends time. Figures like Wilberforce, though leaving tasks unfinished, still advanced a righteous cause.

Knowing God completes what’s left undone encourages trust in His design. It motivates us to build meaningful legacies, knowing they serve a purpose larger than personal success.

Examples

• Wilberforce’s fight against slavery delivered progress aligned with God's kingdom values.
• Steve Jobs’ legacy persists in improving lives well beyond his time on Earth.
• Co-laboring with God reminds Christians that their contributions are eternal.

6. Using Workflow Systems to Stay Organized

Managing the chaos of many tasks requires an effective system. Productivity tools prevent important obligations from falling through the cracks. For example, GTD involves capturing all tasks, clarifying them, organizing priorities, reflecting on them, and then taking action.

OmniFocus, designed for GTD users, allows efficient task management digitally. It organizes commitments, sets reminders, and schedules actions. Such systems lessen overwhelm and bring order to an otherwise unmanageable workload.

Adopting these methods ensures you're working smarter, not harder. With intentionality and a plan, you free up mental energy for what’s important, instead of juggling everything at once.

Examples

• Tech systems like OmniFocus help track full schedules.
• GTD’s five steps keep priorities visible and achievable.
• Structuring commitments eliminates stress by providing clarity.

7. The Power of Restful Intervals

Hustling non-stop doesn't equate to greater success. Rest plays an essential role in productivity. Shay Cochrane, for instance, solved her business challenges by pausing. Her subconscious worked overtime while resting, leading to a breakthrough strategy.

Taking bi-hourly breaks—fifteen minutes of rest after ninety minutes of work—revitalizes energy and focus. Famous creatives like Leonardo da Vinci incorporated this rhythm. Adequate sleep further enhances problem-solving and ensures mental freshness.

Observing a weekly Sabbath also restores balance. Historical records show that rest days, paradoxically, improved long-term productivity. Even modern examples like Chick-fil-A, closed on Sundays, reflect how rest supports flourishing.

Examples

• Shay Cochrane’s burst of clarity came after stepping back.
• Restorative breaks aided Leonardo da Vinci and Edison in creativity.
• The Sabbath elevated productivity in travelers and businesses alike.

8. Limiting Distractions Keeps You on Course

Distractions are everywhere. To accomplish meaningful work, you need to filter out noise. Social media’s endless feed steals focus, while curated or finite content offers insight without sensory overload.

Blocking distractions might mean downloading apps that track and limit phone use. It could also involve setting boundaries for technology-free spaces at home. Choosing what media you consume mindfully reduces unnecessary input.

Practicing discernment over time allocation ensures you’re pursuing what aligns with your mission instead of merely reacting to stimuli.

Examples

• Screen time tracking apps help reduce tech addiction.
• Limiting phone use paves the way for focused family time.
• Mindful media consumption aids clarity in decision-making.

9. Collaboration with God as a Partner

As Christians, framing our work as a collaboration with God lends extraordinary meaning. Rather than striving independently, partnering with divine intention builds lasting contributions.

Each task, whether large or small, becomes part of a larger spiritual story. A commitment to eternal values ensures that our labor glorifies more than the present—it invites eternal significance.

Seek direction through prayer and align daily efforts with what supports kingdom-building. This mindset reshapes work into an act of meaningful worship.

Examples

• Joint missions with God integrate faith into everyday efforts.
• Prayer offers a resourceful guide for meaningful priorities.
• Glorifying God in tasks reframes even mundane work as purposeful.

Takeaways

1. Start each day by reflecting on your main goal and writing down what truly matters. Place this reminder somewhere visible.
2. Allocate time each week to disconnect from distractions like infinite social media scrolling. Practice deep focus on meaningful tasks instead.
3. Build rest into your daily schedule, using techniques like bi-hourly breaks, eight hours of sleep, and a weekly Sabbath day to recharge fully.