Every day, we make dozens of decisions about, “What do I do next?”
“Do I finish that work project or spend quality time with the family?”
“Should I pay the bills, visit with friends, or just relax and watch some TV?”
“Do I start on that church service project, get some exercise, or scroll YouTube?”
When making such choices, a noble goal is striving for excellence by being productive, as long as we also focus on keeping a healthy balance in our lives. The good news is there are great productivity strategies we can balance as we make choices:
1. Effectiveness: Identify the important things – We can be more effective by working on the right things by focusing on planning, preparation, and people. That includes focusing on the most important things, which may sometimes be different from our natural, heads-down tendencies . For example, the article “Just Another Day” describes how to use the five STEPS to remind us of important activities we should include in each day such as these three things:
- Honor God – Schedule quiet time alone with God every day.
- Invest in relationships – Spend quality time with key people.
- Serve others – Serve people in the moment and on projects.
2. Efficiency: Be very intentional with our time – We can be efficient by working smart and managing our priorities, time, and resources. Prioritization of our time should be done “on purpose” by consciously deciding what to do next rather than wandering from one activity to another. That includes blocking out time for important projects while also recognizing that important things sometimes appear in the form of “interruptions” such as a person in need or a “divine appointment.”
3. Effort: Pursue excellence by doing our best – We give our top effort when we work hard and do the best we can, show personal leadership, and do whatever it takes. Doing our best does not mean obsessing on perfection. It focuses on making personal progress versus controlling outcomes and pursuing productivity rather than ego or recognition. Doing our best includes not doing some things by resisting distractions, temptation, bad habits, and addictions one day at a time.
As we strive for excellence by being productive, it’s important to remain balanced about what we do. Wisely choosing what to do next should not be a heads-down pursuit of “productivity at all costs.” We also want to engage in an ongoing wellness-based process that moves us toward greater well-being spiritually, emotionally, socially, mentally, and personally.
The strategies described above can help guide us to make better choices on what to do next. They have certainly helped me become more productive, but I still sometimes struggle with nagging questions related to balance such as:
- How much do I really need to get done today and when is enough?
- When is it okay to relax, and when does that desire mean I’m procrastinating?
- When do I slow down and enjoy the moment rather than keep working on something?
- How much does God care what I do next, and when am I worrying too much on those choices?
We all struggle with balance. At times, we may be lazy, addicted to comfort, or perfection-driven, and we procrastinate doing things we should. Other times, we become compulsive about control, performance, or recognition such that work becomes an addiction and an idol in our lives. Striving for excellence while finding balance may be a lifelong journey for many of us.
What Does God Think About What We Do?
Spiritually, I’m still conflicted at times on how productive I am supposed to be each day as I try to balance guidance such as:
God does not need our assistance in order for him to accomplish his purposes.
But he has asked that we seek to do certain things while we are here on earth.
God does not want us to worry about how the future will turn out.
But he wants us to work hard and do the best we can at all we do.
God does not love us more just because we are productive.
But he does want us to be good stewards of our time and talents.
To help achieve the right balance spiritually, we need to remember that God is in control, and he is more concerned about our heart than the outcomes of our decisions or how hard we work. Which brings us to a few additional points to consider:
Consider everything we do as holy – Whatever we work on, it is important to God, and any task we do can be done for him. From an eternal perspective, WHAT we do is less important than WHY we do it (to honor God or serve others) and HOW we do it (by giving it our very best). It is important to work on the right things, but we can honor God in whatever we do.
Stop giving into excessive worry – Worry is when we feel anxiety or unease and allow our mind to dwell on something we are unsure about. If we are not sure about what to do next, it’s often best to just pick the thing that feels right and do it. We ask God to guide our efforts, do the best we can on that task, and feel okay about it. We can always adjust later if needed.
Be a good steward of our time – Our perspective should be to treat time as a gift we have been given and gratefully do what we can to use it wisely. Sometimes, that may be to slow down and spend time with family or friends. Other times, to rest and recharge. Or to work hard. Whatever choice we make, we should do it intentionally, thoughtfully, and prayerfully.
For me, there’s probably not a perfect answer to my personal productivity dilemma, and it seems that God wants me to work it out as best I can along my daily journey. In fact, thinking about what to do next helps keep me focused on God’s direction for my life. He uses even my own uncertainty and addictions—control, perfection, performance—to help me improve.
But the question for you is, “What should you do next?”
Next Right Steps: Each day, if you are trying to use your time wisely, give yourself a break. God is in control, and everything does not depend on you, so just do the best you can making prayerful good choices. Then, relax and enjoy the journey.
