Time Management for Sunday School Leaders, Part 2

In Part 1, I said that revolutionary Sunday School requires more than two four-letter words: time and work. It also requires the wisest investment of that time and work. I said the difference is how we use the time and energy we have. In Part 1, I shared the first five tips from an article entitled Top 10 Time Tamers:

• Write down your long-term goals.
• Everyday, divide your tasks into A, B, and C priorities.
• Block off time for activities that are important.
• Stop spending time on trivia.
• Have courage to say no.

In Part 2, we will look at the last five tips. The “time tamers” are in all capitals followed by my commentary and application to your work in Sunday School:

• ALWAYS START MEETINGS ON TIME. When you start late, multiply the time you are wasting times the number of persons in the room. Don’t teach your class or group members to show up late by starting late. I like the article’s suggestion: “Do something however minor, but get started.” This is true for class sessions, teacher training sessions, planning meetings, and even appointments.
• SLOW DOWN. This sounds wrong, but it’s not. Look people in the face. Slow down to listen in every interaction (in the long run, it will aid communication and reduce misunderstandings and problems). Take time to enjoy the moment. Don’t “get ahead” of God. Wait on Him. Celebrate His blessings and answers. Share responsibility and work to enjoy the process. Celebrate successes. I remember when I did this in my greeting time before worship, and it deepened relationships and awareness of needs of people in my interactions.
• AVOID PROCRASTINATION BY COMPLETING UNPLEASANT TASKS FIRST. In general, I disagree with this one. I believe the best method is to focus on the most important task first and so on through your priorities. But I understand it. Completing your unpleasant task first can force you to give it the attention needed to get it out of the way. And then you can focus on the priority task. Working on your highest priority can be an incentive to get your unpleasant task out of the way. One way to help with this was suggested in the article: “Break complex tasks into easy pieces and give yourself a reward for getting something done.”
• DON’T BE A SLAVE TO TECHNOLOGY. Some today are addicted to technology–to cell phones, e-mail, computers, etc. Some spend too much time developing presentations and documents rather than planning lessons and meetings. Group common tasks, such as limiting time you will respond to e-mail or make phone calls. Tell your class your normal bedtime and take advantage of voice mail during these times.
• CREATE TIME FOR BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE. Schedule time for you. Schedule time for family, Schedule time for God. Schedule time for fun. Plan balance into your life. If you don’t do it intentionally, no one else will for you. When stress increases, work harder to create balance. Block out periods of time. Regularly look over your coming schedule for the week, month, and year.

As I asked in Part 1, where do you need to focus with these five items? What about the ten tips from Part 1 and Part 2? Don’t work on all ten of these at once. Focus on one until it has become a comfortable part of your routine, then begin working on the next area of need. Don’t just be busy! Be revolutionary!