Catechist Know-How April 2009:

Time Management

by Mary Lou Rosien

With seven kids, a career as a writer, a part-time job as a substitute teacher and volunteering as a faith formation instructor, I often feel like I am running in several directions at once! I think most catechists face this challenge in time management. There are barely enough hours in the week to get done all the things we have to do, let alone the things we want to do. This can lead to burn out and giving up our faith formation teaching.

Effective time management can help with there issues. Just because we are volunteers doesn’t mean that our time is not valuable or that we should not use professional techniques for time management. Learning these skills and tools can help us do all the things we feel called to do.

Decide what you are passionate about. Many people take on too many tasks and end up resenting all of them. Figuring out what you love to do and saying no to other things will automatically free up time to pursue what you love.
Keep a time journal. Where do the hours go? When we keep track of the actual time spent on things we can plan our time more wisely. I had a professor in college who was always ten minutes late for class. Everyday it was the same excuse, “I always forget to count the ten minutes it takes to get from the car to the building.”
Prioritize what needs to be done. Make a list and do what’s on the list in order of importance. See if there are errands that can be combined or fit into small time slots. For example: making a special trip to the post office will take extra time, but if the pharmacy is right next to the post office and you need to stop there anyway, plan a time that you can do both things.
Build in down time. I know this sounds silly, but it works. If you look at your list and you realize that between 12:30 and 1pm you have no meetings, plan to take a nap, a walk or whatever during that time. Don’t try to fill every moment being productive because, ironically, building in breaks will make you more productive (not less).
Be prepared. We lose more time due to disorganization than anything else. Set up work stations in your house (have stamps, envelopes, bills and the checkbook in one area, keep school supplies and kid stuff in another). I like to keep all my faith formation information in a bag I can carry with me. I only take this stuff out when I need it and immediately put it back when it is done. This way I don’t have to go looking for anything on religion night.

Effective time management will help us to enjoy our tasks and get more done. Many blessings.

Read Mary Lou's parish column this month, "Sacrifice or Punishment?"»

Mary Lou Rosien writes from North Chili, NY. She is the author of, Managing Stress with the Help of Your Catholic Faith (OSV Publishing). Write to her at mrosien@rochester.rr.com.