Time budget

I have just finished a very challenging week.

It was challenging because I didn’t have enough time to do all of the things I needed to do, let alone time for myself. Usually, I am pretty good at juggling, but this past week was busier than usual, and I didn’t get everything done. I have decided that I really need to budget my time better, and I am going to use the same model that I use for my finances.

50% of my time will be spent on necessities – putting out the fires that arise and doing what is necessary to maintain what I have, including money making activities to keep things going

10% of my time will be spent on education – this can include reading, taking classes, going to seminars, webinars, etc.

10% of my time will be spent on play – doing something for no other reason than I enjoy it. This is one of the hardest categories for me. Even when I am doing something I love, I am usually doing it FOR something else. This 10% is challenging me to do things for NO reason but enjoyment. Spend time with my family, my partner – going to the movies, whatever! And networking doesn’t count!

10% of my time will be spent on planning. The planning will consist of sitting down and looking at my long term goals, and seeing if my yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily goals are in line with where I am going. If not, I will adjust accordingly, and incorporate my new to-do’s into my necessities time.

10% of my time will be spent on my spirituality and/or charity work. This is my giving back, and it is also my receiving of spiritual wealth. Without this, nothing else will mean a thing to me. As a minister, I have folks to serve, and I will not let this work get short-changed by any other part of my life.

10% of my time will be spent on me, just me. This includes exercising, journalling, meditating – all of the things I do to ensure I am healthy and balanced.

There are 168 hours in a week. I am budgeting 7 hours a day for sleeping, and 8 on Sunday (so I can sleep in at least one day a week if I want). So that leaves 120 hours for everything else. 50% = 60 hours per week for work; 10% = 12 hours per week each for my other 5 categories.

I’ll let you know how it works out.