“Tell Your Time” by Amy Lynn Andrews is a straightforward, easy-to-implement guide to time management. I first read this ebook last spring before I was committed to blogging consistently so I didn’t bother to write about it then. I thought now would be a good time to tell you about “Tell Your Time”.

First, I love clever titles. Well done, Amy! It kind of goes along with Dave Ramsey’s advice to tell your money what to do. The title of this ebook suggests that you control your time.

Amy’s approach to this topic is thorough without bogging you down in details. It’s basically a 4 step plan which results in a general block schedule that works for you. The ebook is a quick read which is easy to implement. The website dedicated to the book also has free worksheets to help you put your personalized plan into action.

Amy includes her personal entries on the worksheets to give a clear example of how to fill them out. I found this to be helpful. While I’ve always wanted to write down my overall goals and values, I’ve found the task to be overwhelming so many attempts have fizzled.

First she suggests that you identify your roles (spouse, parent, employee, volunteer, caregiver, etc) and your goals for each of those roles. Next you identify tasks or activities necessary to achieve the goals. Put those tasks on a grid (thoroughly explained in the ebook). Finally you schedule them.

Writing down your goals and activities related to those goals may not be new to you. Likewise, scheduling the tasks you do on a daily or weekly basis may not be new to you. The genius in Andrews’ method is that combining these steps, helps you identify your values, list the goals and activities which support those values and prioritizing the activities on your schedule . Her method is a great tool to stay mindful of what’s most important to you and your family. Hopefully, it will help you prune those things which aren’t in line with your values, roles and goals. For that reason, I wouldn’t skip the steps. You’ll be glad you took the time to jot a few things down for each of the categories she suggests.

Once I’ve used this system for a few weeks, I’ll post a follow up. I also intend to encourage Mark and the kids to try it. I admit, it’s ambitious to expect the kids to try (Role: Kid, Brother, Player…) but it might appeal to some of them. I can always force them to, right?

The weekend is a perfect time to read it and plan your schedule.

Have you read the ebook? Any success? I’d love to hear about your experience with it. Strangely, I enjoy talking about ways to manage time-but I stink at it.

*This post contains an affiliate link.

I first heard about Jon Acuff while listening to Dave Ramsey podcasts. Acuff is a clear speaker and extremely entertaining in his message and delivery. His previous book “Quitter” is a bestseller and I found it to be engaging and practical. It’s a breakdown of how to go about following your dream in a responsible manner. It’s motivating and practical.

That’s why I can’t wait to read his second book, “Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work That Matters” which is available STARTing today!

I had a chance to listen to a live webcast of a promotional event earlier in the year and pre-ordered the book on the spot.

What I love about Acuff is that his ideas apply to anything. If you’ve had a vision or dream in the back of your mind, be prepared to get motivated to act on it.

I’ve written before about how paralyzing fear can be and even chose “fearless” as my word of the year 2 years ago. I can’t wait to see what Acuff says about it. Reading what I wrote back then confirms that this book is just what I need right now. Here’s what I wrote back then:

I began to think about how much fear influences my decisions and often inaction. In spite of my accomplishments, competence and efficiency in some areas, I realized that sometimes fear keeps me from doing the most mundane things. It also keeps me from doing big things. Fear doesn’t come from God and I’m certain that it often interferes with God’s will for me.

Fear of what you wonder? It’s not the typical pangs of fear that you might anticipate from a mother of 4. I rarely obsess or worry about the health and safety of the kids. Generally, I suppose I do as much as the next person as a situation might warrant. I’m talking about a fear that’s more subtle, but very powerful. Fear of ridicule, fear of making costly or time-consuming mistakes, fear of being misunderstood, fear of looking like an idiot. The result of this type of fear is a nearly constant internal dialogue that prevents me from acting and gets me stuck

I likely will read the book cover to cover as soon as I get it and promise to give you a review. If I don’t like it, I’ll tell you that, too.

Have you ordered the book? Have you read Acuff’s other book “Quitter”? What did you think?

*Disclosure: If you order the book from Amazon by using the link in this post, I will receive a small commission from the sale of the book. It won’t cost you more, though. I am hoping to write a post or series about my experiment in monetizing this blog.

My friend and neighbor shared a book with me that I think she just knew would be right up my alley. “7- an experimental mutiny against excess” by Jen Hatmaker chronicles a social experiment in which the author chooses 7 areas in her life which she (and her “Council” of besties) decide could use some pruning. (What sparks this is a great story in itself and she tells it very well, so I won’t try). Hatmaker focuses on one area a month for 7 months. Her “council” helps define the boundaries and terms and overall provides an excellent support system during her experiment. They even participate during each month in their own ways. In addition, the author’s husband joins her and with the exception of the food and clothing fast, her children also “participate” (read-are forced to go along-4 weeks without and xbox-say what?!)

Not enjoying the level of wealth that the author has, I can’t say that my areas of excess are identical but I definitely could relate to most of them.

The best thing about the book is Jen’s (yes, I’m acting like I know her now because I feel like I do) sense of humor and smart writing. She is so funny, I’d invite her to a family party.

The recommendation came at an excellent time, too. I always try to implement some practice during lent that allows me to retreat a tad. I don’t anticipate implementing the experiment but it makes a great case for serious fasting in specific areas during lent as a way to create margins for God’s will. I’ll admit, committing to an actual fast of say, food, scares me because I just think I’d fail. My understanding of it, though, is that it is an excellent way to shed non-essentials in order to get to the essential. That’s a fancy way of saying hear God or the Holy Spirit.

Jen also makes a case for “loving your neighbor as yourself” by personally serving the poor in your community. Pushing the envelope of comfort. I have always wanted to but at the same time been extremely intimidated by serving in a personal way. I know it sounds wierd, I know I’m not explaining it well but I’ve wanted to serve people and make a connection but I think fear and discomfort has kept me from pursuing it. Also, the thought that a person in need would view my attempts to serve as condescending or patronizing. Let me swoop in, drop off a bag of groceries or slap some food on your plate, feel good about myself and never see you again. Shudder! I think it takes a value-based commitment on the part of the whole family to serve in such a way. Something that Mark and I instill as an important part of who we are and what we do. To avoid the “swoop-in” scenario, serving does take commitment.

For his homily at the Mass for Ash Wednesday, our priest read from his breviary because he was so struck by the readings that morning. He emphasized that this isn’t the Church imposing rules, it is God.

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn and your wound shall quickly be healed.
Then you shall call and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help and he will say: 
Here I am!


Isiah 58:6-9

Heck, even if you don’t think the Bible is inspired writing from God, who can argue with THAT?

Not coincidentally, the week after I finished reading the book which was the week leading up to lent, the Mass readings were from the letters of St. James in which he makes no bones about Christians serving the poor, the orphans, widows and acting Christ-like. Just like Jen, I’m not preaching here, just admitting my shortcomings in this area and my failure as a parent to give the kids opportunities to serve in a meaningful way.

Do yourself a favor and read that book!