Among other things, the amount of time a pastor spends working each week differs greatly from most other professions. Most people clock in and out at a certain time. Once their shift is over, they go home and forget about work for the rest of the day. Such is not the case with most pastors. They never really seem to clock out.
I’m often asked questions pertaining to work schedules and time management. Questions like How do I know if I’m overworked? or Other pastors I know never seem to stop working, should I be doing the same thing? and When I’m not working, what do I do with my time?
If you’re not sure what you should be doing after you’ve quit for the day, that’s usually a fairly good indication that you’re either working too much or you don’t have a healthy, balanced schedule.
Here are a few suggestions I usually give as a starting point for those wanting to know how to better manage their time.
Listen to your spouse. Often we are either too easy or too hard on ourselves but our spouses get to see us in ways we can’t see ourselves. Ask your spouse questions like: “Do you think I’m spending too much time at work?” or “Are there any unnecessary projects I’m doing that I could cut out in order to have more time with the family?” If you’re spouse is anything like mine, she probably wants to spend as much time with you as she can. You’ll need to consider this when asking these types of questions, but do not take her word lightly.
Catalog your actual work week. Take a week or two and calculate the amount of time you spend working. Include time spent in the office, meeting with or counseling parishioners, the work you bring home, sermon prep, etc. Get an accurate number of hours you’re working each week, then sit down with your spouse and determine what things can be cut out of your work week or see how you can better manage your time.
Write a schedule. And, here’s the hard part, stick to it. If you’re like me, you like to work. You got to be doing something in order to feel like you’re contributing to your ministry, to your family. But without a good schedule and sticking to it, then you’ll feel lost and without purpose. And remember, scheduling times of rest and relaxation, reading and writing, exercise and fun, are essential to an effective work week.
Please note: If you are not married, consider sharing with a close friend, mentor, or someone else you trust.
If you have any tips or suggestions that have helped you in your ministry work week, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.
Ann
Just an observation that 2 of the 3 tips involve teaming up with spouses, but not all of us are married.
Bo Lane
Ann, thanks for the observation. I’ve added a note to the article above.
Sonya James
My husband and I pastored a church over twenty years ago and we told anyone and everyone that we were not going to be available for everything at every time. They knew that unless it was an emergency don’t call us because we were going to be at home doing what families do when they are at home. We was not going to let church and nothing else come into our lives and mess up what God had given to us. I think that the problem with Pastors is that they want to take care of Gods’ church and not their own household. (1 Timothy 5:8 KJV) But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. You have to set boundaries for yourself and for the church members. You must tell the church this yourself and show them! If you don’t they won’t respect that you have a family.
George Vasquez
Great post Bo! As a church we should be encouraging & respecting that time & making sure they even take a day off during the week.:) Thanks again!