5 Pivotal Questions for the Busy, Hectic, and Stressed Household

In the last month, the pace of life has quickened.  I’m guessing that has something to do with adding a full-time ministry position to my online ministry. Just a guess.

Over the last month, I’ve been meeting with a lot of people and listening to them talk about life, families, jobs, and church.

Guess what?

Everyone seems to be busy.  Busyness is the one theme you can guarantee will come up when you talk with anyone between the ages of 15 – 65.  Busyness leads to all sorts of negative results and perhaps a few positive ones.

Busyness or non-busyness aren’t virtuous in and of themselves, but they might be a symptom pointing to deeper dangers.  In the end, we want to be sure that if we’re busy, it’s God ordained busyness.

5 Crucial Questions for the Busy, Hectic, and Stressed Household

1.  Do you still control your schedule?

One of the greatest temptations people face is to revert to a victim mentality when it comes to our schedule.  My boss wants me to …  My wife/husband asked me to … The kids have been begging to …

Where are you in the process of setting your schedule?  Use statements that claim responsibility for your choices. I decided to stay late. I made time for my wife. I planned to be with the kids.

When you realize the important role you set in the process, you’ll take more responsibility in its outcome.

2.  Are you really so important?

At the heart of much of our busyness is a quest for significance and importance.  Now, for those who haven’t found the eternal hope in Christ, I get that longing and emptiness.  However, too many of us go out hunting for success so that we can feel needed, important, and successful. In many ways, busyness is just our attempt to justify our existence here on earth.  By the way, it’s a pretty lousy way to grasp for significance.

3.  Does your business have a divine end?

Why?  Why are you always saying ‘yes’?  Is it for your glory?  Is it for the sake of others?  Is it because you hate stillness?  Is it because you love money?  Is honoring and glorifying God a passionate pursuit of yours, or is that just a footnote to the goal of your life? Cómo actualizar un televisor Xiaomi 2022

It’s amazing how much you learn about yourself when you start honestly answering ‘why’ questions.

4.  Is it seasonal busyness? When is the ending point?

There are times when life just gets busy.  Still, we must put a limit on overcommitments.  This week, my wife and I are getting ready to move into a new (to us) home.  Guess what? We’ve talked about the fact that when I’m not working, we’ll be focusing on the task of moving.  We’re OK with it because it’s a season of life.  However, what if you said, “I’m going to spend a year to get this business off the ground,” and now, 5 years later, you’re even more busy?  Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate if your seasonable busyness is becoming an annual affair.

5.  To whom am I saying ‘no’?

Time is a limited resource. We all get 24 hours. Sometimes I’m not very good at saying no. However, I’ve realized that every time I say ‘yes’, that means I’m also whispering ‘no’.  For example, when I say, “Yes, I can stay late and help you,” I’ve also said to my family, “No, I can’t spend extra time with you this evening.” We often say yes to whatever is most pressing and demanding, but to whom are we whispering no?

What questions do you ask to help ensure you’re not overcommitting yourself?

Other Great Articles:

1. An Essential Guide to Surviving the Hectic Christmas Holidays
2. The Challenge of Answering Technical Tithe Questions
3. 4 Essential Questions to Ask Before Buying Anything