Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and Not Be Overwhelmed

I recently finished the new book, Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed, by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, and Janelle Bradshaw. I've been reading their blog for a few years, and though I often find myself relating more specifically to the writing and experiences of one of the ladies more than the others, I love the unique styles, personalities, and perspectives of each one. They are daughters, sisters, (pastor's) wives, and mothers.... So, when I heard about this book, I was excited to read it, and learn from their combined wisdom and experience. Regardless of the season in which you find yourself (single, newly married, mommyhood, empty nest, widowhood), these ladies realize that each one holds its own special challenges, and is full of demands on our time and energy. And, they understand that life is busy. But, they are able to offer wisdom and guidance through the overwhelming busyness because they view these demands (the real and the self-imposed) through the lens of Scripture. They start out by saying, "We can accomplish everything that God has ordained for us to do in this life....And we can do it in a peaceful, joyful manner and get sufficient rest besides." (pg. 13) When I first got this book, I showed it to a friend. She looked a little skeptical as she read the title..."How to do it all? I don't know about that." Probably anticipating this reaction, the authors say, "These tips are not our attempt at Christian-coated time management principles. Rather they are biblical, life-tested practices we trust will encourage and assist you to bring glory to the Savior through every season of your life." (pg. 26) Using biblical principles as their foundation, alongside the wisdom of their individual experiences, they offer 5 tips to help women apply the words of Ephesians 5:15-16, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Rise Early: The subtitle of this chapter is "Joining the 5 a.m. Club." My first thought when I read that was, "Seriously?!" But, as I read, I became convinced. They offer this disclaimer, "the point of this chapter is not that really godly women get up at 5 a.m. Nowhere in the Bible will you find such a principle. Therefore, nowhere in this book do you we make that claim." (pg. 28). They also allow for the fact that "early" will look different for everyone. So, if 5 a.m. is not biblical, then why this chapter? "Hands down, the most important reason to rise early is to make meeting with God a priority. Secondarily, however, this practice has great potential to serve your family." (pg. 34) Rising early, whatever that may mean, allows us to give proper time and attention to our most important priorities - our relationship with God, and our relationship and service to our families. Sit Still: This is the most important chapter in this book, and one of the best I read on the topic of pers

"There is no such thing as simply a busy month or a busy year. It's a busy life, pure and simple...[But] we can actually do all that God has called us to do" (p. 13). Sound far-fetched? Absolutely it does - it did to me! I've read stacks of books, just trying to learn what my schedule should look like, what my to-do list should look like...and on and on. Shopping For Time has been one of the simplest, most concise, and clearest helps in this process. "We wouldn't dream of going to the grocery store without a shopping list, or buying a car without haggling over the sticker price, or purchasing new shoes without checking the price tag, but we throw away our time as if we had an endless supply" (17). In a sweet, conversational style, the Mahaney girls paint with appropriately broad strokes a picture of a life that is joyfully submitted to God's to-do list. This short (under 100 pages) book clearly, helpfully, and gently offers five tips on how to "shop for time," and it recognizes some things that many other time management or "Godly woman" books barely touch on or miss altogether: The authors explain that we need to rise early (remember, flexibility!), sit at Jesus' feet, plan, consider the spheres in which God has placed us, and humbly recognize our dependence on God to be productive. The main thing this book has going for it is flexibility. What's required to act wisely will look different across the spectrum of women who're reading the book. What works for one won't work for all in exactly the same way. There are different seasons in each life, and application of these principles will look different during each one. Managing time wisely for the glory of God isn't something that can be done haphazardly. Your effort will depend on how complicated your life is, but there will be effort. Motivated rightly, though, our lives can be fruitful and joyful expressions of our love for the Savior and delight in serving Him. "In the end, our highest goal each day is not flawless execution of our plans or increased productivity. It's our relationship with God, walking in dependence upon Him throughout the day. ...This book will help you become a wise shopper of time in every season of your life, so when you pass from time into eternity, you can know the intense and indescribable joy of our Savior's pleasure and commendation" (90, 94).

The Christian woman's life is one of delicate balance...whether struggling greatly or just needing to tweak your priorities for the new season of your life....this book is great! It is written in a warm and fun and personable style and is a relatively easy and short read which is perfect for those who are trying to get "the most bang for their buck" so to speak. I plan to reread the book often and have already given it as gifts to other women.

Overwhelmed? Frustrated? Unhappy with the direction life seems to be taking you? The almighty to-do list rules many lives and many women are miserable because they just do not know how they are going to get it all done. Regardless of your present life season, all women can relate to feelings of not being able to get it all done. One can find dozens of time management books full of good advice for maximizing one's time. So, what makes Shopping for Time different from all the others? These women have learned "from God's Word that it is possible to deal with life's demands without becoming overwhelmed, miserable, and exhausted. We can surmount the numerous responsibilities that threaten to wear us down. More than that, we can actually do all that God has called us to do...A fantastic claim, we know. But it's true. We can accomplish everything God has ordained for us to do in this life. (Hint: It's probably not half of what's on your to-do list.) And we can do it in a peaceful, joyful manner and get sufficient rest besides." The Mahaney women invite you to pull a chair up to Carolyn's kitchen table for their weekly Q & A. The Feta cheese and French fries will be flying as will some valuable wisdom and encouragement for whatever season of life you find yourself in today. Every woman knows that a good day of shopping begins with proper planning. Women spend time searching out coupons and special sales, making lists of what to buy and who to buy for, noting which stores to shop and which ones to avoid, marking the days for the biggest sales, memorizing which seasons certain items are on sale, and most women who love to shop know exactly which racks have the biggest mark-downs. They know exactly where to go and when so that they do not waste any time. Yet when it comes to how we spend our lives, we miss some of the best deals because we fail to plan wisely. Too often, poor planning in our everyday lives carries a hefty price tag. Women must learn how to shop for time the way they shop for the best bargains. The theme of this book comes from Ephesians 5:15-16, which reads, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Carolyn & Co. show how to wisely plan your days according to your particular season so that you do not misuse the time God has given you. They do not make it complicated or rigid; they offer five sound principles that will work for any woman regardless of her age or stage. They are: 1. Rise early 2. Sit still 3. Sit and plan 4. Consider people 5. Plan to depend Each step builds on the one before it. The first step to becoming a savvy time shopper is joining the 5:00 AM Club. That doesn't necessarily mean one has to rise at 5:00 AM. "Early" looks different for each woman. It simply means that a woman rises before the rest of her family in order to sit still at Jesus' feet and prepare herself for service. You won't find any condem