107Plan Timeverbalize our priorities. By writing them down and reminding
ourselves day by day what is truly important, we won’t be
overwhelmed by the tyranny of the urgent.^1
When our priorities are clear, we are more likely to align
our time with our values. Too often, we fill our time with what-
ever comes our way, leaving us feeling out of control. It’s easy to
think that we don’t have enough time, but if we’re honest with
ourselves, we have enough time for whatever is truly important.
Time is simply our scapegoat. I like the perspective shift offered
by Laura Vanderkam: “Instead of saying, ‘I don’t have time,’ try
saying ‘it’s not a priority,’ and see how that feels.... Changing
our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like
how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.”^2
So instead of saying, “I don’t have time to exercise or read my
Bible,” try saying, “Exercising and Bible reading aren’t my prior-
ity.” If that feels awful, perhaps it’s time to do some realignment.
Brutal, isn’t it? The truth hurts. Ever since I heard this
quote, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. Especially as
I’ve been working hard to finish this book, I’ve had to say no
to several things. When I realize that saying no isn’t a matter
of time but priority, it makes my decisions clearer. I’ve said yes
to playing tennis with my daughter. I’ve said no to watching
TV. I’ve said yes to lunch with my son at school, and I’ve said
no to making sure my house is spotless.
When considering our priorities and our time, an impor-
tant thing to keep in mind is that we can add the phrase “right
now.” Having a tidy house is generally a priority for me, but
right now in this six- month season of manuscript writing and
child raising and life living, dishes and laundry have taken a
back seat.