One of my principles that I teach a lot in my leadership classes is that we all need to budget our time like we do our money. We do that with goals, to do lists, and basic strategy on living life. My basic principle says, “spend your time on paper before you spend it in reality, and then stick to the budget plan.” The purpose is to maintain balance in all areas of our life and to make sure that the high-priority items in our life don’t get run over by worldly activity that is fun but low on eternal value.

The planning of events, responsibilities, and activities for the next month looks good on paper, but if we have unexpected opportunities or crisis in our life what we have planned will change. The people who have the most control over their lives are the most flexible and patient. But our bending doesn’t mean that we don’t maintain our values and priorities.