Time Management
INTRODUCTION
Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential (SAMSHA, July 2019). Recovery is not about getting rid of our behavioral health problems but seeing beyond them, recognizing and fostering our strengths, abilities, interests and dreams. This group has come together because each of us wants to be our “best self”. Sometimes this can be a hard, lonely journey.
As a group we will work together, learn from each other and give each other support. We will combine our faith, courage and ideas to help each other. We will talk a lot about becoming our best self and living a better life in this group. When we say our "best self" we mean getting help from our community, family, friends, and a power greater than ourselves to live a strong, balanced life. When we choose to become our best self, we care for our physical needs, social emotional health and spiritual life while finding ways to expand our knowledge. We are better able to give back and help others. Being our best self doesn't mean we will be able to get and do anything we set our minds to, but we can have a life worth living.
Each session we will combine our faith and trust in the group and a higher power with learning skills that help meet practical needs. All so we can become better. Life worth living groups work best when everyone is actively present; shares their ideas; completes the activities; loves and supports each other; works on their promises during the week, and shares what they learned in the next meeting.
CHECK IN
Gratitude: Taking time every day to be grateful can help our health, relationships, emotions and happiness. Take a few minutes to write something you are grateful for this week: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Discuss: Share a choice you made last week to change and how it went. Write your thoughts.
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TIME MANAGEMENT
Think: What do I spend too much time doing?
Discuss: Can you share a story of how you or someone you know worked to use their time more effectively? Write what you learned from this story.
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Read: Time is one of our Higher Power’s greatest gifts to us. How we use our time is one of our greatest gifts to Him and others. In Jewish and Christian scripture, we learn, "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." (Ecclesiastes) “Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well.” (Louisa May Alcott, writer)
Discuss: What is something you have wanted to do but didn't think you had enough time for? Write down your thoughts.
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Here are five steps that help us plan our time:
MAKE A LIST. Every morning make a list of the 5 most important things to do that day. Add names of people to help.
PRAY/MEDITATE. Pray/meditate for help. Look at your list again. Listen for new ideas. Promise to do your best.
ORDER THE LIST. Put a 1 by the most important thing to do, a 2 by the next most important thing to do. Repeat until each item in the list is in order.
MAKE GOALS. Make goals for each item on your list.
WORK HARD. Ask your higher power and others for help as you work on your goals.
REPORT. Talk with friends and family about what could you do next time to be even more effective.
Plan Your Time Activity
Step 1: Make a list of three to five things you need to do tomorrow.
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Step 2: Pray/meditate for help. Look at your list again. Listen for new ideas. Promise to do your best.
Step 3: Put a 1 by the most important thing to do, a 2 by the next most important thing to do. Repeat until each item in the list is in order.
Step 4: Make goals for each item on your list.
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Step 5: Talk with friends and family about what could you do next time to be even more effective.
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Commit: This week I will:
____ Work on using my time better.
____ Make a list each day and follow it.
____ Share what I am learning with my community, friends and family.