Don’t Have Time to Lose That Hour

Daylight savings time. That is when we spring ahead. I don’t think we should have to spring ahead until it actually warms up, but that’s a different issue than the one I’m discussing this week. I’m talking about that lost hour. We lose one hour of sleep. One whole hour in a day. And we all complain about it.

Yet, we don’t grumble about losing an hour of our lives when we sit around and watch television all evening. That’s usually a waste of more than one hour. And how much time do you spend on social media?

Even without losing an hour a day, we complain that there is not enough time to get things done. However, deep inside, we know it’s more about poor time management? Ephesians 5:15-16 reads, Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Nothing will suck away our time more than lack of priorities. We will see everything we have to do, get discouraged, and end up not getting any of it done. There are ways to prioritize to get at least some things accomplished. The best way is to give yourself a list of five things to finish before the end of the day. This works at the office or home. You will feel great scratching off each of these items as you go along. I usually choose two large projects and three small.

Losing an hour one day a year is nothing. It’s when we waste hours everyday that is tragic. We need to focus on others, work, and God every day. And any minute you spend with Jesus is not a waste of time.

We need to stop spending time on things that don’t matter. I’m amazed by how many items one person will repost on Facebook in the course of a day. These are the same people who say they don’t have enough time to get things done. Here’s a thought – turn off your computer. Imagine how much you could accomplish if you just turned off all electronics for one hour a week. No computer. No phone. No television. You’ll recoup that hour you lost to Daylight Savings Time in one day.

I know people hate the time change. They prefer getting that extra hour. So if Daylight Savings Time drags you down because you lose some sleep, go to bed a half-hour earlier on Saturday, then another half hour on Sunday. There, you’ve caught up. And eventually your body will adjust also.

And look on the bright side. Daylight Savings Time means spring is coming. Maybe that will mean warmer weather and no more snow for those up north. I’d be more than happy to lose an hour if it means we finally get over this long, cold winter. Don’t you agree?