Brandon Kelley
Every week of ministry, there are countless things to be done. We’re constantly switching from simple, administrative tasks to work that requires deep focus and thought.
And that can be challenging.
So, how can we as pastors maximize our time for God’s glory?
Well, I’ve found what has helped me and I’m going to share it with you below.
This is my 5-part recipe for better productivity as a pastor.
My 5-Part Recipe for Better Productivity as a Pastor
1. Headphones
When I want to get focused and get a lot done, I put on my Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Headphones.
They offer excellent sound and good noise cancelling for a good price.
These headphones allow me to work anywhere and still focus – whether I’m in my office at home (with 4 kids in the house) or at a coffee shop, I can put these on and focus on sermon prep, sermon writing, reading, or deal with administrative tasks.
If you don’t have good quality headphones, I highly recommend you consider these. Without this piece, I would have a difficult time being productive any day.
2. Instrumental Music
If I have my headphones on, I’m usually listening to instrumental music through one of a few different platforms.
On Spotify, there are a couple of playlists I listen to regularly. One is called, Deep Focus and the other is one I created called, Reading and Writing.
I will also use brain.fm on a regular basis. I purchased a lifetime membership to their platform and it is powerful.
Lastly, I created a playlist in Apple Music that I compiled from my favorite songs on Soundstripe, a website we use to add music to our video content. They have a fantastic library of music!
3. Full Focus Planner
This has been a game-changer for me.
The Full Focus Planner is the best planner I’ve come across to help me look forward to long-term goals, while staying grounded in the short-term steps needed to accomplish those goals.
Each planner is designed to cover a quarter of the year. And if you commit to using it for a year, what you’ll be able to accomplish will be far beyond what you could do if you didn’t have a productivity system like this.
I’ve been using the Full Focus Planner for a few years now and I highly recommend it. Michael Hyatt and his team have truly designed a physical planner that benefits pastors.
4. Sabbath
Back in 2019, my wife and I started to take observing the Sabbath seriously. And it has been such a blessing to us and our family.
It started with reading Emotionally Healthy Spirituality that we first started wrestling with why it wasn’t a part of our lives and we decided that it should be.
Since then, it’s been a lot of trial and error but we’ve grown so much since starting.
We’ve found that the Sabbath is a gift from God. It’s a time to rest, a time to slow down, a time to enjoy His creation, and a time to dwell in His presence.
At this point, we wouldn’t know how we’d operate without it.
5. Fun
If I don’t have a regular injection of fun in my life, I won’t be as creative, as joyful, or as productive.
Fun is vital. Especially for pastors.
We deal with stressful situations on a regular basis. When we starve ourselves of fun, we’ll become cynical, bitter, or frustrated more quickly.
But when we make fun a priority, we’ll stay grounded in the hope that God has given us.
How do you stay productive?
Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear what your recipe for productivity is.
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