Time keeps slipping away…

Three tips that have helped give me perspective on how to manage my time wisely.

“Does your week manage you, or do you manage your week?”

That’s a question I’ve had to ask myself a lot over the years. If you’re a youth pastor, you already know—the work never stops. There’s always another Sunday to plan for, another Wednesday night message to prep, a fellowship event around the corner, or some last-minute crisis that drops into your lap like a bowling ball. We pour ourselves into creating meaningful moments for our students, but somewhere along the way, it starts to feel like our time is no longer ours.

I’ve lived in that crazy, non-stop loop—where every minute feels packed, and every week feels like it’s managing me, not the other way around. But I’ve learned (and am still learning) how to manage my time with intentionality, purpose, and a whole lot of grace. So if you’re finding yourself out of breath and barely hanging on, I hope these few tips help you like they’ve helped me.

1. Plan it, but hold it loosely.

Every Monday morning, I sit down and map out my week. I block off time for sermon prep, student meetings, leadership development, and family. I try to give each part of my week the attention it deserves and enter the week with a sense of direction.

But then…the phone rings. A student is in crisis. A parent needs to talk. A volunteer can’t make it. You know the drill.

Early on, this used to throw me into panic mode. I’d get frustrated because my “perfect plan” was interrupted. But now, I’ve learned to plan intentionally but hold the plan with open hands. Ministry is fluid. Flexibility is part of the calling. Just because your day doesn’t go exactly how you scheduled it doesn’t mean it wasn’t productive or purposeful. God’s interruptions are often the most meaningful moments in our week.

2. Take a breath.

No, really—breathe.

Once a week, I try to find a quiet corner of my world (usually before the office opens or after my house quiets down), and I ask a simple question in prayer: “God, how do You want to use my time this week?”

It’s amazing how that re-centers me. Instead of rushing into my to-do list, I’m reminded that my schedule is a spiritual tool, not just a productivity checklist. When we take time to think and pray through our time, we become more available—not just physically, but spiritually—to the people God places in our path.

3. Zoom out: Avoid momentary thinking.

It’s so easy to live just in the “next thing”—the next event, next game night, next teaching series. But if we live in constant momentary thinking, we never develop long-term strategy. We just survive.

Managing time well means asking not just, “What’s next?” but “What matters?”

What are you doing this month that helps your students grow in Christ long-term? What are you building in your leaders that will last? What are you investing in personally that keeps you fresh?

Zooming out reminds us that we’re not just running programs—we’re planting seeds that will grow over time. And seeds need margin, thought, and time to be cultivated well.

Fresh for the long haul.

I’m convinced of this: If we can learn the spiritual discipline of managing our time well, we’ll stay fresh in ministry for the long haul.

Burnout often doesn’t come from just “too much work.” It comes from constantly reacting to life instead of leading with purpose. Time is one of the greatest gifts God gives us, and how we steward it says a lot about who (and what) we trust.

So let’s flip the script.

Let’s stop letting our weeks manage us. Let’s put Jesus back in the center of our schedules. Let’s lead our time instead of chasing it. Ministry will still be messy, and interruptions will still come—but with a little bit of margin, some honest prayer, and a whole lot of grace, we can thrive in the middle of it all.

You’ve got this, friend. And more importantly—God’s got you.

Take a Moment to Reflect:

• When was the last time I invited God into my calendar?
• What parts of my week tend to overwhelm me the most?
• What are three things I say “yes” to that I might need to prayerfully reconsider?
• Where am I leaving room for margin—and where am I not?
• Am I building for the long haul or just surviving the week?
• What one small change could I make this week to steward my time better?

I’d love to hear from you—how do you manage your time in the chaos of student ministry? Drop a comment below and share what’s worked for you (or what you’re still wrestling with). And if you’re feeling stuck or just need someone to process your schedule and rhythms with, I’d love to help. You can schedule a free 1-on-1 coaching session with me where we’ll talk through practical ways to stay healthy, lead intentionally, and make space for what matters most. You don’t have to do this alone.

Let’s keep leading well—together.