Avoiding Procrastination: How I've Learned to Use my Free Time Wisely

One of the biggest things I have struggled with recently is feeling like I am better, more righteous, and more worthy when I am busy and moving. In many ways, I have fallen for the trap of productivity being a god, and productivity itself being my purpose.

2 Thessalonians 3:11
We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

Even if I am hard at work, and with what I feel like is good intention, if my ultimate intention is to cross something off a to-do list a la me, it’s busy-bodying.
I’ve learned that there is a way to be organized and to plan my schedule righteously– and that WAY is with, through, and for God. 
When I ask HIM every morning what my day should look like, He sometimes places people on my heart. He sometimes convicts me. I am sometimes guided to ensure I have allotted time for prayer; and I am always prompted to selflessness. To loving my neighbours. To seeing work not just as a means of getting by for me, but as a ministry.

A big part of every day that involves Jesus involves unwinding. My new work schedule involves most days at the cafe from 7-2, followed by my freelance work for a few hours, and open evenings, to be with Johnny, friends, and family. I like to go to the gym, to cook every night, plus there’s always cleaning the house, running errands, ensuring that I have time for things like reading…
it’s easy, especially in our Western society where busyness is glorified, for life to feel like a routine, and to become self-serving in that routine. But a life lived in partnership with Jesus is NEVER self-serving, for what He does is serving His Kingdom, in ways both inward and outward.
If you haven’t thought about talking to Jesus about your day-to-day, I would encourage you to do that. Just saying a prayer, Lord, how do YOU want me to spend my time today? 
I bet you will be amazed by what He does.
To thwart busybodyness, He does call us to rest.

Hebrews 4:10
For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

Here are some of my favourite ways to do so:

• Reading for pleasure (I love fiction. I’m currently reading John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down) with a tea and in a comfy spot
• Blogging (cassiescookery is my little baby)
• Watching YouTube videos– I try to keep this time to no more than half an hour a day, because it’s easy for me to get sucked in– but I love a good vlog or recipe video!
• Masterchef, This is Us, the Office– my current shows. I don’t want much TV, but with Johnny here, we watch one episode of the Office most days
• Cooking/baking and blasting tunes; my absolute number one hobby!
• Coffee with friends; talking to Jesus; journalling. All of these things are a part of rest, and I am always learning from Jesus Christ, my friends, and journalling.