Abimbola Writes: March 2020

Procrastination can be simply put as the action of delaying or postponing something. It can be done in seemingly small things and big things of life.

Everyone on earth has the same months in a year, the same weeks in a month, the same days in a week, the same number of hours in a day.

The result that comes out of our life over the years is simply the things we do or don’t do with our time.

We look at some people and their level of life challenges us and then it seems God is unfair by making some people exceptionally good while leaving the rest in a no-so-good state. Often times, the fault isn’t God’s fault, we are the ones who won’t do the things we should, have no structure in our life and just keeps wondering where the hours are going.

Procrastination is the real thief of time, but it can only steal your time as much as you give it a free hand to fulfill its enterprise.

The challenge with procrastinators is that they end up having to rush the tasks they could have done under no pressure; they have to begin to run here and there to now get the job done.

Another challenge with procrastinating is that the same way we procrastinate in our personal life is the same habit that’ll spill into our various careers and ultimately our walk with God and work for God. Some have been stirred up to pray for certain people at certain times, but that habit of procrastinating won’t let them do what they should do at such points which is disobedience to God and which can be disastrous for the other person.

We are all going to give an account of what we did in this body to God someday soon, and it is high time we kicked out procrastination, so we won’t be ashamed on that day.

So, let’s see things we can begin to do differently from now going forward to begin to live our best life possible.

Don’t Postpone Till Tomorrow What You Can Get Done Today

The only time of our lives that we can do anything about or with is today. Yesterday is gone and we have no control over the things that tomorrow will bring; while we pray and expect God’s best, tomorrow is still uncertain and that is why we pray and leave tomorrow in God’s hands having the assurance that he’ll take care of us and have the best of plans in mind for us.

Procrastination makes you appear like someone who doesn’t know what he/she is doing, makes the result come out without the excellence touch (this is one of the many things God is teaching me in this season of my life), pay fines that could have been avoided if only we did the things we ought to do when we should.

There are things that will never leave dreamland into our reality if we don’t do something about them, but we stall too much on some ideas and they never see the light of day.

There are times when you have a lot to do, don’t procrastinate, and just get it done!

It becomes even worse when you are a perfectionist; someone who is always trying to make things as perfect as they can be.

There is a rule I learned some times back, if you have a task at hand and you’re contemplating procrastinating, just think of the time frame it will take you to accomplish it, if that time is less than two minutes, rather than procrastinating it till a much later time, just get it done. You’ll feel better doing this.

You can increase your own time-frame to a time that suits you, but make sure you don’t shift till tomorrow what can be done today.

Write A List & Prioritize Your Schedule

Every day starts with a list of things we want all mumbling up in our heads, oftentimes at the end of the day, we end up discovering that we didn’t achieve as much as we wanted to and this will necessitate us shifting today’s task to tomorrow. So to get this done with, at the beginning of every day or the night before that day, map out a list of things you want to achieve and let them be in the order of their importance.

Let’s say this is Sumbo’s to-do list for 21st of March;

21/03/2020

. Devotion (1)

. Reply to mails (6)

. Wash clothes (2)

.Go to Idumota with Esther to get Sovenieurs to give my wedding guest (3)

. Attend the online training I signed up for (4)

. Read two chapters of The Kingdom Woman (7)

. Continue with Reading the bible through (5)

So after writing the list of what she wants to get accomplished that Saturday, Sumbo goes ahead and rate them in the order of how important they are.

Drawing up a list like the above will see to it that we achieve our highest priorities every day, and it will save us from flying all over the place when it is time to show results.

Minimize Distractions

Distractions may be in the form of human or even the social media.

Learning to say no to human is a lot easier for some, but they haven’t mastered the ability to say no to their phone when it beckons on them to be picked. A lot of excellent tasks and great ideas lay buried under Social media, and if you want to get any way forward, you need to make sure you’re in control of how long you spend on the social media which is a major source of distraction in this age and time.

How you can get in control of your Social Media time

. Don’t go online until a particular time of the day or when you have accomplished the major task for that day

. Learn To say no without feeling guilty to things that will further take you out of your plans for the day (Be sensitive to when that distraction is from God who wants to take you away from the good things you could have accomplished that day to the best things that’ll further bring him glory)

This isn’t saying we won’t have fun or get to hang out with friends or suddenly become the miss I-am-busy in the office, it only means that our life becomes more structured, and we will be able to use our time for the things that really matter.

Don’t Beat Yourself over the head If You Don’t Get It Right

Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t beat yourself over the head if you don’t write a list every day, or if you don’t achieve your set goals every day of the week.

There will be days when you’ll be anything but diligent in your use of time and there will also be days when you will tick off everything on your list of things-to-do.

Celebrate your big wins and when you flop like spending all day on social media just chatting the hours away, correct yourself but condemn yourself, tomorrow is another day to make things right and accomplish more.

A little here today, a little there tomorrow and you’ll find yourself bidding this thief of time bye.

Scriptures To Consider About Procrastination

Proverbs 20:4

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 24:20-24

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

John 9:4

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

Do you have other ways you get things done, please share with us.

See you next week.

March 19, 2020 No comments

About a year ago, I transitioned form a particular field of work to another which means I am currently a nine-to-fiver. In fact I don’t close at five but five-thirty in the evening Monday through Friday.

There are some things I have learnt in my current place of work that I would love to share with you, you might have spent over three decades of your life in the marketplace or you might even still be in the tertiary institution and you’re wondering what life looks out outside school for you, whatever category you are, I am sure there is one thing or the other you’ll go away with from today’s blog post.

Female Bosses Are Not Evil

If there is anything I heard well enough before getting employed, then it is the fact that female superiors are usually a pain in the neck. Most people don’t mind having a male or two-five male superiors but never pray to have a female boss because of it is perceived female bosses make life difficult for their subordinates.

From my experience, I can boldly say that female bosses are not evil. The very first direct manager I had was a woman and she was not evil, she was literally an angel in human form, and although I am no longer part of her team, her lifestyle greatly influenced me to make sure as I am climbing the corporate ladder too, I don’t have to be a hard woman to prove a point in the market place.

Procrastination Can Be A Real Kill-Joy

If you are still in school or almost through with school and you still struggle with procrastination, you might find the corporate world a little inconvenient for you.

I even believe that whatever field you finally decide to venture into and if you have not conquered procrastination, there is little or slim possibility of really excelling at what you do.

Procrastination is that small voice that tells you not to do that assignment your HRM or your Head of Department gives you a task and then by the time he asks for the result you begin to from pillar to post for what should have been a seemingly easy assignment.

If you procrastinate a lot, you might want to try scheduling your assignments to a specific time, or just getting things done and not putting them off till much later.

There are some tasks that you might not get done because you were procrastinating and not getting that done might lead the company into debt of millions of Naira which they might ask you to pay back because it was your fault.

No boss wants excuses; no one cares about the excuses you give, all they want is result, so get ready to bring results to the table from now going forward and bid procrastination bye.

Determine What’s What Fighting For

Every organization has that one person who isn’t so civil in his/her responses and can’t seem to put a latch on their mouth. They’d just open the mouth and begin to speak gibberish out of such mouth.

There are times when you just want to talk back at the person so that such a person would understand that you are not as naive as they think, but in your heart of heart, are you really interested in fighting such a battle?

The time that you should use in talking back at such a person who is just a pain in your neck should be given to other productive things.

You Need To Make Twice As Much Effort To Maintain Your Relationship With God

While I was in the university, I practically lived a triangle life, from my house off campus to school and from school to fellowship. At every point, you are almost so sure to see me in one of those three places or else I traveled home or was invited somewhere by a friend.

Having this kind of triangular lifestyle keep me at the top of my relationship with God as I had control over my time. Final year was one of the best as I had just four courses in my final semester which opened up some free spaces for me to utilize to push myself forward in my pursuit of God. Service year was so great too.

Fast forward to when I joined the office people.

I had to leave home every day before eight in the morning and there are also some days I don’t get home till eight in the night or even later than that.

I know my work schedule is not so tedious when compared to others, but it was a big deal for me. Doing things that were usually reflex actions became things I had to deliberately plan for.

Working in a place like Lagos, Nigeria or anywhere in the world takes a whole lot of planning if you want to still be relevant in God’s agenda.

Be Disciplined So You Don’t Get Disciplined

This is something else I have learnt from my stay in the business world.

If you lack basic ethics irrespective of your skill set, you won’t go far.

I know this is A Christian Lifestyle blog and we talk about things as it concerns the Christian Life, but if we as Christians don’t have basic work ethics, we will only keep shouting Amen in church and things wouldn’t be moving forward in our life.

What is your outlook to your job, do you see as a necessary evil or do you accept it as being part of God’s agenda in this end time.

Do you do your job with shadiness or do you give every assignment that passes through your hands an excellent touch?

All these things matter in the corporate world.

Looking Good Is Good For Business

All through my days in the University up till when I went for my service year, I never knew that looking good was actually something that really mattered a big deal.

Although I was always careful not to wear a patterned blouse on a patterned skirt or a big top and a big skirt together, but there have been days when I didn’t even care what I was wearing, I would just put something on my body and once it is covering my nakedness I was good to go.

Fast forward to when I joined the corporate world, I realized that my mindset towards dressing had to be reviewed as it was one of those key things in the market place because people would see me first before they hear me out, and although all adornments shouldn’t be placed on the outside, but human are not God so they judge a book by its cover. So if you’re ever going to get people to read the content of your book which is YOU as a person, then you must make sure the cover is good enough for the book to be opened.

People have lost great deals by not looking good, and many others have been granted access just by looking good.

Looking good isn’t just about what you were but when and how you wear them.

You don’t have to break a bank to dress nicely; you can still always look great while still on a budget (I’d write a blog post about this someday).

Though there are still days I don’t look my best, I am gradually working towards the decrease in the number of such days.

Don't Despise Days Of Little Beginning

When I just got out of service, I had high dreams just like every young graduate, but my first job I got after service can be termed as my days of little beginning. I accepted it and kept being diligent at my work and soon enough, I was moved higher on the ladder with God on my side.

If you are just getting out of schools and you have some offers, once they aren’t criminal acts or things that are against what you stand for, don’t reject them just because they aren’t what you want for now. Sitting down in your homes day-in day-out isn’t the best option, as much as you have parents who are responsible and who care for you, but that shouldn’t be a license for you not to accept responsibility for your life.

The job might not be what you want or envisage but the income you get in exchange for your excellent input into that organization can keep your body and soul together.

Except you have an express instruction from God not to accept an offer, rejecting a job just on the premises of too small isn’t a great one.

These are some of the lessons I have learnt in my stay in the marketplace, do you have others to add in your journey in the marketplace, please kindly share with us.

March 12, 2020 No comments

We are currently in the third month of the year now, and gradually the year keeps progressing, a day in, a day out and before we know it, the year is gone again.

Time waits for no one and that is why we must do our best possible to make sure that the year just doesn’t leave us the same way it met us, and this should something all encompassing; that means totaling every aspect of our lives which our financial life is part.

I believe there is nothing great about being in need, as covenant children of God, God is not against us having things, he just doesn't want those things to have us.

The scriptures tell us that if He did not withhold His only begotten son from us, would He also not give us all things.

Any part of the scriptures also said,

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto you...

This is two scriptures that talks about things, not just things, but things coming from God.

There are some things in life that we have absolutely no control over, but there are also some things that we have the ability to control as much as God helps us

The year is still quite young and so many of us have financial goals at the beginning of the year, some intend to have a certain amount in their bank account, for others it is to have an increased investment portfolio, and for others it is paying of debt (I sincerely think paying of a debt is a big deal, if you have reasons to owe someone, it should be one of the plans you should have to be able to pay them as soon as possible).

Have you ever read the story of Joseph and the interpretation of dream that he gave to Phoroah which led to his upliftment?

Beyond that story being about how God can lift a man, it also talks about the wisdom of God in the way we handle our resources.

Do you also know that it wouldn't have been God's fault if the Egyptians didn't save up in during the seven years of abundance, and so they are also in lack during the famine?

For every man, there is usually a season of abundance and either we want it or not, as it is with the natural where we have various seasons within the year which comes and goes so also with the human life. There is a season in life where it seems all is just working well, and if indeed we want things to keep working well in our lives, then it depends on how best we harness that season where all things are working out well to the best of our ability.

Are you in a seemingly season of abundance where it seems you have more than you currently need, or do you belong to the class that didn’t use their season of abundance well? Any group you belong to, I’m sure you’ll find a tip that’ll be useful for you.

1. Check Where The Bulk Of Your Money Goes To

To be able to move forward, we must be ready to access the past well.

Create out time from your busy schedule and sit down to actually monitor your cash flow. If you have a monthly source of income, calculate how much you received per month and how much it totaled at the end of last year. When you are through with this, then check how much went into various things e.g. how much you spent on clothes, fuel/transportation to work, the average amount you gave to people, how much you gave in tithes and offerings, how much you gave to your parents e.t.c. The list can include more depending on the kind of person you are and what you spend money on.

Let's consider Desmond

Desmond works with a pharmaceutical company and his monthly income is #100,000

The amount that gets into his account every payday is #91,250 after pension and tax have been deducted.

So going back to the template that was earlier suggested

Desmond received the total of #91,250 at the end of each month in 2019 and the total at the end of the year is #1, 095,000

This will give us an idea of how much passed through his hands last year.

It's interesting to note that even though over one million naira passed through the hands of Desmond last year, it's possible that he might not have up to #50,000 in savings and no kobo in investments as well.

While it's easier to laugh at Desmond and cast the stone on him for not saving and how much of a spendthrift he is, but do you have your finances all together?

You might not be able to get the figures for last year, you can as well begin with the first two months we use used up this year. It might look like a daunting task, but just start!

2. Draw Up A Budget For Every Income

This is like saying tell your money where it should go so that you don't keep wondering where all the money went.

Know how much will be going into your tithe and offering.

Know how much will go into taking care of your parents

Know how much you're allocating to saving as well as impulsive spending/when you just want to enjoy yourself. A note of caution, make sure you don't spoil yourself every day.

It might not be so wise to keep building your wardrobe every other month, while this is not saying that you should not look great, but drawing up a budget that does not have purchase of clothes on it every other month will clear up space for better things like saving for fixed deposit or putting money into money market.

3. Keep Limited Cash At Hand

One of the way to have no control over your cash flow is usually when you carry too much of cash around.

While this is not saying that we should walk around with no cash in our purse or pockets, but having a limited amount of cash at hand will also be able to help you control the way you spend.

Try doing this after your next pay check, draw up a budget, and calculate the amount you need on a daily basis, then take that exact money and a little extra and see what it does for you.

4. Have Different Accounts for Different Purposes

Having just one bank account in this age and time is not so cool.

A sister of mine said something about how she was able to save her money. She mentioned that at some point, she had to go open another account that will be strictly meant for saving, she went a step further by making sure she didn't have the bank's online application as well as the debit card, this was geared towards making sure she was never tempted to go take out of the money.

That worked for her and you might want to try that out too.

You can decide to have two different accounts asides your salary account, one should be purely for savings and you can adopt the method earlier discussed, another one can be your emergency account. Life happens at times, but one thing that is always constant is the fact that God is ever faithful, have an account that can be used to treat any unforeseen things.

4. Utilize Automatic Savings And Money Apps

With the increase in technology came different applications, and just like we have applications for games, bible study apps, so also do we have some applications through which you can save your money with.

I first heard about piggy vest which is an online saving app that automatically deducts your money from your account and credits your piggy account. It’s a good way to save money as the money itself won’t even come into your hands and the temptation to spend the money reduces. If you decide to try this app for your savings, go to Play store and download the app, it’s quite easy to navigate through.

Some banks also have options for target savings, you can ask your account manager for which plan your bank runs and how you can benefit fro this.

5. Always Have A Financial Goal/Project

Having a financial goal or project per time helps a lot.

It comes in handy when you're about to spend on frivolities, just remembering what you intend using your savings for can help you put your debit card back into your purse when you are just about to spend on something you can still do without for the now.

It also helps when you are about to pray to God, you can go to him in prayers telling Him what you're believing Him for and what your plans are.

Although you might not have a project that demands funds all of the time depending on the season of life that you are, but always having a financial goal will help you years from now when you eventually begin to need the money. It's always best to dig the well before you're thirsty.

Parting Words,

I strongly believe it is God's desire for us to live in abundance, the God of the universe is our Father so it is high time our way of life begins to show this to people around us. And although, we do not get wealthy through our power or might but shouldn’t stop us from being organized in our finances. It is the same way you are faithful in the management of #50,000 that you will also be faithful in the management of #500,000.

Your wanting to save shouldn't stop you from being a blessing to others too.

Remember that it is the will of the Lord for his children to be prosperous; God needs many more of his children to live in abundance.

Our living in lack does not in any way bring glory to the name of the Lord. There are so many kingdom projects that needs money to finance them, and God wouldn’t send money down as rain from heaven, the money needed will have to come through the hands of a human, it might as well be you and I.

March 05, 2020 2 comments

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

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