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A Christian Approach to Getting Stuff Done

This is Redeeming Productivity, a blog and podcast, where we talk about technology, techniques, and theology in the light of the Bible, to help Christians get more done and glorify God in how they do it.

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Bitcoin & the Bible

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We are by nature worshiping creatures, and we will eventually become like what we worship. – G.K. Beale
2021 is nearly over and the close of a year is a natural occasion to evaluate where you're at and where you're going. Three diagnostic questions to ask yourself at the close of the year: 1. How is my relationship with the Lord? 2. What do I hope to accomplish next year? 3. Who will help me and keep me accountable? Take 30 minutes with a journal to write out your answers to those questions and it will lead to a beneficial time of self-reflection and prayer.
The book Deep Work by Cal Newport radically changed the way I approach my work. Here's a summary of the main points of the book. (Start with the definition in the second image) Benefits of Deep Work There are three primary reasons everyone should care about deep work. 1. Deep Work Is Valuable In the modern knowledge economy, there are two skills that enable you to thrive as a professional: • Ability to master hard things fast • Ability to produce quality at speed The common denominator of these two abilities is that both are functions of focussed and concentrated effort; deep work. 2: Deep Work Is Rare Most workers do not operate at any level of significant focus in our work. We skip from one distraction to the next. Those who do embrace concentrated work will stand out from the crowd. 3: Deep Work Is Meaningful Shallow work is why you hate your job We were made to work and create, but when our work is divorced from results we feel proud of, we become miserable. Deep work produces quality work, and complete work, work we can be proud of. How to Foster Deep Work In the latter half of the book, Newport offers four rules for minimizing shallow activities and optimizing for deep work. Rule 1: Work Deeply You cannot rely on willpower alone to develop a life of deep work. You have to make it a habit. You have to create a routine. Rule 2: Embrace Boredom Concentration is a skill, and we’re losing it because we are always running from boredom. Rule 3: Quit Social Media We should evaluate what occupies our attention like a wise craftsman evaluates his tools, weighing both pros and cons. And we should radically eliminate those tools that are at odds with depth. Rule 4: Drain the Shallows If we truly wish to be people who optimize our lives for deep, meaningful work, we need to schedule for it. Making a strict plan for each day makes it much harder to justify indulging in distractions. Okay, that's it for the summary! If you've never read Deep Work, I highly recommend it. You can read more about how Christians can use Deep Work over on my website (link in bio).
I have a problem. I'm a planner. But I'm also a worrier. I love to plan for tomorrow, but I also have a tendency to worry about the future. What to do? So I’ve been working on a new course on how to keep an effective to-do list. And it got me thinking about this tension between planning and worrying. Here's my conclusion: Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34), but that doesn't mean we shouldn't plan for it. Here's my thought process followed by a simple practice. Plans are good. But planning becomes sinful when it comes from a worried or arrogant heart (James 4:13–17). I have plans for the year, the quarter, and the month. But I try to hold those plans with an open hand. Because when we put our faith in our plans, they become idols. This sounds dumb, but it works: One way I make plans for the future and avoid the temptation to worry about them is by hiding my longer-term plans from myself. I use an app called Things to manage my long-term plans and to-dos. But I only look at it once per day. Otherwise, it makes me anxious. This is my daily process: • Open my projects list in Things • Pick only the items I plan to do today • Copy them into a paper notebook • Close Things until tomorrow Throughout the day I just operate out of the paper notebook. This allows me to focus on only the work in front of me. And not freak out over all the stuff I'm not currently doing. This simple process has helped my worry-prone mind to flee the temptation to fret over future work while still taking responsibility to plan ahead.
Focus on Jesus, then do the work in front of you.
We've all known that hopeless feeling of having more to do than you could possibly hope to accomplish. • Why is it that we overcommit? • How does productivity actually make the problem worse? • And how do we break free from an addiction to overdoing it? If you're addicted to overcommitment, listen to the latest episode of Redeeming Productivity, "How to Overcome Overcommitment" Just search for "Redeeming Productivity" wherever you get your podcasts.
Busyness has become a dirty word. It shouldn't be. I've been thinking a lot about this since my conversation with Jordan Raynor on the podcast. Being busy can be a good thing. It means you're actually doing something with your time, stewarding your life toward some purpose. There is something very satisfying about having "a full day." It's not the outward busyness that's the problem. The problem is when we become hurried. As the quote says, busyness is an outward condition, but hurry is a problem of the soul. Because it's when we are hurried that we neglect our relationships, time with God, and our health. Hurry stems from a heart of striving, a soul not content to rest in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should be faithful stewards of our time, and in some seasons that may look like being really busy. But we must keep a watchful eye on our hearts. Is my busyness driven by a heart eager to serve the Lord and others? Or is it discontentment, anxiety, and fear pushing me to strain beyond our limits, and not to rely on God?
The Redeeming Productivity podcast returns today for season 3. In this week's episode, I talk to @jordanraynor about his new book Redeeming Your Time, saying no generously, how the life of Jesus is a model of unhurried busyness, and Jordan’s most effective strategy for turning down the noise in your life so you can focus on what matters most. Just search for "Redeeming Productivity" on your podcast player to listen to the episode.
One of the most pernicious lies that productive Christians can imbibe is the lie that our accomplishments define us. This lie can show up in how we pursue our goals, our motivations, or the moments we berate ourselves up for failing. The amazing truth I must constantly remind myself of is that my accomplishments don’t define me. Christ’s accomplishments define me. My pursuit of productive labor is not a search for an identity but an expression of my true identity in Christ. I want to work hard not to earn something, but because I’m worshipping someone in how I work.
Be faithful today.
As Christians, we should seek to be a blessing to our employers. One easy way to do that as a remote worker is by proactively communicating. Put yourself in your boss’s shoes for a moment. He or she is responsible to someone for your output, but they cannot see you. They have no idea what you’re doing with your time. And at the same time, they probably don’t want to constantly be nagging you for updates. It’s a tough spot to be in. What a great chance to serve them well and save yourself a lot of grief! All you need to do is be a proactive communicator. Here are a few ways you can be a proactive communicator: • At the beginning of the week, message your boss and say, “Here are my top 3 items for the week, anything I should add or remove?” • When you need a break, don’t sneak away, give them a heads up. “Hey I need to clear my head. I’m going to go walk the dog around the block. I’ll be offline for the next 15 minutes.” • When you mess up, communicate it as soon as possible. Don’t leave them in the dark. “I goofed up. I’m double-booked for our 1 o’clock, can we move it?” In the age of remote work, a proactive communicator is a blessing to their employer.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

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