Time Empowerment: How Reclaiming Your Time Can Reclaim Your Life

Let’s face it—if we don’t tell our time where to go, it will vanish before we even realize it’s gone. For years, I ran around trying to “manage” time when what I really needed was to empower myself with it. The Reclaim Your Life course module inside the Lady J Empowerment Community is all about this shift—from merely managing time to stewarding it with purpose, faith, and flexibility.

You can access the full Time Empowerment module here:
👉 Reclaim Your Life Module – Time Empowerment

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Plans…

Let me tell you—God really does laugh at our plans! For years I tried to control everything with strict schedules, and I still felt burnt out and behind. But over the past year, one powerful shift changed everything: giving my day to God first.

When I start my morning with surrender, worship, and asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do today?” everything flows differently. It’s not about checking boxes; it’s about staying aligned and purposeful.

Now I teach this same approach in the Reclaim Your Life program, especially in the Time Empowerment module. Let’s break it down.

1. Do a Time Audit

Most of us think we’re too busy. But when we audit our time, we find out where it’s really going. Are you pouring into distractions or progress?

Action Step:

Do the following:

• Step 1: Write down your most significant goals from the past month Before looking at any data, write down your 3–5 biggest priorities (ongoing goals are also acceptable) and the time you intended to spend on them in the past month. This is called setting your intention. Goal 1: Intended time commitment: Goal 2: Intended time commitment: Goal 3: Intended time commitment:

• Step 2: Gather raw time data by writing it down Provide basic data on how you spent your time. Write down your time spent on each activity for a given period (1 month is an excellent place to start). Goal 1: Intended time commitment: Actual time spent: Goal 2: Intended time commitment: Actual time spent: Goal 3: Intended time commitment: Actual time spent:

• Step 3: Audit your productivity by time of day When are you most productive? Write down the times of the day you are most effective.

• Step 4: Set action plans for each goal With this data, you can set specific action plans and timers to align your time intentions and allocations. Write these for each goal. Goal 1: Intended time commitment: Actual time spent: ACTION: Goal 2: Intended time commitment: Actual time spent: ACTION: Goal 3: Intended time commitment: Actual time spent: ACTION:

• Step 5: Create a new daily schedule based on your unique goals Fill your schedule with your new time commitments.

And remember to leave time for meetings and open blocks for unexpected tasks. Life WILL happen! Allow it to—plan for the unexpected.

2. Learn How to Create More Time

Creating time means saying “yes” to the right things and “no” to time-wasters. Often, this is tied to boundaries and knowing your true priorities.

Action Step:

• List 3 things you're spending time on that don’t align with your purpose.

• Commit to removing one of them this week.

3. Create a Realistic Schedule

Rigid schedules fail because they don’t account for real life. You need margin, grace, and enough space to breathe. That’s the beauty of planning with flexibility—also covered in the course.

Action Step:

• Start with non-negotiables (God time, family, meals, rest). These are things you are not willing to give up for others. Make sure you include yourself and your self-care time. This should be a non-negotiable. The unfortunate truth is that we tend to put others' needs first. Then we wonder why we are exhausted and mentally depleted. It's important that we fill our cup each day so that we have enough to pour out to others. Just as they say when you get on an airplane, "put your mask on first..." Self-care is putting your mask on so that you can fully take care of others around you. I am a better all-around person now because I no longer put myself last. Begin practicing with 10-15 minutes per day of something different that focuses on your needs: meditation and prayer, going for a walk, something that involves both movement and spiritual development is even better. Begin where you are and then progress from there. When I first began meditating, I thought it meant sitting still doing nothing for however long. Each person's version of meditation is different. It can be walking, it can be sitting quietly, it can be breathing, it can be journaling. There is no one way to meditate. The biggest part is making sure that meditation does NOT involve social media or other toxic things (like stressing about the day before it even begins). Meditation involves intention-setting, getting clear, and not bringing yesterday into the new day as much as possible. Focus on the here and now. You are setting yourself up for success and allowing yourself to be mentally prepared for whatever comes your way that day. 

• Schedule 2–3 “focus blocks” per day for your most important work. Focus blocks are where you limit distractions (place the phone on "focus" mode or turn it off, stay off social media, and don't make these blocks too long. Create 30 minute segments with a 5-10 minute break for more productivity). 

4. Dial In On Priorities

Are you doing the most urgent or the most important? They’re not always the same. We tend to fill our schedules up so much that we don't have the ability to prioritize or focus. Busy-ness is not the same as productivity (see my blog on this at https://www.ladyjempowers.com/blog/busy-versus-productive). 

Action Step:

• Each morning, list your Top 3 Priorities—faith, family, finances?

• Ask: What would success look like today?

5. Create Action Plans for Your Goals

Dreams become plans when they’re broken into steps. We help you reverse-engineer your goals into daily wins.

Action Step:

• Choose one goal. Write the first 3 steps to begin this week.

• Share it in our Empowerment Community for support!

Final Thoughts: Stewarding Time is Stewarding Purpose

Time empowerment isn’t just about productivity. It’s about purpose.
When we give God our calendar, we find peace.
When we trust the process, we build momentum.
When we plan with intention and flexibility, we make room for grace.

Join us inside the Lady J Empowerment Community and start implementing these steps with support, encouragement, and monthly coaching.

📲 Click here to access the full course module

You were not created to survive each day—you were created to thrive in it.
Let’s reclaim your life—one schedule, one prayer, and one purpose-filled moment at a time.