I've been meeting with a nutritionist because my cholesterol has been high. I told her that I did not want to do any crazy diets, and she said, "That shouldn't be a problem as long as we learn how to STACK your GOOD HABITS."
She explained that most times people try to do a complete overhaul whenever they want to see change. While there is short-term success to these approaches, rarely are they sustainable. The trick is to look at all of my habits, identify the good ones and build on them. She warned that the change would be slower at first, but it was sustainable.
One of the reasons we burn ourselves out in ministry is we try to make drastic changes without the resources to support it. Whether it's moving the age of sacramental prep or starting youth ministry from scratch, it's not just having a vision, mission and plan on paper, how you get there matters too.
So, what are the habits that ministry teams should develop to assist with change?
If you don't manage your time, others will manage it for you. Not only is it important to set boundaries, but getting in the habit of reviewing your days, weeks and even months is essential. It might seem like a lot to bounce between the micro and macro, but sitting down with your digital or physical calendar is key.
If you've never done this before, try tracking your time (both personal and professional) for a few weeks. You'll pick up on things that might feel like they only take a few seconds (answering emails) that end up consuming your time and energy.
Speaking and writing are skills that need to be developed and fine-tuned. While many of us have nightmares about public speaking or resent the grammatical exercises from our school days, these are skills that need to be sharpened as adults.
A poorly written email or newsletter can leave people confused. How we present a talk or facilitate an information meeting or training can be the difference in audience engagement.
While I'm not suggesting you go back to school, inviting others to proofread and provide real-time feedback is the best. Yes, you can use digital tools, but having a human review them can ensure no major glitches go out to the public.
Listening is a skill that we're not all born with. Even if you are naturally empathetic or aren't quick to speak, being able to listen to emotion and tone are things we have to practice, especially with all of the noise in our lives. You need to start by being slow to respond. You have to slow down your need to answer the question you initially hear and make sure you have all the information and context behind it. That might mean some awkward silence, and it could mean asking for more information, but it's not always about answering the question — sometimes people just want to be heard. For some great exercises check out Future of Faith.
If you aren't investing in yourself, you will struggle to find the energy to do what God is calling you to do. Whether it's spiritual, physical, intellectual, or emotional, making sure you are doing the things to grow and heal is essential. Some of the self-care habits that I have found essential are breath work, sleep, diet and exercise. I try to set aside time for reading, watching videos or listening to podcasts that can help me grow.
This might sound like a lot more to do, but you don't have to make all these changes overnight. Just pick one area, one habit, and incorporate it into your life. Over time, find another good habit, add it, and go from there. Get a coach, a mentor or an accountability partner to help you measure your progress. The more you stack these habits, the more equipped you will be to manage big change. You'll be able to identify problems sooner, bring people together sooner and build a ministry that will last.
At Marathon Youth Ministry we offer coaching and resources to help you develop these habits. If you are not sure where to start, just set up a call with us HERE.