My computer screen is a sea of tabs and windows––all leading to different web pages, topics, and tasks. Sometimes I feel like I’m getting whiplash from bouncing between my monitors. But very little of my work is that urgent, so why do I let this bad habit hang around? If I kicked it to the curb, I would have better focus on the task at-hand. I would feel more dedicated to one idea. I could stop jumping between windows.
All professionals develop bad workday habits. They slow our productivity, and if you’re managing church communications, your church is the thing that really suffers. To keep that from happening, let’s talk about 3 of the most common weak spots in church communications jobs (and how to break these bad habits).
Bad Habit #1: Checking email bright and early.
“Some days I don’t check email at all until after lunch.”
Gasp! This writing professional’s confession is a shock heard ‘round the world. Especially if you’ve ever returned from vacation to see a flooded email inbox of church messages, Sid Savara’s statement might seem crazy. This is because checking our email has become a part of our morning ritual––like a cup of hot coffee or a pre-breakfast prayer. But his explanation for this habit should make us think twice about the bad habits we might unknowingly have:
“Often when I check email, the worst case happens: I end up with more work to do––and because we’re in “check email” mode, we start replying to them at the expense of the task we were just working on. Rather than actively setting an agenda, email forces you to react to items as they come in––regardless of their true priority.”
Do instead: With all of the amazing technology at our fingertips, we sometimes fail to take a step back and see how trapped it can make us feel. Avoid the anxiety that comes with a full inbox, and choose to inspire yourself. Choose to let yourself feel ready for a day of faith-fueled work! Read the Bible. Check your RSS feeds for interesting church news. Read a chapter of a helpful book. Pray for your co-workers. Make a good foundation for the day right from the start.
Bad Habit #2: Saying 'yes' to everything...but resenting the workload.
You might want to help grow the church in every possible way––from graphic design to promotions to social media and more. But what happens when you take on too much? You feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and maybe even unable to complete the basic tasks you promised.
Do instead: Instead of just saying ‘no’ to a project request or need, think of how you can help. Could the project wait until you have time next week? Or do you know of another available church leader who may have the skills and time to help out? Make these suggestions so that you’re still useful without being cold or rejecting.
Use an internal request form to share your process with others and be as transparent as possible. Process work tasks only at work––not in your personal time––to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
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Saying ‘no’ does not mean that you don’t love the church. It doesn’t mean that you’re selfish or unwilling. It simply means that you recognize your capacity for work, and you’re focused on putting quality over quantity. It actually means that you’re so committed to the mission of the church that you are able to recognize your boundaries and personal limitations! Setting healthy boundaries is a great way to avoid ministry burnout. |
Bad Habit #3: Focusing so much on your Sunday work that you neglect your personal worship.
Your faith is what drew you to a position as a church communicator––and it’s that faith that inspires you to grow in this profession. Where would you be without that personal love for the church? You certainly wouldn’t be reading this blog post on how to get even better at growing your church’s mission! But too often, we let our work to support the Sunday services come before our own spiritual journey. We become so involved in church communications that we forget how to open our hearts to the community of the church on a personal level.
Do instead: Propose a rotating schedule where some church leadership team members get to take a Sunday off every once in awhile. This will allow the staff to simply go to church. I encourage you take one Sunday a month and focus on your own personal worship time. If this simply isn’t possible, you can celebrate your own worship time on another day. Find a way to make this day a special time to rest, read, listen, and grow.
Either way, you need to make time for your own faith. Even though you work in it every day! This is a bad habit that is not just ‘unproductive’ in the workplace, but actually damaging to your spiritual health.
