Budget Your Time Like Your Money
What if you started thinking about your time the same way you think about your money?
Whether you use a budget or not, most of us understand that if we do not pay attention to where our money goes, it just has a way of disappearing. And I think time works exactly the same way. Every single week we are given 168 hours, and if we do not intentionally decide where those hours go, they just slip right through our fingers.
Last week we talked about creating margin in your calendar, and if you missed that one, I will link it below so you can go back and check it out. But today I want to take it one step further, because margin is only one piece of the puzzle. Today we are talking about how to actually prioritize your time for the things that matter most, and I am sharing one simple tool that has completely changed the way I live my life.
But before we dive in, let’s anchor ourselves in today’s verse, found in Psalm 90:12:
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom.”
This verse is such a powerful reminder that our time is not limitless. It is a gift. And just like money, the way we spend it says everything about what we truly value. In fact, I truly believe that if someone were to look at your calendar today, they could tell you exactly what the most important things in your life are.
So today I want to show you how to budget your hours just like you would your money. And yes, it might look a little overwhelming at first but stay with me, because the peace and freedom on the other side of this is so worth it.
What Is an Ideal Week?
An ideal week is a visual map of every important thing in your life, laid out hour by hour, day by day. And I want to be clear, this is not your current week. It is not a reflection of the chaos you might be living in right now. It is the week you actually want. The one you are intentionally designing, with God’s help.
And before you freak out, I want you to take a deep breath. This is a tool, not a cage. It is not meant to put your creativity in a box or make you feel like a failure every time life does not go according to plan. It is simply a rhythm, a framework that helps you stay anchored to what matters most, even when life gets busy.
Step One: Create It
The first step is to sit down and actually build your ideal week. Go day by day, hour by hour, and start by penciling in the non-negotiables. These are the things that matter most to you, the things that, if they do not make it onto your calendar, will quietly get squeezed out by everything else.
For me, those things include time with my husband, special one on one time with each of my kids every single day, my morning Bible study, my workout, and even my shower and meal prep time. Yes, I put all of it on there. Because when you can actually see it on paper, you stop wondering where the day went, and you start seeing exactly where it is going.
How to Color Code Your Calendar
Think about all the categories of your life, faith, family, work, health, and rest. Color coding can be a really helpful way to see at a glance how balanced your week actually is. I use pink for time that is just for me, orange for time with my kids, blue for school, and individual colors for each of my children’s specific activities. Find a system that works for your brain.
Also, and this is really important, make sure you are intentionally building in margin. Free time. White space. Whatever you want to call it. If your calendar is packed from morning to night with no breathing room, you are going to burn out. Protect that space on purpose, even when it feels like you should be filling it with something more productive.
Design the Week You Actually Want
Remember, this is called your ideal week, not your current week. You have the power to design the week you actually want for you and your family. So start there.
If you want help building this out, I have a resource called the Ideal Week Blueprint. It is a very affordable mini course that walks you through the whole process step by step, including personal templates and examples of what this has looked like in different seasons of life. I will link it below!
Step Two: Live It
Once you have created your ideal week, the next step is to actually live it. And I know, that is easier said than done. But here is what I have found makes the biggest difference: bring your family into the process.
When your husband and kids understand the rhythm you are creating and why, they have so much more buy-in. When my family knows that I work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they stop being surprised by it. It becomes the expected, normal rhythm of our home, and that changes everything.
The 80/20 Rule for Your Time
The goal here is not perfection. Think of it like the 80/20 rule. Following your ideal week 80 to 90 percent of the time means you are doing great. What matters most is not that every single minute lines up exactly, but that the rhythm and the order of things stays consistent. Because when we build that kind of consistency, it creates peace, for us and for everyone around us.
A Note for Mamas With Little Ones
To the mamas with little ones who are thinking there is absolutely no way this would ever work in their season of life — I hear you. Been there. There are so many tips and tricks for making this work with young kids, so come find me on Instagram and send me a message. Would love to help you figure it out.
Step Three: Refine It
After you have lived your ideal week for a couple of weeks, you are going to start noticing the gaps. The places where something is just not quite working the way you hoped. And that is completely normal. That is actually the whole point of step three.
Maybe you realize your evenings are consistently running later than you want, which means you and your husband never get that quiet time together after the kids go to bed. Or maybe a new activity has been added to the schedule and everything needs to shift a little. That is okay. Take note, make the adjustment, and keep going.
But here is the thing, do not refine it too often. If you are constantly tweaking and changing things, it never gets a chance to actually do its job. Make your small adjustments at the beginning, and then let it ride. For our family, I typically rebuild my ideal week three times a year, in fall, spring, and summer, to account for the big seasonal shifts in our homeschool and work schedule. Other than that, I leave it alone and trust it to guide us.
The really cool part is that once you build it, you have the shell. And that is the hardest part, the initial build. After that, the refining is actually very quick because you are just making small tweaks to something that already exists. The bones are already there.
Your Time Is a Gift Worth Stewarding
I want to leave you with one more verse today, found in Ephesians 1:18:
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light, so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He has called, His holy people, who are His rich and glorious inheritance.”
We are richly blessed. God has entrusted us with time, with money, with our families, our businesses, and our relationships. And it is our job to steward those blessings well, not perfectly, but intentionally.
Your Challenge This Week
So here is your challenge for this week: set aside 30 minutes and start working on your ideal week. Do it on your own, or grab the Ideal Week Blueprint and do it with me. Either way, take the first step. Create it, live it, refine it, and then let it do its job.
The peace and freedom on the other side of intentional living is powerful. And I truly believe it is beyond anything you may have ever experienced before.
You have got this, friend. And God has got you. 🤍
A Note Before You Go
Friend, you are not meant to do life and business alone. God never intended that for you. And if you are a Christian female entrepreneur looking for vetted coaches and service providers who actually share your biblical values, I would love for you to check out Purpose Pages. It is a completely free online Christian business directory where you can find trusted support for every area of your life and business.
Come hang out with us here every single week, and I cannot wait to see you in the next blog post.
Related Episodes:
Resources:
- Ideal Week Blueprint — A mini course that walks you through how to create your ideal week, including personal templates and examples.
- Purpose Pages Directory – A free, vetted online directory to help you find Christian coaches and service providers you can trust.
- Follow Purpose Pages on Instagram – Find trusted Christian providers and connect with a community that gets you.
- The Purpose Gathering Live (Waitlist) – A Spirit-led day to refocus, reconnect & recharge in Downtown Gilbert, AZ. Live worship, speaker sessions, guided reflection, and intentional connection with faith-driven women in business. Grab your ticket
- Join the Faith-Fueled Fireside on July 16th at 10AM (AZ Time) – This virtual gathering is an opportunity to connect with like minded mamas who are ready to trade hustle for peace this season.
- Join the Free Purpose Gathering Community – A welcoming space for Christian mompreneurs to connect, grow, and be encouraged in both life and business.
- The Armor of God – Bible Study for Women with Video Access
- Grace Over Grind: How Grace Will Take Your Business Where Grinding Can’t
- Have a question for me? Or a specific struggle you’re dealing with? I’ll address your question on the podcast. Submit your ‘Ask Ashley’ question here.
- Please connect with me on Instagram @thepurposegathering.
