If you asked me to describe the concept of time in four words, I would say, “Elusive, demanding, unforgiving, and limited.” I constantly battle to prioritize and effectively manage my time, despite strong organizational skills and a task-oriented personality.
Faithful stewardship of our time requires intentionality and care.
What does your current season of life look like? Are you in control of your time or does it feel chaotic and messy? Right now I’m juggling the purchase of a new home, writing book proposals, blogging, homeschooling my children, tutoring at our homeschool community, managing my website and the websites of the magazine I work for, plus daily demands as a wife, mother, and friend. Ug. It makes me tired just thinking about everything on my plate.
“Your time is a responsibility and a gift.”
Morgan Tyree
Morgan Tyree knows what it’s like to have to manage her time well. She earned her degree in business administration and has worked in the fields of marketing, management, and human resources. She runs her own professional organizing business and lives with her husband, David, and their three children in Colorado.
Her new book: Take Back Your Time: Identify Your Priorities, Decrease Stress, and Increase Productivity released August 20th. I jumped at the chance to read the book in exchange for an honest review. I also had the opportunity to interview Morgan to get to know her and hear her heart behind the book. I am excited to share the interview and my personal recommendation with you.
In order to grow our faith and live present to our purpose on earth, we need to be good stewards of our time.
Morgan’s system is simple and effective. If you want to take control of your time and learn how to flow with God’s unique design for your life, I highly recommend Take Back Your Time. It is an easy read jam-packed with practical tips and tricks to help you manage the hours in your week while actually increasing productivity and achieving the ever-elusive balance we all strive for. She includes great tools for enhancing your self-care routine (which I absolutely love) and tailoring your approach to time management based on your unique traits and daily rhythms. I especially love how the book is anchored in faith and focuses on partnering with God to propel you into His purposes for each season of life.
Take Back Your Time is available for purchase today. It also makes a great gift for friends, family, and co-workers (I’m already planning ahead for the holidays).
Want to get to know Morgan better? Check out my interview (and learn how you can win a FREE copy of her book):
Author Interview with Morgan Tyree
1. What inspired you to write the book?
As a professional organizer, I have the privilege of helping my clients organize their homes, businesses, and time. Therefore, I wanted to create a resource that others too could use. I desired to take my personal and professional experiences to help more people better steer and steward their time.
2. What do you hope readers will gain from it?
I hope readers will feel empowered and encouraged on how to intentionally prioritize their time. And as a result, experience more peace and less panic with their calendars and commitments.
3. What was the most challenging aspect of writing it?
The organization of it! Which may sound funny coming from a professional organizer. Writing is a very detailed effort and I had to learn how to keep everything sorted and organized.
4. If you could give your readers one piece of advice, what would you want them to know?
Whatever you are being called to do, in your current season, you CAN do it! I believe in you and I know you are capable. Often God will call you, and then equip you. Have faith!
5. What’s the best piece of life advice you have ever received?
More is caught than taught. This applies to so many areas of life – parenting, ministry, leading… We need to walk the talk, this will speak volumes.
6. Can you offer any guidance for aspiring authors or leaders?
Find a mentor, be tenacious, and trust the process. I heard Lysa Terkeurst say, “The process is the point.” This is an important reminder as you go through the ups and downs of writing or leading. There can be some real high highs and some real low lows.
7. What Bible verse has had the greatest impact on your life? Why?
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Often, I haven’t quite understood the “whys” in my life. So, leaning into this verse has helped me to remain steadfast, knowing that God has a plan for my life. The words “hope” and “future” are life-giving to me. They speak to what God wants for each and every one of us.
8. What are your top three must-read books?
The Four Tendencies (Gretchen Rubin), The Hiding Place (Corrie ten Boom), Bread and Wine (Shauna Niequist)
9. What podcasts do you recommend?
The Next Right Thing, The Open Door Sisterhood, Surviving Sarah
10. What do you do when you aren’t writing or teaching?
Exercising, reading, gardening, sewing, walking my dog, watching kids’ sporting events, and going on date nights with my hubby.
11. Favorite movies?
The Firm, The Notebook, Footloose
12. Favorite music?
Currently I’m really into country music. J But really, I’ll listen to just about any style and I won’t remember any of the lyrics, see below for more on this.
13. Favorite food?
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (my mom’s recipe)
14. Biggest pet peeve?
People standing too close to me in line.
15. Quirkiest thing about you?
I cannot for the life of me remember any lyrics to any songs. Even songs that I’ve heard a million times.
16. Most embarrassing moment?
One year right before the school year was ending, someone asked me who my son’s 4th grade teacher was and for the life of me I had NO idea. So embarrassing. And it wasn’t that I had just forgotten, I had never committed the teacher’s name to memory.
17. Top 5 items on your bucket list?
Climb a 14er, own a ski boat, visit Iceland, work/live at a Young Life camp, and foster/adopt a child
18. One thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m scared of most animals. I was clearly not created to be a zookeeper or a dog trainer or a cat whisperer (is there such a thing?).
19. How would you describe yourself using three words:
calm, cool, and collected
20. Where can people connect with you?
Website – http://www.morganizewithme.com
FB, Instagram, Twitter – @morganizewithme
Don’t forget to share my post on social media for the chance to WIN A FREE COPY of Take Back Your Time! Drawing ends September 22nd at midnight (PST) and the winner will be announced September 23rd.
Subscribers of my bi-monthly newsletter receive a 2nd entry, so be sure to subscribe today if you haven’t already!
Blessings,
