Habits of Heart, Health, and Work

By Dr. Barrett Mosbacker

December 31, 2018

I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, but the beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on our lives and goals and to make adjustments that will make us better stewards of ourselves, those for whom we are responsible, and our vocational callings.

While the following are not novel insights, they are useful reminders in the spirit of Peter’s declaration to the church:

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder (2 Peter 1:12–13).

Habits of the Heart

• Learn the virtue of contentment:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:5–6).

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:11–13).

Learning to be content will bring peace of heart and mind.

• Acknowledge and confess sin.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8–9).

Genuine confession and repentance lead to holiness, a vital relationship with Christ, and a quiet and peaceful conscience.

• Schedule daily time in God’s Word. This brings wisdom and spiritual growth.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17).

Habits for Health

I know — you already know what to do. The problem is not in the knowing but in the doing. You can improve not by making a New Year’s resolution but by establishing habits and routines that will help you do what you want to do but find difficult to do consistently. James Clear’s book Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones offers a practical framework for doing exactly that.

• Early to bed and early to rise. It may not make you wealthy and wise, but it will contribute to good health and mental alertness.
• Get as many steps in a day as possible. Park farther from your destination rather than closer. Take the stairs instead of the elevator for five floors or fewer. Manage by walking around. Hold walking meetings.
• Schedule thirty minutes a day, five days a week, for exercise of some kind.
• Track what you eat. It is a discipline, but it is worth it. Never go for seconds. At a restaurant, eat half of what is served and save the rest. Eliminate sugar from as many beverages as possible.
• Reduce your consumption of television news. Most of it — especially cable news — is not news at all; it is entertainment masquerading as news. Get your information from reading instead. Reducing or eliminating cable news and talk radio will reduce stress, and as we know, stress is unhealthy.

Habits for Work

• Read at least one book per month. You will grow personally and professionally, have more to offer others, and become a more interesting person.
• Do a weekly review of all upcoming projects, tasks, and commitments. The discipline of a regular review keeps priorities clear and prevents important work from slipping through the cracks.
• Schedule uninterrupted time for your most important projects. If the nature of your work makes this difficult during normal hours, do it early in the morning — another reason to rise early. I arrive at the office around 6:00 a.m. so that I have uninterrupted time in God’s Word and for work on important projects.
• Check email only a few times during the day and process messages in bulk. Do not allow email to consume your day. Control your email; do not let it control you.

These reminders are simple — not necessarily easy — and they are free. If you can become generally consistent, not perfect, in developing these habits of heart, health, and work, you will be healthier, wiser, more content, more at peace, and more productive in stewarding yourself, those for whom God has given you responsibility, and your work.

Have a great New Year!