At the 2026 NADCE Conference, Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies of Lutheran Hour Ministries delivered a keynote address titled “Ministry as carrying children in an age of acceleration.” He noted that, thanks to technology, time doesn’t just feel faster; our experience of time is actually accelerated as we try to get more done in less time. This acceleration leads to exhaustion and “time sickness”.
Dr. Mark Travers wrote an article titled “3 Simple Remedies for ‘Time Sickness’, which was published by Psychology Today on March 7, 2025. Here are some of Dr. Travers’ main points and some thoughts regarding their application to ministry.
What is time sickness?
“Time Sickness is a term coined by Dr. Larry Dossey in his 1982 book Space, Time & Medicine to describe the distress and potential health consequences arising from the belief that time is constantly slipping away and that one can never accomplish enough.” (Travers)
How do we heal from “time sickness”?
Dr. Tavers suggests these three remedies
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“Change Your Relationship with Time” – stop racing against time and instead treat time as “a resource to use with intention”. Dr. Travers says to “Stop measuring time by productivity” and “set realistic expectations” that include time for rest.
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“Manage Your Attention, Not Just Your Time” – one key to doing this is to stop trying to multitask. “Instead…fully engage with one thing at a time”. Other key ways to do this include limiting distractions and giving yourself time to transition from one task to the next (“pause for a moment to reset”).
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“Slow Down and Savor the Present” – paying more attention to the present moment cultivates “‘time affluence’-the sense that you have enough mental space and flexibility to savor your experiences rather than rush through them.”
How does this apply to ministers?
As ministers of the Gospel, we are people who carry Christ into the world, and we have very important work to do. But we should never forget that God has already done (and continues to do) the most important work.
We can find healing from “time sickness” when we remember that only God knows the number of our days. So we pray with the Psalmist and ask that HE would “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).
We also heal by remembering that the most important work we do is done in the context of relationships. And relationships cannot be rushed.
Finally, we heal from “time sickness” by savoring the blessings we receive from God each day. We sing with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times; HIS praise shall continually be in my mouth.” and “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Ps. 34:1, 8).
If you need someone to walk with you to help you heal from “time sickness”, reach out to a member of the Texas District Care and Coaching Team!