Are You Working Smarter or Just Harder?

"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." - Stephen Covey

Does the 40-hour workweek feel like a distant, unattainable myth? You pour your heart into your ministry, preparing sermons, visiting the sick, managing administrative tasks, and trying to cast a vision for growth. But when you add up the hours—including that second job or chaplaincy gig—the total is often staggering. If you’re constantly feeling stretched thin and teetering on the edge of exhaustion, you're not just imagining it. The data shows that the pastoral workload is intense, and for many, it far exceeds the standard full-time commitment.

This culture of overwork poses a significant threat to emerging pastors. You are leading congregations that need revitalizing, a task that requires immense energy, creativity, and resilience. But how can you pour into others when your own cup is constantly running empty? Burnout is not a sign of spiritual failure; it’s often a direct result of unsustainable work habits. Protecting your well-being isn't selfish—it's essential for long-term ministry effectiveness.

The Unspoken Reality of Pastoral Hours

In his recent Substack article, "The Many Roles of a Religious Leader," Ryan Burge provides a sobering look at the time commitment modern ministry demands. While the "average" clergy person reports working about 34 hours per week for their primary congregation, this number is deceptive. It includes many part-time leaders, which pulls the average down. The real story emerges when we look at the hours dedicated to additional roles.

According to the survey:

• Clergy with an outside, non-ministry job spend an average of 28 hours a week on it.

• Those serving multiple congregations dedicate about 15 hours a week to their additional church.

• Chaplaincy roles require an average of 7 hours per week.

When these hours are combined, the picture becomes much clearer and, for many, more relatable. The median total workweek for a pastor is 50 hours. The mean is slightly lower at 47 hours. This means half of all pastors are working 50 hours a week or more.

Perhaps most concerning is the finding that nearly a quarter of all religious leaders are working at least 60 hours a week across all their occupations. Let that sink in. One in four pastors is putting in hours that are widely recognized as a fast track to severe burnout, health problems, and relational strain. For young pastors trying to grow a struggling church, the pressure to be in that top 25% can be immense, driven by both financial necessity and a deep-seated desire to serve effectively.

The Myth of More Hours, More Impact

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that more hours worked directly translates to greater ministry impact. We see a need and we want to meet it. We see a problem and we want to solve it. But this equation is flawed. Chronic overwork leads to diminished creativity, poor decision-making, and emotional exhaustion. A pastor running on fumes is not leading at their best. Your congregation doesn't just need your time; they need your healthiest, most spirit-filled self.

The data also debunks another common assumption: that workload decreases with experience. One might think that younger pastors work the most hours, full of "gung ho" energy, while seasoned veterans have learned to be more efficient. The survey results show no such pattern. In fact, the group that reported working the most hours (53 per week) were those who had been in ministry for 30 to 40 years. This suggests that the tendency to overwork is a persistent challenge throughout a ministry career, not just a phase you grow out of.

This is a crucial insight for emerging leaders. Establishing healthy work-life boundaries and sustainable rhythms is not something to put off until the church is bigger or more financially stable. It is a foundational leadership skill that must be cultivated from the very beginning. Your long-term effectiveness and personal well-being depend on it.

Reclaiming Your Time and Energy

The path to a sustainable ministry pace begins with the conviction that your well-being is a vital part of your stewardship. God has entrusted you with a mind, body, and spirit that require care. Honoring the need for rest and renewal is an act of faithful obedience, not a concession to weakness. It allows you to bring your best self to the complex and demanding work of leading a church toward revitalization. By managing your time with intention, you can model a healthier way of life and leadership for your entire congregation.

Here's what you can do to put this into action:

1. Define Your "Good Enough" Point: For every major task (especially sermon preparation), define what "done" or "good enough" looks like ahead of time. The law of diminishing returns is real; the extra five hours you spend polishing a sermon may only yield a 1% improvement but cost you a significant amount of rest or family time. Set a time limit for your prep and stick to it for one month.

2. Schedule Your Sabbath First: Before you fill your week with meetings and tasks, block out a full 24-hour period for your Sabbath. This is non-negotiable time for rest, worship, and activities that replenish your soul. Defend this time as fiercely as you would a crucial leadership meeting. If you lead by example, your congregation will learn to value rest as well.

3. Perform a "Stop Doing" Audit with Your Leadership Team: Sit down with your key leaders and make a list of every program, meeting, and administrative task the church currently does. Collaboratively, identify one or two things that are low-impact but high-effort. Agree to stop doing them for the next six months. This frees up collective energy for higher-impact initiatives and demonstrates a collaborative leadership style focused on effectiveness, not just activity.