Clear the Junk: The Hidden Enemies Killing Your Optimization as a Pastor
Clear the Junk: The Hidden Enemies Killing Your Optimization as a Pastor
You can’t run a high-performance engine on garbage fuel.
And yet, many pastors are trying to run high-impact ministries on lives cluttered with junk.
I'm not talking about junk mail.
I'm not talking about junk drawers.
I’m talking about junk inputs—the things we consume daily that drain our physical energy, mental sharpness, and spiritual focus.
Let’s name the usual suspects—and more importantly, let’s talk about how to take them out of your life so you can live and lead at a higher level.
1. Junk Carbs & Processed Foods
You can’t preach about discipline while your body is crashing from sugar highs and lows.
The donuts at the church meeting.
The late-night cereal.
The grab-and-go gas station snack.
It all adds up—to inflammation, brain fog, and fatigue.
What to do:
✅ Trade breakfast cereal for high-protein, low-carb meals (like eggs and avocado).
✅ Choose meat and veggies over bread and fries.
✅ Read labels—if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it.
Clean fuel leads to a clear mind.
2. Binge-Watching TV
You tell your people to redeem the time…
but you’re four episodes deep into a Netflix loop at midnight.
TV in moderation isn’t evil—but if it’s your default decompression strategy, you’re paying a hidden cost:
- Poor sleep
- Reduced creative output
- Missed margin for reading, exercise, or prayer
What to do:
✅ Set a “screens-off” time (no shows after 9 PM, for example).
✅ Watch only one episode per sitting—and turn off autoplay.
✅ Replace just one TV (or YouTube) hour with something that recharges or relaxes you, not numbs you.
3. Social Media Doomscrolling
Instagram reels.
Facebook debates.
Twitter (er, um... "X") arguments.
You open your phone to check the weather…
... and an hour later you’re in a comment war with some guy named ‘EndTimesProphet47.’
What to do:
✅ Delete apps from your phone during the workweek. (Inconvenient, yes. Impossible, no.)
✅ Set a 10-minute daily timer if you must use them.
✅ Use social media for ministry, not mindless consumption.
Your calling is too big for you to live in digital dopamine depletion.
4. Sleep Sabotage
This one hides in plain sight.
Late nights.
Early mornings.
Constant interruptions.
... And the lie that you’ll “catch up” later.
You won’t.
Lack of sleep kills:
- Testosterone
- Memory and focus
- Emotional resilience
- Long-term health
What to do:
✅ Set a consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule—even on weekends.
✅ Cut screens an hour before bed.
✅ Try magnesium glycinate, melatonin, or a warm shower as a sleep primer.
5. Cluttered Spaces & Overbooked Calendars
You can’t think clearly in chaos.
A cluttered office.
A calendar with no white space.
A day full of “urgent” but unimportant tasks.
What to do:
✅ Ruthlessly declutter your physical workspace.
✅ Block your most productive hours for thinking, not just meetings.
✅ Use tools like a daily planner to triage what matters most.
Your external world reflects your internal one.
Clean both.
Bottom Line: Junk Is the Enemy of Optimization.
You can’t be spiritually sharp while living in a sluggish shell.
You can’t lead with clarity while your own life is cluttered with chaos.
You can’t discern divine direction when you're drowning in distraction.
The good news?
You don’t need perfection.
You need progress.
Start clearing out the junk today—and watch what happens in your energy, focus, and fruitfulness.
BONUS: Download my “Junk Detox Checklist for Pastors.”
More Resources To Help You Optimize
🥤Momentum Shake: The Complete Longevity Shake for Optimal Health
🎥 Sermon Shots: Repurpose Sermons Into Clips & Other Engaging Content in Minutes
💊 My (Scott's) full supplement regimen
