People are always complaining that they never have the time to do anything. I know I used to complain about this all the time myself. “There’s not enough hours in a day!” Well, I am here to tell you that you have more time than you claim.
Let’s dig into this a bit more. First, we need to figure out a few things. What do we do with our time? How much time do we have? What do we need to get done? There’s time in the day to do a lot, but we need to start streamlining stuff. I have been working on this one for years. I was never really good at time management but finally, I have managed to create habits that help me keep myself in check.
I would go full out 110%, always. I thought that was enough, but I discovered that I was way off. My day was spent reacting to things and I always had to push things off for another day. The thought process and actions had to learn to work together. Mother of God was this tough for me.
I had to recognize all the time-wasting things I did in my day. The next was for me to learn to consolidate errands. I would tie things together to save more time in the long run. For example, if I had a doctor’s appointment, needed to go to the grocery store, and ship off a package I would do them all at the same time instead of separate times of the day. We don’t always realize how many unnecessary trips we make in a day. It’s time to take inspired action!
Tips on how to claim back your time:
Figure out important and urgent tasks– Prioritize your tasks so that you can make a game plan.
Group similar tasks– Consolidating similar tasks helps with keeping a good flow going.
Make a schedule– This will help to have your days organized. You will have a better view of the time you still have.
Set time limits- Timeboxing is a great way to manage your energy and your time. Take breaks after each set.
Say no– It’s ok to say no, after all, it’s your life. When you prioritize yourself first then you will be able to see clearer.
Stick to a system– Creating a system on how you work and how you rest will go a long way. We need a good work-life balance.
Avoid time-wasting– Recognize your time wasters and reduce them. Do this sooner than later. The time wasters are a main contributor to how we claim we have no time. You have more time than you think.
Begin with the end in mind– When you create goals try to set up a path to the finish line. You don’t have to stick to it because after all things happen, but having a vision will help you.
Get rid of unnecessary tasks– There are so many things that we feel we need to do that we actually don’t. Remove those unnecessary tasks and stop making excuses.
Understand your goals– If you understand your goals you will have the ability to predict your direction. What do you want?
2 Minute or less rule– Do things now that take two minutes or less. Stop taking 2 minutes out of your day to write down that you need to do something later that takes 2 minutes. That just became 4 minutes. See how you can have more time now?
Work on most complicated tasks first– Getting the big things done first will give you a better picture of where you need to amp things up for later.
Manage energy levels– We only have a certain amount of energy for each day so it’s important for us to recognize it. Adjust accordingly.
Exercise– Get out and get some exercise every day for your health and well-being.
Question
What system helps you accomplish your daily goals?
