Stress and anxiety are huge issues for a lot of people, but one of the biggest stressors for many, is the belief that they do not have enough time to get things done. I am sure you have thought about how much more you would achieve if you only had a few more hours in the day. Doesn’t it seem that if you had more time, you could accomplish more every day and move toward larger goals even sooner?
Here is the thing, some of the greatest innovators of our time, all have the same number of minutes in a day as you do, but they seem to accomplish a lot more. How is that possible? And yes, while they do have additional resources at their disposal, that was not always the case. Most of them started out with the same amount of resources you currently have, or even less. That is because achieving your goals is not about what resources you have, it is about how resourceful you can be with what is available to you.
Try finding the right support—a coach, mentor or an accountability partner. Allow them to help you devise a plan to achieve your goal and follow through with a timeline. They will hold you accountable for reaching your end-goal and help you master these powerful tips for time management along the way.
IT IS A WAY OF THINKING
Many times, you start creating to-do lists and making plans before you have thoroughly assessed the task at hand. Before you decide what you need to do, you have to first ask the question, “What do I want?” This question will help you to define what it is you really want, identify why you want it and then list the steps needed to achieve the goal.
When you determine what you want, and you have a clear purpose in mind, then it is time to come up with specific objectives or metrics as to how you will measure your results. For example, Why do you want this? Use language that brings meaning and pride to you. “I want to get a degree” likely won’t motivate you on long study nights, but “I want to finish my degree so I can be successful, provide for my family members and give them a better life,” might be a little more encouraging. Always keep the reason you are doing something in mind. Now ditch your to-do list. A to-do list keeps you busy, but do not confuse constant motion with progress. Your plan of action keeps you focused on what truly matters to you and how to measure your progress, not on checking items off of a list.
RETHINK
Let us say you have a goal to improve your health. When stated in this weak way, it can feel overwhelming. You are unlikely to attempt achieving your goal if you feel demotivated before you even begin. On the other hand, it is equally easy to break it down into too many bite-size tasks and in the end, you get the same result. Instead of trying to tackle each part of your goal at once, you can break it up into tiny groups, which makes it easier to handle and sets you up for success. Here are three ways you can do it:
First, get your ideas down in writing; this is called capturing. Your tasks only add stress if they stay floating around in your mind, and you risk forgetting some of the things you need to do, as well. Document each task that must be completed, each goal and even situations and ideas that demand your attention. Write it all down; you can weed things out and sort them later. Do this for your entire week.
Now, look for common threads among the things you need to do. Which tasks, situations and goals relate to money or finance? Which things relate to family and relationships? Which items are tied into personal fitness? Separate the items based on these areas of your life.
Finally, decide which tasks and action items are the most important within each category based on importance and not urgency. Check to make sure you are not neglecting any areas of your life. The end result should be a master plan, with prioritised sub-categories, that keeps all spheres of your life up-to-date and balanced.
You have eliminated an endless list of ‘to-dos’ in favour of creating smaller bite-size tasks that are directly linked to your desired outcomes. This is how you stay inspired and follow through, getting things done. Over time, these tips on time management will become ingrained into your schedule, become a natural part of your goal-setting process and will eventually feel like second nature to you.
FOCUS YOUR ENERGY
How many times have you agreed to go on a social outing or to take on a project at work because you felt like you had to? How many hours have you spent somewhere trying to make those around you happy, when you really only ended up stressing out yourself? Work/life balance is important, but so is your time. By focusing on what is most important to you instead of what you feel is expected of you, you will free up more of your time to work on what is truly providing value to your life.
NO EXTRA TIME
What you feed your mind on a daily basis shapes the way in which you experience life. However, far too many people believe that they “don’t have time” to give their minds the kind of information that can help them create real, concrete results and achieve their dreams. But by utilising No Extra Time you can make the most out of your day.
Utilise the otherwise wasted minutes you spend in mindless activities every day to significantly transform the quality of your life. Feed your mind with high-quality, high-value information in your car, on your phone, on your computer or audio system anywhere and everywhere. When you do, you will discover what used to be “wasted” time will then become the most important, profitable and empowering moments of your day.