“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
— Michael Althsuler
How many times have you heard someone say, “I just don’t have enough time?” 1000, maybe more, I always laugh when I hear this, for time is one of the few things in our control.
There are classes on time management, but I think that’s a little errant of a title. It should be called personal or life management. Frankly, I would recommend we call it ‘life leadership’ because this is about leading your person more than managing your time. Great book by *Brian Tracey, “Master Your Time, Master Your Life” https://www.amazon.com/Master-Your-Time-Life-Breakthrough-ebook/dp/B01AV6A6GK/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1 Bottom line decide what you want and spend time creating it.
My father and others I admire have always said there are 24 hours in a day, plenty of time to complete any task you want to complete. But still, most can’t seem to get the “job” done and spout excuses and reasons for their lack of planning and/or effort.
So how do you find more time? Simple, turn off the TV. How many hours a week does the average person spend in front of the tube watching bad stories, gleeful women and arrogant men talking about nothing, or the news that seems to be on repeat every day?
Turn it off. Or even consider disconnecting the cable and the dish and move towards a content delivery system like Roku or Apple TV and only watch content you choose and only watch it a couple times a week. TV, for the most part, is a complete waste of time.
Now that the TV is off, start making a list. I know this sounds trite, but I’ve been doing this for years. Get up, look at your calendar, and think of all the things that you need to get done, make a list and as you complete the tasks, check them off.
Most smart phones have an app for that or if you are old school, use an index card. Either way, the list will keep you on track to get those things you have to get done, done.
Get up early… when it’s dark outside. I’m getting at least an hour more out of my day than most of my peers just by getting up a little early.
The key to getting up early is use that time wisely AND getting to bed at a decent time. Get up, get your list done, write if you are a writer, clean up email.
Email is another big time sucker. By nature it is distracting, takes a lot of mental energy, stop checking your email constantly. Check your email two or most three times a day, once in the morning looking for those key needs and wants of others and for responses from your night before important emails. After lunch for a ‘quick’ check and then once at night for what I call a ‘tone setter’ for the next day.
Time, you want more time? No problem, reread this and then put into action just two of my recommendations and boom, you just found more time.
Good luck and have fun with more time…
Greg
This material has been created and shared to serve our clients, friends and family.
Image provided by Caroline C Stolzy
