I spent a lot of time helping people with Time Management and one of the keys I focus on is prioritization. Time management is not about showing up on time, it’s about what you accomplish in the time that you have. Remember this, we are all given the same amount of time every week, how do some people get so much done while others seem to never have enough time to do anything?
The order I recommend is to first schedule time for yourself, then your family and friends, then your future, then your work. Does this look like the opposite of how you would do it?
Most people I work with do think this is backward. So what happens? They focus first on work, putting out fires, etc. and end up with very little or no time for friends and family and definitely not time for themselves.
They justify this in many ways, the most common of course being, “I gotta pay the bills”.
What do you think would happen if you started with a blank calendar each week and the first thing you scheduled was “you time”. Whether that be exercising, reading, meditating; whatever makes you feel better, think better and be better.
What would happen if you then scheduled time with your family and friends? Better relationships, happier people around you?
A happier you with happier people around you? Maybe you’d get more work done in the time that you work?
Before we finish, take note too that people don’t work as much as they think they work. How many hours a day do you think a person works during their 8, 10 or 12 hour day? When you really dive into this and start taking out the breaks, the interruptions and time lost due to lack of focus that number is much much lower than people would ever like to admit. Most people only complete about 3 hours worth of work in an 8 hour day.
There is enough time in your day to work more, spend more time taking care of yourself and build better relationships and it starts with prioritization.
If you ever need help with Time Management just let me know. Have a fantastic week.