Time is the most valuable commodity any of us has, so it is appropriate that we examine how we can make the most of the time available to us..
Think about it, unlike other commodities, time is something we all get in equal measure. Every living person gets exactly 24 hours a day, no more and no less. Regardless of our economic, social or intellectual status, whether we are old, young or somewhere in between, we are allotted the exact same amount of hours per day and that cannot be changed.
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Why am I emphasizing this point? Because of all the feedback that comes my way from our clients, Ezine subscribers and blog visitors, the one question I here most often is, how can I get more done in a day? Here are a couple of partial quotes, “…trying to do everything all at once” and “…getting overwhelmed by committing to many things.” Have you ever felt that way?
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With the ever-increasing demands being put on our time and energy, it’s no wonder that people feel overwhelmed. So, how can we deal with it?
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There are a few simple tactics I can suggest that will provide a measure of relief. To keep things realistic though, we need to remember that there actually is a limit to what can be accomplished in 24 hours. Nobody gets a 25-hour day, so with that in mind let’s acknowledge that limiting the number of things we try to pack into a day is a necessary skill we would all do well to develop.
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If we habitually spread ourselves to thin, we will be unable to accomplish anything effectively. This just adds to the problem, and increases the pressure we feel to get more done. Avoid this trap by learning to set reasonable limits and focusing on the task at hand.
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OK, we acknowledge that we are working within certain limits beyond our control. So let’s examine areas where we do have some control by discuss the following 5 points:
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1) Make choices about what activities get top priority.
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2) Limit the distractions and clutter that rob your energy.
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3) Schedule brief but refreshing breaks.
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4) Tweak your perception of time.
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5) Simplify your life.
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Notice that our list starts with the basics. That’s because if we don’t get the basics right, the rest really doesn’t matter.
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Now this might sound obvious, but our discussion would not be complete without mentioning 3 high-priority items. The first is sleep; never make the mistake of sacrificing sleep to get other things done. Your body, your mind, and your emotions all require adequate sleep in order to function properly. If you don’t like the way you are feeling physically, mentally, or emotionally, take an honest look at your sleep patterns. If there’s a problem or a lack, make the needed adjustments.
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The next important basic priority is good nutrition. If you’re living on coffee and fast food, adjustments are in order. Yes, it takes more time to properly nourish your body, but the time spent is an investment that pays dividends all day long.
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The third basic priority is exercise. The human body was not created to sit in a chair all day. Find some form of exercise that you can realistically commit to and make it a habit. Spend at least 15 to 20 minutes a day, five days a week in some form of activity that gets your blood flowing and your mind away from work.
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Adequate sleep, nutrition and exercise, play a vital role in your mental clarity, energy levels, and overall outlook on life. Make them your first priority if you want to perform at peak levels.
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Another important distinction we need to make when setting priorities is to understand the difference between things that are urgent, and things that are important. Life is full of emergencies, and it’s quite possible to spend all your time dealing with them. The problem with this scenario is, at the end of the day you don’t feel like you’ve accomplished anything. That’s because you haven’t done anything that makes a long-term difference in the quality of your life. In other words you haven’t taken time to do what’s important because you’ve been too busy doing what’s urgent.
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These days urgency can easily take control of our lives. If we let that happen, we will never have time to learn the principles of personal development and growth, or to implement these principles in our life. The only way to truly master your time is to organize your schedule each day so that you can spend the majority of time doing what’s important rather than what is merely urgent.
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In part 2 we’ll look at how distractions and clutter rob us of our time, and will consider some ways we can get the upper hand.
