How often have you said, "I just don't have the time," or "I can't, I don't have the time," or "I'm exhausted, I just don't have the time to get it all done." These are all symptoms of trying to do too much and not prioritizing. The result, too often, is that you don't get anything done, or do it haphazardly and make mistakes. Imagine trying to cook dinner, negotiate for a client on the phone, clean up spilled milk, change the baby's diapers, and balance your checkbook, al while walking the dog, helping your son with his homework, and listening to an educational program. What's the chance that you'll do all of those or do them well?
The reality, of course, is that we all have exactly the same amount of time as everyone else does. We don't "have" or "make" time – we spend it wisely or not, we use it with care and control or not. And sometimes, it seems time has us.
How does that happen? Ahh…by now you know the answer. It's one of the most common psychic vampires* I see: managing our time well. Note that I didn't say "time management?" We cannot actually manage time; we can only manage our selves in the time we are given.
*If you need a refresher on psychic vampires, see the links at the bottom of this article.
Some people are very disciplined about using the time they have well, but many of us are not. In fact, most people feel they are in a perpetual time crunch. The good news is that this is one psychic vampire that can be zapped by understanding how we experience time, and by using common sense and some structure. Instead of letting that vampire suck out your energy, you can zap it and find yourself with more energy and "more" time.
Think about how you experience time. Doesn't time shrink or expand depending on what you are doing? When you are having fun, time seems to pass at light speed. When you are doing something you don't like, time drags like a sleep-deprived snail. It’s not logical, but our experience of time radically changes depending on what we are doing.
We can’t change the fact that there are 24 hours in a day because that is the structure we humans made up and we all live with. What you can change is the experience of having more time. Try this: Just like with a money budget, start by keeping track of what you spend and plug up the profit and time leaks.
1. Track time for one week in 15-minute increments. Note when you are working, sleeping, showering, commuting, doing home tasks, watching TV, etc.
After a week, notice where you are wasting time (and maybe money, too.) What are you doing that is giving you joy? What are you doing that makes time seem to drag? The idea is to do more of what gives you joy and less of what doesn’t. For instance, if time with a friend you don't see often always makes you feel great, then schedule time to see that person. The good feelings will carry into everything you do.
2. Focus on three questions each day.
- What is important about my day?
- What must get done today?
- What is important about the future? (upcoming events you can start on today)
You'll notice the 80/20 rule in action: 20% of what you do gives you 80% of the results. The rest of what you do just takes up time. Do the 20% of what gives you the results first. For instance, if growing your real estate business is a goal for you, schedule The Real Estate Game into your day and make it part of that productive 20%.
3. Set aside a sacred evening just for you to do whatever you choose to do. Make it the same day each week. If you are married, set aside a date night as well. You must protect your time for the most important people in your life, including yourself. When you do this, you'll find your time actually seems to expand.
A wise person said, "Counting time is not nearly as important as making time count."
How will you use your precious time?
Patti Kouri, Accelerated Performance Coaching
Helping you get past roadblocks in your life and business
so you move off any plateau, move forward, and achieve your goals.
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*Refresher on psychic vampires – see these previous articles:
Get Rid of Your Psychic Vampires
The Power of One Scary Word: Change
The Top 10 Common Mistakes in Selling – Which Are You Making?
How are you doing with your psychic vampires? I'd love to hear how you are identifying and then zapping them! Won't you take a moment to leave a comment?
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