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Inefficiently spent time adds up. You may not realize it, but the way we live today determines our tomorrow. I am a firm believer in planning. The right schedule can increase one’s personal and professional success. While the meaning of “right” differs, the core principle of time management remains the same: following a routine requires a consistent effort. Making a consistent effort eventually brings results. It’s that simple. If your life feels out of control and you need to readjust, try the following:
Do a self-assessment
Setting an hour or two aside to think seems like a luxury in a modern society. Conflicting priorities leave us almost no chance. However, carving out a quiet moment for reflection will help develop a clear vision of where you desire to be and the steps necessary to get there. People who have no idea how they are spending the day, end up doing what others want them to. Keep in mind, the longer you wait to own your schedule, the further away you are from reaching your goals. It’s still important to consider others, just not by sacrificing your dreams. The challenge here is to find balance between passions and responsibilities.
Experiment with different planning techniques
There are countless books and articles written about time and how to optimize it. Don’t feel pressured to undertake every new idea you come across. Instead, select three to five scheduling methods which resonate with your current lifestyle and see what works. I recommend starting with to-do lists, time blocking and Pareto Principle (also known as 80/20 rule). Focusing on a week versus a day for tackling different tasks and limiting distractions during high-priority activities benefited me tremendously. You might find that creating a hybrid of your favorite approaches is best. Great! The means don’t really matter, as long as your day has a structure.
Be realistic
While planning is supposed to help you progress, sometimes it can cause unnecessary stress. I work 40 hours a week at my main job and spend Saturdays freelancing. Sundays and evenings are open for household chores, personal projects and socializing. I thought I had a perfect system in place, yet could not accomplish even half of what I wanted. Because I didn’t consider day-to-day hassles to happen and kept “falling behind” when it did, I felt more anxious with a schedule than without one. To prevent that, you have to set realistic expectations and be flexible. Schedules and lists should provide a direction to follow, not add constraints.
Developing and sticking to a schedule may be difficult at the beginning. As you become more intentional about your time though, you will notice positive changes at work and home alike. Higher productivity, improved relationships, precious extra hours for hobbies are all feasible with some organization in place. Don’t get discouraged if something doesn’t go according to your plan. Life is full of surprises, and opportunities are awaiting those who embrace them.
Find more inspiring content in this section of my blog. Happy living!