When it comes to time management it is very important to pay attention and to be where you are. When you are at work be at work. When you take time off to play, take time off to play. DON’T mix the two. Because if you're supposed to work but drifting away towards distractions - social media, netflix, tv, text message, in coming calls and playing around with co-workers – in the end of that day you haven't done the work you were supposed to do. Then you sacrifice your play time instead to do the work you haven't done. Now your family friend and loved ones are upset because you have promised to spend time with them, but you have to work instead. Are you seeing what I’m going with this . ?
This problem that you have created is a negative spiral, the only purpose of this is to throw you out of balance. How can we come out from this spiral?
Step 1: Be where you are
To be in the present moment, means to not be a drifter. A drifter´s only job is to let time drift away and that it not what time management is about. Time management is about seizing the day (carpe diem). To take action when the time's ready, this is the only way to maximize the time you have. Why is this so important? I do not know if you are realizing that you are trading life for pay. When you are realizing that, then you know why it’s important to managing your time effectively. Most of us want to have more to life than just work, if that is you? Then you need to be an excellent gambler with your time – if you ain't winning you're losing. If you have lost more than you have won, that is not a very good equation. To start managing your time you need to know what is stealing your time in the first place. When you are spending your play time with family, friends and loved ones, don't let anyone or anything steal your time. If you feel stressed out with all the buzzing sounds coming from your phone, computer or other system of communication, I have a solution - shut it off. Spend your quality time with them. Let your systems of communication serve you, but don’t let them take you.
Step 2: Learn to Prioritize
Prioritizing is a very important time-management tool. It's not about having time - it's about making time. Wow, who knew? Simple right? It’s simple in theory, but not so simple to apply in real life if you aren't used to prioritize. But here is some great tips. First up, write down every chore you have in a regular day. It might be work from 07.00 to 16.00, picking up the kids at 16.30 and cooking food from 17.30-18.30. After that you're exhausted, and the thought of hitting the gym is far far off. And instead of exercising you are sitting watching tv. Or you are productive and doing some other chore, that’s fine, but remember the meaning of writing every chore down is to choose every unique chore that you must do. I mean those chore that is 100% necessary to do. If exercising is not on the list, then your list is not complete. Poor health equals poor life, prioritizing your health it's a must. Put a number of all your chores from 1- 10 as an example. 1 is important, 2 is less important and so on. Build your day from that, when one chore is done cross it of from your list. You will be amazed how effective this is. Your list is your personal schedule make it apart of your day.
Step 3: Establish routines and stick to them
Let's say you have written down that you will exercise twice a week. If something or someone interrupts you while you're preparing yourself to be at the gym, say no. If it’s VERY important, then of course you can say yes, but be careful if you find that every interruption is important. That alone will bring you out of balance again. That's why sticking to your list is a must if success is what you want. Make time for that person instead use play time . The trick is to sacrifice your play time, but never your serious time.
Step 4: See your time as your capital
You wouldn't let anyone to steal your money, right? So don’t let anyone steal your time. That why you invest your serious time on the stuff that is very important to you, like your business, family, health, friends and your alone time to breath, reflect and to progress. Your playtime however is the time you can let someone steal a little bit. This is why you should keep your serious time separate from your playtime so you don’t accidentally use the wrong time. When you have two different time wallet you will always have time to pay attention on the stuff that is of great importance to you.
Step 5: Put it on paper
Studies shows that people who write down their goals are much more likely to succeed, compare to those who only have their goals in their heads. It is something psychologically that happens when you write down the things that you want to achieve. It becomes a contract between you and your goals. When you are writing down your goals, read them to yourself every day, when you do that, you are actually programming you mind for success, the more emotions and senses we activate when we are writing down our goals and reading our goals the more will our goals be apart off us.