Do you feel like there are never enough hours in the day to get around to doing the stuff you actually want to do? If you’re ready to change that, keep reading.
The solution may be as simple as putting it on the schedule or calendar. Here’s the thing… yes, we are busy and we have a lot to do each day. But we also tend to waste a lot of time on things that aren’t all that meaningful to us. We end up spending five minutes here and there on social media or playing around on our phones. At night, we sit down and end up watching two to three hours of Netflix. All of this is time that we could have used for something we actually wanted to do. Instead, we got distracted and those precious minutes slipped away from us without notice.
A simple solution is to become more aware of our time and to schedule things that are important to us. This includes the things we have to do like going to work, cooking dinner, and taking the kids to activities. More importantly though, it should also include blocks of time to do what we really want to do.
Let’s say your goal is to improve your health and get in better shape. You’d love to head out for a walk every day and take a yoga class twice a week. You know it would help you de-stress and sleep better. But who has that kind of time? You do… you just have to become aware of it.
Figure out what’s important to you and what you really want to do.
Don’t be afraid to be selfish. Taking care of yourself and your own needs makes you a better parent, spouse, friend, and coworker. Schedule or block out time in your calendar to read in the morning, go for a walk after dinner, or hit the gym on your lunch break. Set aside time to get back into practicing yoga or to rediscover a favorite hobby.
Yes, it will feel strange at first, and you’ll be tempted to do something “important” instead. Don’t give in to the temptation. Use the time you’ve scheduled to actually do and enjoy the things you really want to do.
After a week or two, you’ll be able to do so without feeling guilty about spending time on what you want instead of what you “should” be doing. Trust me, there will be plenty of time for everything else and the things that are important and urgent will get done during the remainder of your day.
Using a calendar this way to schedule your time helps you to focus and it gives you more control over how you spend it. You’ll be less likely to waste time on tasks and activities you don’t really care much about. And that can only be a good thing!
