Demystifying: Time management and prioritization
It is a truth universally acknowledged that...well...most people cringe when it comes to talking about time management.
People get angry because they think it's a nightmare, or they feel ashamed because they just can't seem to get it, or they might already be in that indifference phase where they've simply given up on it.
So how can we make it something that you actually look forward to and ENJOY?
Here are my three tips for making time management your best and most useful friend:
1. Create habits & routines in your life
Aristotle once said,
"We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
There's a reason why monks live by a strict structured life: The everyday habits you create in your life help shape the person you are becoming.
Start enjoying time management by creating small daily habits in your life that help shape the person you want to be.
This means things like setting a wake-up and sleep time hour, knowing what you are going to eat and when, making time for planning for the week, making time for people that are important in your life, etc.
These small habits are going to shape the big decisions in your life in ways you cannot even begin to imagine.
And don't forget: Be disciplined and committed in your pursuit of these habits. Be intentional about the things you bring into your life and strive to create a routine you can follow as closely as you can everyday.
2. Create a mindset of doing the most important/"hard things" first
Once you've created your daily habits that keep you grounded, then seek to accomplish your most important tasks first.
This means becoming focused and determined to complete those things that are top priority for the day and not moving on to the next thing (or another thing!) until that top priority task is done.
And if the reason you might procrastinate doing a task is because you are a perfectionist, try to aim for improvement instead. You are a work in progress and you can always come back to something to make it better. The important thing (and most of the time the hardest) is to start.
“The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.” — Carol Dweck
3. Be simple (aka be realistic)
Finally, try to be realistic with your life. Really. Truly.
Don't aim to reorganize your house, cook a buffet meal for the family (for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner), and try to conquer the world all in one day. Don't be so hard on yourself, man.
When you seek to live your day, try to discern where your heart is pulling you.
This is where your daily habits are really helpful. Once you've created those daily habits that you must do everyday - that you do almost without thinking - the rest of your time can be used to decide what important tasks can be accomplished in that day.
Your daily habits will give you the freedom to accomplish even more in your day than you might realize.
Be simple.
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What tips have helped you "fall in love" with time management and prioritizing? Leave a comment down below!
Trust the process. Live the commitment.