You may have read that title and thought “Huh?” We all know time management is important. We have a set amount of time each day, and we have a set amount of things we want to get done. It may seem like we don’t have enough time, but I assure you, there is enough time to do what needs to be done so long as we invest the time to manage it correctly.
Effective time management doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and it often comes with roadblocks and other distractions that get in the way from getting from point A to point B in the most efficient amount of time. If you want to manage your time well, you need to be able to spot the roadblocks, realize what the distractions are, and learn how to avoid them.
Below are some things people do that can get in the way of getting things done, and can even disrupt their peaceful life.
Focusing on the Small Stuff
Some people take the quote, “It’s the little things in life that matter most” a bit too seriously. Paying attention to the details is one thing, but fixating on trivial matters is where it gets a bit out of hand. Don’t put all your energy into the small stuff when you have more important things to focus on.
Take a moment and ask yourself, “is this enough?” If the answer is yes, move on to the next task. Don’t obsess about the details. It will only get in the way of your peace.
Lacking Clear Vision
To set goals for yourself, you need to have a sense of aim. What big goals do you have for your life? How large is the gap between where you are and where you want to be? What would you like to achieve? This is part of defining your vision, which you need to set in order to budget your time well.
Once you have that clear vision, ask yourself if the tasks on your list are bringing your closer or taking you away from where you want to go. If those tasks aren’t helping, then eliminate them if possible. If they cannot be eliminated, then at least find a way to reduce the time you spend on them.
Being a Perfectionist
There is such a thing as being too perfect. We know, it’s hard to believe, but perfectionism can take a toll on you, and it can negatively impact your performance. If you’re too caught up in making something flawless, you may lose sight of the big picture.
Missing the Priorities
Have you ever found yourself spending hours on one project and only devoting 30 minutes to another? If you feel unbalanced with the way you distribute your time, you should check in with yourself. This can be an indicator that you’ve fallen into the time management trap of prioritizing the wrong things.
Remember your vision that we discussed earlier, and ask yourself these important questions. Is this helping me with my vision? Is this helping transform me into the person I want to be?
Not Understanding Your Skills
Are you spending time trying to figure something out that could easily be done by someone else? Is there a YouTube video that can help you learn how to do the task more efficiently? These are good questions to ask yourself when you think something is taking too long.
A more important question is do you have the time management skills you need? There is no one size fits all solution to time management, but there are lots of good resources available to help you learn. I personally love to use a planner, and rely heavily on my phone’s calendar to remind me of things I need to do. Everyone is different. Find what works for you, and stick with it long enough that it becomes a habit.
Be Ready for Next Time
Yes I said next time – there is always a next time, so the next time you find yourself falling into a time trap, try not to panic. We all come up against the roadblocks and the distractions. The important thing is to remember that you know how to deal with the things that try to get in your way. Take a deep breath, use the tools you have, and just do it.
Finally, remember you are human, things happen in life, and give yourself some grace. You’ve got this.
Find your purpose – find your joy!
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Did you find a few more ideas of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
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Serenities Now LLC is a holistic health practice and healing center that will find you the tools you need to bring calm to your chaos, take back your control, and break through your barriers, so you can become your best self ever.