Ugh…who wants to talk about time management?  I do because time is limited and one day each of us will take our last breath, so let’s use our time wisely…and joyfully.  What do you do, and don’t do, with your time?  Do you manifest your goals and dreams?  Do you try to squeeze as much into one day as you can without looking at the bigger picture?

Importance of Time Management

To manifest what you want, especially in the physical world, knowing where you want to go and being organized is important.  This is especially true in the workplace.  It is important for you to be on time for work, to be on time for meetings and to deliver your promises on time. Period. 

Consistently meeting your commitments, on time, is self-honoring and builds trust within yourself and with others. And since trust is the foundation to successful personal and professional relationships, to be true to your word and to fulfill your commitments is essential. 

Definition of Time Management

Wikipedia has a good definition of time management, “Time management refers to a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals. This set encompasses a wide scope of activities, and these include planning, allocating, setting goals, delegation, analysis of time spent, monitoring, organizing, scheduling and prioritizing.”

Take note that the definition does not say “doing, doing, doing.”  Your goal may be to relax and do nothing! Or to have more fun.  What are your personal and professional priorities? Do they intersect? Do you have a personal mission statement?

Time Management Resources

You can find many resources and tips on time management- you can have lists, create a project plan, avoid distractions like television or drop-in visitors, allocate a specific amount of time for a task and set clear intentions on what you want to accomplish in that timeframe, learn to respectfully say “no”, get a good night’s sleep and communicate your commitments to others.   

As shared in “Take a Hike…Really!”, physical movement is important to overall wellness and you need positive energy to achieve your goals and dreams. 

Time Consciousness Marble Exercise

Many years ago I read about a method to remind us to use our time wisely.  You put marbles into a jar (or pebbles, or whatever you like!).  The number of marbles you put in your jar reflects how long you expect to live times the frequency that you want to pull a marble from the jar and reflect.  Let’s say you are 25 years old, you expect to live to be 100 years old, and you want to look at your goals and how you spend your time once per year.  You would put 75 marbles into your jar and pull out one marble per year. 

I suggest that you put your marble jar in a place where you can see it each day. 

“Do not squander time for that is the stuff that life is made of.” Benjamin Franklin.

Time Proceeds Anyway

In reality, you cannot manage or control time.  You can only manage yourself and what you do with your time. Time proceeds with or without you having a personal or professional vision or intention.  Although, as shared in “When your Relationships are Good, Your Life is Good”, your intentions guide your thoughts, attitude and actions; therefore, your intentions influence the outcome of your desired experience. 

The intention of this article is to heighten awareness about the importance of time and what you do, or don’t do, with your time.  How did I do?

photo credit: Brit.

Do you want to manifest something in your life and need a jump-start? Do you want to set yourself up for success? Practice When it’s Easy and build from there.  

Why Practice When it’s Easy?

The reason to Practice When it’s Easy is because you want to experience success.  When you achieve a desired goal you feel energized, empowered and confident; this positive energy fuels your continued success.  You define what success is for you and try to feel, to experience, success as often as you can.

“Success breeds success.”  Mia Hamm

Set Yourself up for Success

Proactively do your best to create favorable conditions to practice and succeed.  It’s easier for you to succeed if you develop or maximize as many of the following success factors as you can:

- Support system (friends, family, associates, mentors)
- Positive environment
- Commitment & accountability
- Willingness & a positive attitude
- Fun!
- Openness & a process to receive feedback
- Flexibility
- Patience
- Time for repetition & integration

Refer to “2 Essential Guidelines to Create a New Habit” for more information about the importance of repetition and how to set goals.

Practice Works with Feelings too

If you want to manifest certain feelings in your life, you can also Practice When it’s Easy.  Let’s say you want to feel more compassion towards others.  The next time you see a beloved friend or family member, be aware of the compassion you already have for them.  Stay with that feeling for as long as you can. 

If you have a favorite pet, you can practice feeling compassion for your pet. You may want to look at a photograph that brings forward feelings of compassion within you. Be creative and do what works for you.

If you Practice When it’s Easy, when you want to bring forward compassion in more difficult situations you’ll have practice, experience and success to assist you. Very Smart Girls Practice When it’s Easy.

Give it a whirl, and go easy on yourself. What is easy today may not be easy tomorrow.

I’m interested in your thoughts- comments welcome.

photo credit: rimantux

Related posts:

1. 2 Essential Guidelines to Create a New Habit

Do you want to be happier?  Do you have ideas on what could make you happier, but are unable to start doing them?  Do you feel like you are in a rut?  If you focus on what you truly want, you can create new habits that you do automatically.

What is a Habit?

Habits are behaviors we repeat over time.  You are responsible for your behaviors and for your habits.  Think about it.  Be very conscious that you are personally empowered to establish new habits.  Habits are created by doing the same thing over and over again; repetition is very powerful.

Creating a New Habit Guideline #1:  Make it Personal

Create a specific, achievable and measurable goal (the standard stuff) and make your goal positive and personal.  A positive goal states what you want versus what you do not want.  A personal goal is unique to you, where you are today.  It is non-conflicting and reasonable/achievable for you.

Let’s say you want to manifest the habit of drinking a certain volume of water each day.  We’ll start with the standard 64 ounces of water per day concept.  If something inside of you believes that 64 ounces of water is too much, then you have a conflict with your goal and you are setting yourself up for failure.   

If you drink 32 ounces of water per day, 64 ounces is a real stretch and likely unreasonable.  For you, for now, this goal does not pass your personal test.  You could see how 40 ounces feels for you.   A stretch is good; too much of a stretch is not good.

As a bonus, add how you want to feel as you focus on your goal!

Examples:

Room for improvement: I don’t want to drink so much soda

Input: not specific; not measurable; states the goal from a negative perspective, or what you do not want versus the positive, or what you do want

Better: I am drinking my target amount of water each day

Input: not specific; not measurable

Even Better:  I am drinking 64 ounces of water each day

Input: very good

Best: I am joyfully drinking 64 ounces of water each day

Input: awesome because of adding how you want to feel (joyful)

Creating a New Habit Guideline #2:   Repetition for 33 Consecutive Days

To manifest a new habit, or change your behavior, you need to practice the new habit over a period of time.  Even if you learn and adapt very quickly, practicing over a period of time will allow you to master the habit.

Some experts say that it takes between 21-45 days to change a habit; others say 30-45 days.  I split the difference and suggest a 33-day process.  Specifically, practice and experience the new habit for 33 consecutive days.  If you miss a day, start the 33-day process again. 

Creating a New Habit Summary

Step #1: Clarify your goal- make it specific, achievable, measurable, positive, and personal (non-conflicting and reasonable for you)

Step #2:  Take out your calendar every night and put a mark, such as a star, on each day you achieve your goal.  If you miss a day, then start the 33 consecutive day process again. 

P.S.  Feel free to extend, or repeat, your 33-day process.  I often do.

Comments welcome!

photo credit: Andreanna

Related posts:

1. Practice When it’s Easy