It has taken me all week, but I have finally dug out of my over-scheduled schedule.  It took 3 days of solid morning-to-night work to get through piled up emails & paperwork. The client who asked to move her appointment to next week helped too.

Why do we give away our time to things that burn it up as quickly as a brush fire during a drought? Time is the most precious commodity in the world.  You can’t trade it, you can’t borrow it, you can’t save it, & no one can make more of it.  How you spend you time needs to be considered more carefully than how you spend your money since the first eventually dictates the last. Consider these 5 time managements steps.

1.Your Viewpoint

To de-clutter your schedule you have to change your mindset about your time.  Your time needs to be guarded as if it is the last diamond mine in the world.  Because for you, it is.

2.The List

Make a list of all your commitments.  This includes your commitment to yourself for physical, mental or spiritual growth.  And it includes your commitment to your family; spending fun time with them and managing your household.

3.Your Calendar

Group your commitments on your list by type; personal time, family activities, work, hobbies, household, vacations, volunteering, etc. by giving each type a color.  Starting with personal time and then family, fill in your calendar.

4.The Pitfall

The biggest pitfall when scheduling activities is not being realistic with how much time it will take to get to and from and/or to do the activity.  Packing your day solid is a guarantee that your personal needs and/or family time will be neglected. Those are the first areas on our calendar to be squeezed out leaving you feeling frustrated & unproductive.

5.The Re-evaluation

Re-evaluate your calendar to make sure you have given yourself enough time to complete each commitment without leaving you feeling like there is a fire under you 24/7.  The goal isn’t to be the one who did the most stuff before you die. The goal is to actually enjoy doing the stuff & being present which enables you to create memories & meaning.

So the next time you start to say, “Oh, that’s fine, it will only take 15 minutes.” and wave your hand as if it is no big deal to take on one extra task for whatever the “good” reason is, ask yourself this.  “Is is worth the sacrifice of your personal time and/or your family time?”