Time is amazing, short, and a scarce resource. Too often, it’s wasted. Yet, you can learn to maximize and use it time wisely. Now is the best time to start.
Time Is Amazing: How to Use Your Time Wisely
If time is amazing and short, why do you waste it? Frittering away hours at the computer, playing video games, watching endless TV, and other time-wasting activities can leave you edgy, restless, and incomplete.
For a good reason, since nothing good comes from deliberately squandering time.
- However, this isn’t the same as when you consciously choose to engage in a hobby, pastime, recreational, or leisure activity.
- Everyone needs time to play, rest, recharge, and gain a new perspective on life.
- Playtime helps lower stress, ease tension, and allow you to see things clearer without distractions.
- Furthermore, solutions come easier after taking the time to play.
But the time that you waste? That’s just gone for good. The question becomes, how do you use time wisely? What tricks or tips can help you maximize your time? Here are a few to consider:
Time Is Amazing: Jot Down What You Did Today
Go through your day in your mind and jot down everything you did. Remember when you did it, how long it took, and the result. This exercise helps to identify time wasted.
Analyze All Wasted Time
Next, analyze the wasted time. What were you doing immediately before or after?
- Did you need a break from something strenuous, complex, or time-consuming?
- Or were you avoiding the next thing on your to-do list?
This analysis helps identify instances where you wasted time rather than doing something constructive.
Time Is Amazing: To Maximize It, List Must-Do Tasks
Make a separate list of things that are must-do items. This list can be for today or things you must do daily. For example, your list may include:
- Getting up and going to work.
- Preparing dinner for the family.
- Taking medications or vitamins.
- Walking the dog.
- Taking out the trash.
- Paying household bills.
Are there things you could streamline or make easier? Could you combine some? For example, your medications or vitamins at breakfast. Empty the trash when it’s time to walk the dog.
Prioritize What You Must Do
Staring at a list of must-do items will not get them done. List them in order of importance. This will help you rearrange your schedule to accommodate what must be done.
- For example, a big project due at work should take priority.
- Or your demanding boss needs an update every morning at a particular time.
However, nothing should interfere with high-priority items.
Time Is Amazing and Short: Schedule a Break
Build in some slack time. This can be a 10-minute break in the morning and afternoon.
- Go for a quick walk, grab a coffee, or chat with your neighbor or co-worker.
- Getting up to stretch your legs puts a period at the end of your actions. Furthermore, it is a nice transition from one activity to another.
Add Variety
Vary your schedule. If your biggest time wasters are because much of your daily work is boring or repetitive, jazz it up. You could try allocating different days for different tasks.
How This Helps
When you know you’ve got an hour on Wednesday to go bowling or have lunch with a friend, other items on your task list won’t seem so challenging. Variety also adds spice to life.
Time Is Amazing, So Be Present
Be in the moment. Instead of thinking you don’t have enough time, savor the present moment. Be there whatever you’re doing, whether it’s a task or something you enjoy. This helps you appreciate the precious commodity of time.
Learn to Manage Your Time
A lack of time and trying to crowd too many obligations and tasks into a 24-hour day will quickly overwhelm almost anyone.
- Instead of fighting the clock, trying to cram in that last item on the to-do list, put some space between duties and eliminate some.
- Remember, time management isn’t only for businesspeople. It works for everyone.
Keep a List of What Worked Well Before
Time is precious. The best way to gradually become more successful in whatever you do is to make incremental improvements in your effectiveness.
- One way to do this is to track what you did before that was a success. There may be something about that technique that you can use in a similar or different project or task.
- When you have a reserve of practical approaches, you’ll always have ideas.
Time Is Amazing: Ask Others for Suggestions
You may benefit from other approaches even if you generally accomplish your goals.
- Use your network of trusted friends, co-workers, loved ones, and family members.
- Ask them for suggestions on how to improve your effectiveness rate.
How This Helps
Their comments may help identify gaps in your method or highlight areas of strength and expertise you have yet to use.
Reflect on Your Accomplishments
Once you succeed at a goal, take the time to reflect on your accomplishments. Consider this a small self-congratulation, but it’s much more than that.
How This Helps
Away from the whirlwind of activity, you can calmly assess the various aspects of the now-completed task. Then, you come up with innovative approaches and ideas you may be able to use the next time.
Time Is Amazing and Short: Aim for Continuous Improvement
Some jobs or tasks are challenging or present a considerable obstacle. Yet, you may still want or need to do it. However, instead of focusing on only complete success the first time, it might be better to aim for continuous improvement.
- Do your best on whatever portion of the project you’re on.
- Remember to always learn from what you do.
- Strive to put that knowledge to use when you pick up the project again and move on to the next phase. This helps you increase your overall effectiveness.
