Mastering Time Management For A Balanced Life

Daily life, work, school, commuting, and traffic jams are just a few things that make us feel as though we need more than a 24-hour day. Assume you sleep for eight hours nightly; that leaves 16 hours for getting things done.

 

If you work or go to school, subtract another eight hours. Now you have only 8 hours to do your grooming, play sports, cook, and eat meals, do the dishes, enjoy entertainment, clean the house, run errands, walk the dog, pay bills, and more. Very little time, if any, is left for hobbies, having fun, spending time with family, or socializing with friends. 

 

If you feel overwhelmed and as though there is never enough time, acquiring time management skills can help you significantly.

 

What is Time Management?

 

Time management is planning and tracking how you expend your time. With practice, you can develop the skills necessary to take control of your life and eliminate being overwhelmed by having too much to do.

 

The Benefits of Time Management

 

A study published by the National Library of Medicine concluded that "Time management impacts well-being and life satisfaction to a greater extent than performance.” 

 

Other benefits of time management include reduced stress, increased productivity and efficiency, control of your time, and the capability to meet deadlines.

 

This article aims to share time management strategies to help you live a balanced life.

 

How can I manage my time?

 

Plan Your Day

 

Create a roadmap for your day the night before. Start by listing the tasks that you must or want to complete. 

 

Now that you have a ‘to do’ list for the next day, categorize each item by ‘must do,’ ‘should do,’ and ‘low priority.’ 

Prioritize each ‘must do’ item, with the most important must do task first. Follow the same approach for ‘should do’ and ‘low priority’ tasks.

Are any of your tasks large or may take more than a day to complete? If so, break the task down into smaller pieces for manageability.

Can you delegate tasks to others?

As you make your daily plan, factor in downtime to relax and re-energize.

 

Once you have your prioritized list, you can start the next day knowing what you need to accomplish. Start with the highest priority and work through the list in order. Any leftover tasks can be reprioritized for the next day. 

 

Things to Avoid

 

1. Distractions

 

You can save time by preventing things that distract you from your planned activities and goals. For example, disregard emails and phone calls while focused on a task. Also, set boundaries so that others know when you are available. 

 

Suppose you block out a couple of hours daily to have some relaxation time or work on tasks that require total concentration. Share your availability and the reason with others that need to know. If your boundaries are breached, gently remind the person of the boundaries you’ve set.

 

2. It’s OK to Say No

 

When asked to do something that doesn’t fall within your plan, you have the option to say ‘no’ and briefly explain why. When you take on last-minute tasks that disrupt your plan, you may feel frustrated and more overwhelmed because you didn’t complete what you intended.

 

3. Multitasking

 

Juggling multiple tasks at the same time is not beneficial. It splits your attention, making it difficult to focus; you may take even more time and feel overwhelmed. Focus on one task at a time for clarity and efficiency.

 

4. Expect the Unexpected

 

Even the best plans can be disrupted by unforeseen events. Allow some float and flexibility for unknowns and be kind to yourself if the day didn’t go as planned.

Conclusion

 

We can accomplish more by having a daily plan and avoiding behaviors such as multitasking. You own your time; that’s not selfish. We must spend our time wisely for our well-being and a balanced life.

 

References

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7799745/

4 Ways to Make a Decision So You Can Get to It Already

Making decisions is never easy. You need to assess your options, consider the risks, and predict a potential outcome. The more choices you have, the harder it gets. Additionally, self-doubt can affect your judgment and keep you from taking action. 

 

Even a minor decision, such as skipping a workout, can impact your life. For some reason, you can't make it to the gym today. The next day, something unexpected comes up, so you miss your workout once again. A month goes by, and you barely got any exercise. 

 

So, what's the best way to make a decision you won't regret? One that requires action and can change your life for the better? Here are four strategies you can use: 

 

Write It Down 

 

Every time you need to make a big decision put it on paper. Write down how you feel about it, assess the pros and cons, and highlight the key facts. Read everything the next day and the day after. If you still feel the same about it, go ahead and take action! 

 

Journaling is a good way to clarify your ideas and thoughts, stay organized, and learn more about yourself. Give it a try - decision making will become a lot easier! 

 

Set Clear Intentions 

 

Make sure you have a clear goal in mind. Don’t make decisions when you're feeling sad, angry, or overly excited. Think of what you want to achieve and decide accordingly. 

 

Let's say that you want to switch careers. What's the reason behind your decision? Do you dislike your current job, want a higher salary, or feel like you could do more? 

 

Quitting your job just because you're bored or stuck in a rut may not be the best decision - especially if you don't have a backup plan. Consider your reasons for taking this step - refrain from acting purely on impulse.

 

Detach Yourself from Negative Emotions 

 

Fear, self-doubt, anger, and frustration can interfere with decision making. Negative emotions affect your mood and behavior, reflecting on your actions. 

 

Acknowledge these feelings and declutter your mind. Never make a decision when you’re under stress or pressure.

 

Stop Striving for Perfection

 

When you're striving for perfection, it can be difficult to make decisions. The result might not live up to your expectations. 

 

Smart decision making isn't about finding the perfect solution. It's about getting things done. Stop aiming for perfection and start making decisions that drive results.

 

The 3-Step Process to Stop Thinking and Start Doing

You want a fulfilling career, a home of your own, and better health. Or perhaps you have smaller goals, such as learning a new language or traveling more often. However, you never find the time or the perfect opportunity to get started. 

 

The truth is that most people fail to achieve their goals not because they lack talent or have bad ideas, but because they quit. They get caught up in ruminating over what they might do and never take action. 

 

If you fall into this category, it's time to make a change. Follow these three steps to stop thinking and start doing! 

 

Set Your Priorities Straight 

 

Start by defining your priorities. What do you want to achieve the most? Set short-term and long-term goals, such as getting a promotion, acquiring new clients, or buying a home. Give yourself due dates for each of these goals. Even if you don't meet the deadline, it should be just enough to get you started. 

 

Eliminate any distractions that are wasting your time and focus on your end goal - to acquire new leads and boost your revenue. 

 

Stop Overanalyzing and Go for It 

 

Do you spend hours or days thinking and planning? Do you always focus on the worst-case scenario? Are you constantly trying to read between the lines? These signs indicate that you tend to overanalyze everything. 

 

Like it or not, your thoughts are not reality. Just because you're thinking of the worst-case scenario, it doesn't mean it will happen. Don't believe everything you feel or think. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to go with the flow and take action. Overanalyzing situations, events, or actions rarely leads to a productive outcome. 

 

Focus on the Positive 

 

Psychologists advise us to stay positive for a good reason. A negative attitude fuels fear and anxiety, keeping you from reaching your goals. You always think of what could go wrong instead of keeping an open mind.  

 

Keeping a positive attitude is good for your health too. It boosts your motivation and inner drive, helps you stay strong when times get tough and gives you a fresh perspective on the world around you. 

 

Try meditation, positive affirmation, yoga, or whatever it takes to ward off negative thoughts. Focus on the good in your life and hope for the best. Negativity leads nowhere; it's neither productive nor helpful.

 

You Can Beat Self-Sabotage with Self-Awareness

 

Is there some aspect of your life where you seem to have a blind spot? You catch yourself continually doing something that causes negative results. After you have endured failure or some negative emotion yet again, you promise yourself it won't happen in the future.

 

Then what happens? You find yourself back in the same situation.

 

You are far from a person who is out of control. You're a rational person. Most of your life is under control, and many people who care about you often remark they are jealous of your many positive character traits.

 

So why is it hard to create a positive outcome in a particular area of your life?

 

It isn't that you are lazy or don't have a strong desire to create change. It's not that you haven't put in the time or effort, either. If you often continue to underperform in some aspect of your life, it's because you are holding yourself back.

 

There Are Many Reasons for Self-Sabotage

 

Some people sabotage their own efforts because of a fear of failure. They stop trying when they are close to success because they are afraid they won't be able to get past that failure emotionally if they fail. So they stop trying.

 

Self-sabotage also happens because of psychological or emotional programming. Something that happened previously in your life is subconsciously leading to negative habits and actions. You may consciously desire to achieve something, but your efforts, no matter how hard you try, are sabotaged by negative mental programming.

 

Sometimes we get in the way of our best efforts because success might mean leaving our friends and loved ones behind. We may create such a great reality that the people we care about have no place in our new life. That can be a scary future to think about.

 

Self-Awareness Takes Honesty, and That Can Make You Uncomfortable

 

We move through much of our lives in a zombie-like state. Modern life is busy, hectic, and full of distractions. You might not have enough time to reflect deeply about who you are and what you do.

 

It's important to be aware of everything when you are working towards some goal. You might not be able to stop your actions beforehand. In this case, ask yourself what you did that kept you from being successful? Do you notice patterns that continue to create negative experiences in your life?

 

Do you ever have thoughts of not being good enough? After you embrace positive emotions and get motivated to make some big change, what slows you down? Why don't you keep moving forward with those powerful, positive feelings?

 

When you take action to create something positive in your life, be honest with yourself. What is your thought process? Are you trying to sabotage your results before you even get started? If you notice negative programming at work, remind yourself you can embrace any beliefs. 

 

Choose to believe you can succeed and continue to operate with that idea firmly in your mind.

 

Over time this self-awareness can help you identify self-sabotaging beliefs and actions that keep you from goal achievement. This can take time, but it's worth the work. It gives you power over unconscious mental programming and allows you to choose a success mindset instead.

8 Steps to Creating Momentum in Your Life

Has your get up and go, got up and went?

 

Momentum is the magic driving us forward. The problem is, sometimes, things happen that suck the momentum right out of the day. Illness, family emergency, even just waking up on the wrong side of the bed can all combine to make your day feel unproductive before you even set foot on the floor. 

 

How, then, do you create momentum and get things moving again? Try these eight steps:

 

Dream Big

 

Before you can even begin, you need to know what you’re aiming to accomplish. Here’s where you’re going to find exactly what to zero in on as you move forward. But if this is truly the case, why would you think small? Believe it or not, you’ll achieve much more if you challenge yourself. This is inviting yourself to grow!

 

Stay Focused…and Positive

 

This should go without saying. Keeping your eye on the prize is the only way to stay motivated when you need the most. Remind yourself you’re going to achieve your goal. Try a pep talk if necessary. Why? Negative self-talk will always limit your ability to accomplish your goals. With the right mindset, you can go wherever you decide to go.

 

Look for Inspiration

 

Need a little bit more of a boost? Think about your heroes. Who has been down this path before? Look for inspiring quotes. Put on music that moves you. Read biographies of people you admire. Remind yourself if others have succeeded where you are, you can too.

 

Focus on Your Habits

 

What are the behaviors and mannerisms standing in your way? This would be a great time to break some bad habits and maybe start cultivating some good ones. Where to focus? Look for whatever pushes you toward good health, a positive mental attitude, and a day filled with accomplishments.

 

Learn

 

Speaking of habits, how about picking up some new skills? Taking time out to better your mind will make you sharper and more creative in the day-to-day. Learning is also crucial to positive brain health, enhancing cognition along with your skillset.

 

Take Chances

 

The only thing really holding you back is you. This isn’t the time to play it safe. When you see an opportunity, seize it. You’ll be surprised at the paths opening up before you.

 

Countdown to Bravery

 

Having a hard time with risk-taking after all? Try this: Do a countdown from 5 and just do it. There’s no time for doubt when you’re in the midst of making things happen. The cool part? Acting brave tends to lead to honest-to-goodness real courage. Yes, that’s you out there doing something amazing.

 

Try, Try Again

 

In the end, if things don’t work, it’s ok. The main thing is not to lose the momentum you just created. Jump in there and start all over again, taking with you the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

 

4 Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Build Momentum in Your Life

The secret to getting things done lies in one simple word: Momentum.

 

Think about it. We learn first about momentum in physics when we’re taught: an object in motion tends to stay in motion. When applied to our lives, this becomes a powerful concept. 

 

Think about it. You have a goal you’re trying to reach. You make some effort toward achieving your goal, but you might be a little hit and miss. Sure, you’re excited initially, but eventually, life gets in the way. You get a bit sporadic about putting in the work. Ultimately, you stop altogether.

 

Momentum is what paints a different picture altogether. With momentum, initial enthusiasm won’t wane. In fact, as time goes by, the impetus toward getting things done increases, and things really start happening. With momentum, you find success where otherwise you might never have found it at all.

 

How to attain this magical concept?

 

Easy. Start with these for simple shifts of mindset, guaranteed to help build momentum in your life.

 

Tap into Passion

 

When we become excited about things, of course we can’t wait to jump in and get working. This is why bright, shiny new ideas are so distracting. On the other hand, imagine what happens when you feel that kind of enthusiasm all the time. To keep this mindset, it’s simply a matter of keeping your eyes on the goal. Remind yourself often what you’re trying to accomplish and why. Hold fast to these concepts.

 

Explore the Ending

 

Want to know how the story turns out? Skip to the last page. In the same way, if you're going to feel excited about the journey you’re on, take a look at the final destination. Visualize your project completed. What does success look like? Make this as tangible as possible, using all of your senses to describe the scene. Once you have this in mind, you’ll find you can’t wait to get there. This feeling fuels momentum.

 

Feel Gratitude

 

When we look at a situation and ask what we’re grateful for, we automatically shift our thinking to look for the good. By experiencing gratitude as you work toward your goal, you’ll build momentum off those good feelings. Positive thoughts lead to positive energy. How simple is that?

 

Let it Go

 

Sounds counterproductive to keeping momentum going, doesn’t it? However, letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means laying down your load for a while to rest and recuperate. You can only keep momentum going for so long before you need to recharge your batteries. Work on being more aware of how you feel while working to reach your goal. Are you exhausted? Have brain fog? Are you feeling isolated? Perhaps you are missing out on too much of your family life? Some of the people who get the most accomplished know when to let go!

 

With these four mindsets, you’ll be amazed at how quickly momentum builds where before it was flagging. Remember, be intentional and focus on what you’re doing. The momentum will follow, and so will your success. 

 

How Does People Pleasing Hurt Us?

Maybe you've recently discovered that you are a people pleaser. What is so wrong with that? You like to make others happy! 

 

The truth is, people-pleasing is a damaging behavior for several reasons. Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of people-pleasing and how it may be hurting you. 

 

People Pleasing Can Damage Your Physical Health

 

When you take on risks and activities you aren't comfortable with just to make someone else happy, you are being a people-pleaser. These risks and activities can lead to physical damage.

 

Here is a question, have you ever gotten hurt doing something stupid to impress somebody? Yeah, don't worry - we all have.  

 

You Can Damage Your Mental Health

 

Besides your physical health, your mental health is in jeopardy when you constantly people-please. As a people pleaser, you often don't make enough time to care for yourself, and self-care is essential for maintaining mental health. When you disregard your mental health for too long, this can cause serious conditions like burnout and depression. 

 

You May Get Into a Toxic Relationship

 

People pleasers don't know how to say no, and sadly, there are people out there that will take advantage of this fact. Namely - toxic people who like to control others. Toxic relationships are unhealthy, as they frequently contain mental - or even physical - abuse.

 

It is extremely difficult to leave toxic relationships, so difficult in fact that many people don't get out soon enough. If you are a constant people-pleaser, you will find it harder to spot (and listen to) the signs indicating someone is toxic. 

 

You Won't Be As Successful

 

In addition to all the physical and mental damage, people-pleasing can cause, it also keeps you from achieving your dreams. You are so focused on saying yes to others and making them happy that you put what you need to do on the backburner. This means that someday you could come to realize you are working a job that you hate in a city you hate—all because you couldn't say no and tell others that you needed to focus on yourself. 

 

As you can see, being a people pleaser is quite dangerous all around. It hurts your physical and mental health and keeps you from success. So if you want to live a happy and healthy life filled with success, it's time to stop being a people pleaser right away. 

Bubble Wrap

Have you ever had what you thought was a really great idea turn out to be not so great after all? Now imagine someone else picking up your discarded idea and proving it actually was quite brilliant after all. 

 

This is what happened to Al Fielding and Marc Chavannes back in 1957.

 

These two gentlemen were working on an aesthetic problem. They wanted to create a textured wallpaper to create an interesting effect in a room. Their solution? Take two shower curtains and put them together, so that pockets of air would be trapped between them. This sheet of plastic could be put up on the walls to make for unique and charming décor.

 

The world didn’t exactly come flocking to their door. 

 

Undaunted they tried again. Same product: different marketing approaches. Maybe this unique bubbled plastic could be used to insulate greenhouses.

 

Not really. It sort of worked but was not something every greenhouse owner couldn’t live without. 

 

It took two years for someone to figure out what to do with the product. Frederick W. Bowers, who worked for the company which made the sheets of plastic with air pockets, realized they would be perfect for the transport of computer equipment for a company which had a sudden need for this kind of product – IBM. The material, now called ‘Bubble Wrap,’ was absolutely perfect for the job. The rest, shall we say, is history.

 

Bubble Wrap is one of those products that seemed to come along by accident. As a wallpaper, it wasn’t a great idea. (Just imagine your kids going around the house and poking the bubbles to pop them?). On the other hand, someone who was willing to think outside the box, or more accurately, think creatively about what to put IN a box, was able to come up with a use for the product no one else would have ever considered.

 

Thankfully, the creators of Bubble Wrap hadn’t given up on the product. They knew they had something interesting, they just didn’t know what to use it for. Sometimes you must experiment with your ideas to discover what you really have. Sometimes you have to think more creatively about what you have at hand.

 

The point is not to give up. Failure should never be anything more than a marker to tell you it’s time to attack the problem from a different angle. Learn from the mistake, then move on. Imagine what you’ll come up with when you do!

 

Milton Hershey

Chocolate. So good. So tasty. Who knew a candy bar could lead to a success story?

 

Hershey chocolate has become a staple in just about everyone’s diet. Whether you are a person who loves the straight-up Hershey bar or are more of a Kit Kat or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup sort of person, there’s something for every chocolate lover. We can’t imagine life without chocolate, although only 150 years ago, only the rich could enjoy the delicious confection.

 

Chocolate had been around for centuries, but candy was something made by hand, taking a lot of time and effort to create. Thankfully some people saw it didn’t have to be that way. 

 

Meet Milton Hershey.

 

Hershey was the sort of guy who loved dessert. He also had a knack for sniffing out business opportunities. Unfortunately, most of his ideas didn’t work out very well. In fact, if it hadn’t been for relatives loaning him the money and a good bit of luck, his caramel business would have died out in the 1880s. Hershey, though, was one to keep an eye out for opportunity. He found it in 1893. 

 

Hershey noticed few were paying attention to a contraption at World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. A German chocolatier had a machine which could produce chocolate much more simply, with a lot less work. Although his field wasn’t chocolate, but caramel, he knew a good idea when he saw one. He purchased the machine to adapt to his own work, thinking chocolate-covered caramels might be a good idea.

 

This didn’t exactly work out as planned. What did, though, was making chocolate bars. These candy bars took the world by storm. So much so, Hershey was approached in 1937 to come up with a bar that wouldn’t melt easily but could have added nutrition to send with soldiers overseas as a supplement to their diet. During WWII, he was making 24 million bars a week for the military!

 

After the war, Hershey’s success was secured. He branched out into other kinds of chocolate bars, continually trying new things and expanding production until it became the successful company we know today.

 

Hershey might have been a failure initially, but he had a lot of drive and determination. What didn’t work, he left behind, pursuing quickly what did. When he was approached to try something new, he immediately rose to the challenge, asking, ‘how can I do this’ instead of focusing on ‘I’ve never done this before.’

 

To succeed in today’s world, show yourself to be persistent like Hershey. Never turn your back on a lucky break. Most of all, don’t forget to embrace the sweet things in life. You’ll be amazed where they can take you!

 

This Former Coffee-Hawker Says You're Not Thinking Big Enough

When Michelle Gass ran Starbucks, she helped the company move into 33 countries. When she first joined the coffee-based firm, she was asked to get behind a new drink. Starbucks had just launched the Frappucino, and Gass was ordered to develop a growth strategy to make the drink popular.

 

What began as a side item now earns Starbucks more than $2 billion annually. That's the income from just one drink. To say that Gass' efforts worked out is obvious.

 

She had long ago come up with a belief about how to approach achievement. It can help with personal and career goals. Men and women of all ages and levels of education and success can use the same idea. It’s powerful in its simplicity.

 

What was the approach she took that created such a winner for Starbucks? It's one she's used successfully in her career working with many Fortune 500 companies. She says her mantra is ...

 

"Let's think of how big this can be."

 

She's a firm believer in thinking big. A lot of leaders will tell you this. If you're going to dream, why not dream big? It doesn't make any sense to think small when thinking big doesn't take any more effort.

 

It’s up to you, really. If you have a task or responsibility, shoot for the moon. You get to choose what you strive for in life. Aiming for big results can make your world better for you and everyone you care for. Accomplishing great things feels so rewarding. You might even surprise yourself with what you’re able to accomplish.

 

To start seeing the world as incredibly abundant. Don't think of lack or just enough to get by. Think much bigger and envision big change rather than small, insignificant change. Imagine big things in your life. What you consciously tell your subconscious ends up as action. Your subconscious drives your actions, and your actions are what create the reality in your life.

 

Gass knows this. When Starbucks purchased Seattle's Best Coffee, she employed her "think bigger" mantra. In just a single year, she took Seattle's Best from 3,000 distribution points to over 50,000. That's what happens when you think big.

 

If you want big things in your life, you've got to think big. Dare to think bigger than you could possibly imagine. Even if you come up short, you will have achieved so much.