Reflecting on Time
As we near the end of Q4, time has been a constant point of reflection. It’s one of the most fleeting, non-replaceable resources that we engage with. We cannot possess it nor hold on to it. Where money, you can always get back, once time is spent, it’s gone. But we can still use it wisely.
About halfway through 2024, I got the nagging feeling I wasn’t allocating my time properly. There was always something to balance; work, family, social life and hobbies all occurring at the same time and demanding my time. Even on my most productive workday, I knew I was sacrificing time for something else, something equally important. There was simply never enough time for everything! In that moment, when I felt the weight of missing out on the important things in life, with the weight of needing to do the things that would secure me living the life I desired, did I really sit down and take stock of my time. Here are some ways I’ve been able to redirect and feel like I’m about to work and play to my personal fulfilment.
Being Aware of Time
As we’ve heard referenced before, psychologist Nathaniel Branden infamous quote “the first step toward change is awareness.” To make a plan on how to use time wisely, I had to sit and reflect on where I was spending my time. Not only thinking but writing and visualizing so I could see. 8 hours of work, 1-hour of travel, 2 hours of meal planning, 3-hours of film study, not to mention everything in between. As with proper handling of money, budgeting time is crucial. To see where you can make improvements, you must first recognize your current patterns.
Prioritizing Time
“We all have the same 24-hours.” I’ve heard numerous times before, which is truly not the case if you’re sleeping the recommended 8-hours a night. So, how do we optimize those remaining 16 hours? Prioritize the important things and the necessities. Work, school, eating, resting… then allow the other non-immediate things to fill in. Many people use the Eisenhower Matrix to determine the urgent, non-urgent, important and non-important tasks in their lives, but there are many tools to help decide which tasks need to be done immediately, and which ones we can schedule later.
Routines
Creating a routine is putting everything on an automated schedule that allows you to ease through your day without feeling like something is left out. Just like your body getting naturally sleepy around 10pm with your central circadian clock, start aligning your day to have scheduled time for activities, without having to “make time” for it later. By having a framework for your day, you’re able to allocate time efficiently and eliminate the need to make decisions in real time. Decision fatigue is known to impede the productive process. Having a routine of organizing your wardrobe for the week or planning your meals eliminated those tedious tasks from everyday and allow us to spend more time with the “big things.”
Daily, Weekly, Monthly Goals – Flexibility in unpredictable cases
What worked for me was establishing my goals on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Surprisingly, exercising helped me the most in this area. Regular exercise not only improves your mental health by releasing feel-good chemicals, but it also highlights a great way to look at your goals. Understanding that you won’t gain those 20 pounds by tomorrow or hit that PR on your first run, you’re able to recognize that incremental wins are still important. Realizing that everything doesn’t have to get done today because you’ve planned for your progress. At the LEC we call it the “Lily Pad Method.” Realize that some goals can be done in a day, but give yourself space and realistic time for those goals that might take more than a few tries or more resources to attain.
Lastly, however you’re spending your time, whether it’s laying on the couch watching tv for 8 hours, spending time with loved ones, or working on a new idea, the most important part is being present. Living fully in the moment, not needing or wanting to be anywhere else and being content with what you have because you know you have allocated the proper time for it by prioritizing your goals. Free yourself from the guilt of “I should be…” and know you’re exactly where you need to be.
– Written by LEC Program Manager, Tiera Trammell.