It’s been said that time is the great equalizer.

We all have the exact same number of minutes in a day.  No more, no less.

It’s up to each of us to decide how we use these minutes. It’s up to us to use them to better our lives and the lives of others, or to squander them.

Time is something that we all take for granted, and few of us feel we have enough of. Time is precious. It’s something we can’t ever get more of and no amount of wishing, hoping or complaining will add an extra minute to our day.

We’re often rushing from one commitment to the next, juggling priorities, and feeling like we’re run ragged. This is not productive. This is not meaningful. This is not fun.

In our work and personal lives, we’re often just busy, but not efficient, not effective, not productive, and not busy on the right things.

Don’t let this be you.

Your time is precious and is something that you simply must manage well.  You and only you are in control. You should manage your time, not the other way around.

Here are my 7 quick tips for better managing your precious time:

Rule your gadgets, don’t let your gadgets rule you. Your technology should make your life easier and more efficient, not more complicated. Your phone should not dictate when you’ll answer it. Your email should not demand immediate attention. Notifications from dozens of apps on your phone do you no good. Don’t give your technology this power over your life.

Skip the mindless social media. I know, you love Facebook and Twitter. That’s great! Me too! But, don’t let it run your day. Schedule time for it, but don’t feel obligated to “like” every friend’s picture or vacation update. There is no reason to check Facebook continuously.

Plan your days. Before I leave the office, I write down my plan for tomorrow. I create a list of the important things I will accomplish the next work day. I proactively define this list, making sure I include at least one “game-changer” activity to work on.  The unimportant things will take care of themselves.

Routines rock. I am a creature of habit and this works for me. It may sound boring, but the truth is, routines help people have a sense of stability and also truly discover their creative energy.  I try to go to bed at the same time each night, get up at the same (early) time each morning, and have the same morning routine.  (breakfast, exercise, shower, read the Bible, write down my goals, quick review of social media accounts, clean up emails, then get to work!)

Write it down. If you’re relying on your memory to help you get things done, it’s time to change. Get your to-do list out of your head and onto paper or on the note-pad on your smart phone.  This will free your mind from carrying around this mental clutter.

Commit to change. If you see you’ve got some serious time-wasting issues, commit to making a change. Get a journal, and start with a simple schedule for your days.

Celebrate your success. If you’ve landed a big deal, or written a great report for work, celebrate. Plan time in your life for celebration. This could even be toasting your victory with a latte in the morning, instead of black coffee. The important thing is that you honor your success. Don’t rush past the small successes, not allowing yourself to savor those accomplishments.

You are worth it.  Your time is yours to manage and to invest (not spend) doing the things that bring you closer to your goals, and to bring you joy.

I wish you all the best in managing your most precious resource – time!

Cheers!

Coach Brett Blair

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